just as they reported them to us, who were from beginning eye-witnesses and ministers of the word,

who was a descendant of Aaron. They were both righteous in the sight of the Lord, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the law, blameless.

Now they had no child, for Elizabeth was barren, and both were far advanced in years.

And the whole multitude of the people were without, praying at the hour of incense.

Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zachariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the sanctuary.

and came on the eighth day to circumcise the child. They were about to call him "Zachariah," after his father,

And there came a great fear upon all in the neighborhood; and throughout the hill country of Judea all these sayings were much talked about.

But while they were there the days were fulfilled for her delivery.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.

And all who heard it were astonished at the things which were told to them by the shepherds.

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.

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.

Now his parents were accustomed to go up to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.

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

When they saw him they were astonished, and his mother said to him "Child, why have you treated us so? Behold your father and I have been looking for you in anguish."

So John used to say to the crowd of those who were going out to be baptized by him. "You breed of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

And while the people were in expectation, and all men were debating in their hearts about John,

whether perhaps he were the Christ, John answered, saying to all of them. "I indeed am baptizing you in water, but One is coming after me, mightier than I, whose shoe-latchet I am not worthy to unloose. He shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and in fire.

The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him, and he began to say to them, "Today is this scripture fulfilled in your hearing."

In very truth I tell you there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were closed for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land;

"And there were many lepers in Israel in the days of the prophet Elisha, yet none of them was cleansed but only Naaman the Syrian."

When they had heard these words, those in the synagogue were filled with fury;

They were deeply impressed by his teaching because his speech was with authority.

All were amazed, and began to ask one another, saying. "What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits and they come out."

But he saw two fishing-boats on the shore of the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.

(For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the haul of fish which they had made;

and so were Simon's partners, James and John, sons of Zebedee.) But Jesus answered Simon. "Fear not; from this time on, you will be catching men."

One day he was teaching, and near to him were seated Pharisees and teachers of the Law, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.

Astonishment fell upon them all, and they began to glorify God, and they were filled with awe, and they said, "We have seen strange things today."

Levi also made him a great reception at his house. There was a large party of tax-gatherers and others who were dining with them.

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.

"Have you never read," answered Jesus, "what David did when he and his followers were hungry?

He did so; and his hand was restored. But they were filled with fury, and they began to talk over together what they could do to Jesus.

They were Simon, whom he had also called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John;

Those who were tormented by unclean spirits were healed also.

The whole crowd were trying to touch him, because power emanated from him and cured them all.

Now when he drew near the gate of the city, behold, they were there carrying out one who was dead, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow.

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.

When John's messengers were gone he began to speak to the crowds about John, saying, "What went out you out to the desert to behold? A reed shaken by the wind?

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."

"There were once to men," said Jesus, "in debt to one money-lender. One owed him fifty pounds; the other five.

The twelve were with him, and certain women whom he had delivered from evil spirits and various diseases. Mary of Magdala, out of whom seven demons have been driven,

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.

"Where is your faith?" he asked them, In their terror they were filled with amazement, and said to one another, "Who is this who commands even the winds and the sea, and they obey him?"

Then the people came out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man out of whom the demons had gone sitting clothed and in his right mind, at the feet of Jesus. And they were terrified.

And the whole populace of Gadarenes and the surrounding territory besought Jesus to go away from them; for they were terror-stricken. So he entered a boat and returned.

for they were all waiting for him. Just then there came a man named Jarius, and he was ruler in the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus' feet and begged him to come into his house;

The people were weeping and bewailing her, but he said: "Stop your wailing; for she is not dead, but asleep."

He bade them to get her some food. Her parents were amazed; but he forbade them to tell any one what had been done.

(For there were about five thousand men.) "Make them sit down in table-companies, of about fifty each," he said to his disciples.

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?"

And suddenly there were two men talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah.

Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep; but when they were fully awake they saw his glory, and the two men were standing beside him.

And when they were preparing to depart from him Peter said to Jesus. "Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"??ot knowing what he was saying.

And while he was saying this, there came a cloud and began to overshadow them; and they were awestruck as they entered into the cloud.

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

And they were all awestruck at the mighty power of God. But while everyone was marveling at what he was doing, he said to his disciples.

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.

As they were going on their way, a man came to him and said, "I will follow wherever you go."

"Woe unto you, Chorazin! Woe unto you, Bethsaida! For had the mighty been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

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.

When the crowd were beginning to throng about him he proceeded to say. "This is an evil generation! It seeks a sign, and there shall be no sign be given to it except the sign of Jonah;

Meanwhile when myriads of the multitudes were thronging around him so that they trod one upon another, he began to say to his disciples, first of all. "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisee, which is hypocrisy.

"Would it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how am I straitened till it is accomplished!

Now there were some present at that very season who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

"Do you suppose," he answered them, "that those Galileans were worse sinners than the rest of the Galileans because they have suffered thus?

"Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you suppose that they were worse offenders than the rest of those who lived in Jerusalem?

As he said this, all adversaries were put to shame; and all the crowd rejoiced for the glorious things that he continually did.

"when once the master of the house is risen up and has shut the door. You will begin to stand outside, and to knock at the door, crying, "'Lord, open to us.' "'I do not know were you came from,' he will reply.

"But he will answer. "'I tell you I do not know were you came from;

It happened on the Sabbath Day when he went into the house of a certain ruler among Pharisees to take a meal, that they were watching him.

Great crowds were along with him, and he turned to them and said:

"And he was longing to be filled with the husks which the swine were eating, but no one gave him any.

"It were well for him if a millstone were tied about his neck, and he were hurled into the sea, rather than he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.

"If your faith," answered Jesus, "were like a grain of mustard-seed, you would say to this tree, 'Tear yourself up and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

"Does he think the slave because he did the things that were commanded?

Perceiving this he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priest." And as they went they were made clean.

"Were there not ten cleansed?" asked Jesus, "but where are the nine?

"Men were eating and drinking; they were marrying and being married, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

"The same was true in the time of Lot; they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building;

Moreover he spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves because they were righteous, and looked down upon the rest.

But they understood none of these sayings. His words were a mystery to them, and they did not know what he meant.

As they were listening to his words he added this parable, because he was near Jerusalem and they thought that the kingdom of God was immediately to appear.

"'Howbeit these enemies of mine who were not willing for me to become their King, bring them here, and slay them in my presence.'"

Then those who were sent out and found it as he had told them.

For as they were untying the colt, the owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?"

"And if we say, 'From man,' all the people will stone us, for they were persuaded that John was a prophet."

At this the Scribes and the high priests were seeking to arrest him; only they were afraid of the people. For they perceived that he had referred to them in this parable.

"Now there were seven brothers. the first took a wife and died childless,

And he looked up and saw people casting their offerings into the treasury, and they were rich.

And to some who were about the Temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones votive offerings, he said,

They were delighted, and agreed to give him money.

He consented to this, and looked for an opportunity to betray him, when the people were not present.

He answered. "No sooner will you have entered the city than you will meet a man carrying a water-jug. Follow him into the house were he is going.

(And being in agony he kept praying more earnestly; and his sweat became as if it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.)

Those who were around him, when they saw what was about to happen, said to him, "Lord, shall we strike with our swords?"

Meanwhile the men who were holding Jesus in custody kept mocking and striking him.

When Pilate heard the word "Galilee" he asked if the man were a Galilean,

Meanwhile the high priests and Scribes were standing around, and continually making accusations to him against him.