like the accounts passed on to us by those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning.

so that you may know for certain the things you were taught.

They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.

But they did not have a child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both very old.

Now the whole crowd of people were praying outside at the hour of the incense offering.

Now the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they began to wonder why he was delayed in the holy place.

He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they were all amazed.

All their neighbors were filled with fear, and throughout the entire hill country of Judea all these things were talked about.

While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.

Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified.

and all who heard it were astonished at what the shepherds said.

So the child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him.

At that moment, she came up to them and began to give thanks to God and to speak about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

But when the feast was over, as they were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,

And all who heard Jesus were astonished at his understanding and his answers.

When his parents saw him, they were overwhelmed. His mother said to him, "Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously."

But he replied, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?"

So the crowds were asking him, "What then should we do?"

While the people were filled with anticipation and they all wondered whether perhaps John could be the Christ,

Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. And while he was praying, the heavens opened,

where for forty days he endured temptations from the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were completed, he was famished.

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him.

All were speaking well of him, and were amazed at the gracious words coming out of his mouth. They said, "Isn't this Joseph's son?"

But in truth I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's days, when the sky was shut up three and a half years, and there was a great famine over all the land.

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

When they heard this, all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage.

They were amazed at his teaching, because he spoke with authority.

They were all amazed and began to say to one another, "What's happening here? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!"

The next morning Jesus departed and went to a deserted place. Yet the crowds were seeking him, and they came to him and tried to keep him from leaving them.

He saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets.

So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they were about to sink.

For Peter and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken,

and so were James and John, Zebedee's sons, who were Simon's business partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people."

But the news about him spread even more, and large crowds were gathering together to hear him and to be healed of their illnesses.

Now on one of those days, while he was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting nearby (who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem), and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.

Just then some men showed up, carrying a paralyzed man on a stretcher. They were trying to bring him in and place him before Jesus.

Then astonishment seized them all, and they glorified God. They were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen incredible things today."

Jesus answered them, "Haven't you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry --

But they were filled with mindless rage and began debating with one another what they would do to Jesus.

and those who suffered from unclean spirits were cured.

At that very time Jesus cured many people of diseases, sicknesses, and evil spirits, and granted sight to many who were blind.

Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner."

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little loves little."

But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?"

Some time afterward he went on through towns and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him,

While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from one town after another, he spoke to them in a parable:

and as they sailed he fell asleep. Now a violent windstorm came down on the lake, and the boat started filling up with water, and they were in danger.

Then he said to them, "Where is your faith?" But they were afraid and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him!"

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

Then all the people of the Gerasenes and the surrounding region asked Jesus to leave them alone, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and left.

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

Now they were all wailing and mourning for her, but he said, "Stop your weeping; she is not dead but asleep."

Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.

Now Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was happening, and he was thoroughly perplexed, because some people were saying that John had been raised from the dead,

while others were saying that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had risen.

(Now about five thousand men were there.) Then he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each."

They all ate and were satisfied, and what was left over was picked up -- twelve baskets of broken pieces.

Once when Jesus was praying by himself, and his disciples were nearby, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"

Now Peter and those with him were quite sleepy, but as they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.

Then as the men were starting to leave, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah" -- not knowing what he was saying.

As he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.

But they did not understand this statement; its meaning had been concealed from them, so that they could not grasp it. Yet they were afraid to ask him about this statement.

As they were walking along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."

Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the man who had been mute began to speak, and the crowds were amazed.

As the crowds were increasing, Jesus began to say, "This generation is a wicked generation; it looks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.

Woe to you experts in religious law! You have taken away the key to knowledge! You did not go in yourselves, and you hindered those who were going in."

Meanwhile, when many thousands of the crowd had gathered so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

"I have come to bring fire on the earth -- and how I wish it were already kindled!

Now there were some present on that occasion who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

He answered them, "Do you think these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered these things?

Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower in Siloam fell on them, do you think they were worse offenders than all the others who live in Jerusalem?

When he said this all his adversaries were humiliated, but the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things he was doing.

Now one Sabbath when Jesus went to dine at the house of a leader of the Pharisees, they were watching him closely.

For I tell you, not one of those individuals who were invited will taste my banquet!'"

Now large crowds were accompanying Jesus, and turning to them he said,

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming to hear him.

But the Pharisees and the experts in the law were complaining, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

He was longing to eat the carob pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

"The law and the prophets were in force until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urged to enter it.

So you too, when you have done everything you were commanded to do, should say, 'We are slaves undeserving of special praise; we have only done what was our duty.'"

When he saw them he said, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went along, they were cleansed.

Then Jesus said, "Were not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?

People were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage -- right up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot, people were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, building;

Jesus also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else.

Now people were even bringing their babies to him for him to touch. But when the disciples saw it, they began to scold those who brought them.

And those who were in front scolded him to get him to be quiet, but he shouted even more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

While the people were listening to these things, Jesus proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.

So those who were sent ahead found it exactly as he had told them.

As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying that colt?"

Then Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were selling things there,

Jesus was teaching daily in the temple courts. The chief priests and the experts in the law and the prominent leaders among the people were seeking to assassinate him,

Then the experts in the law and the chief priests wanted to arrest him that very hour, because they realized he had told this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.

Thus they were unable in the presence of the people to trap him with his own words. And stunned by his answer, they fell silent.

Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died without children.

As all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples,

Now while some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and offerings, Jesus said,

The chief priests and the experts in the law were trying to find some way to execute Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.

They were delighted and arranged to give him money.