just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,

It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.

And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”

“And His mercy is upon generation after generation
Toward those who fear Him.

“He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.

“He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.

And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.”

All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.

Salvation from our enemies,
And from the hand of all who hate us;

To shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.

for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

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

At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers.

So he began saying to the crowds who were going out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

And he would answer and say to them, “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise.”

John answered and said to them all, “As for me, I baptize you with water; but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the thong of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed,

and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.

“Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

While the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them.

and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.”

One day He was teaching; and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing.

And some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him.

The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”

And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them.

And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick.

And Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him,

And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles:

Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James and John; and Philip and Bartholomew;

and Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot;

Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being cured.

And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full.

Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.

Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like:

he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.

But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”

And a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die.

for he loves our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue.”

When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.

Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”

But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces!

But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet.

This is the one about whom it is written,
‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You,
Who will prepare Your way before You.’

I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

They are like children who sit in the market place and call to one another, and they say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’

And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume,

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 sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.”

Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”

For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”

and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,

and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.

Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great.” As He said these things, He would call out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.

Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.

The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

“Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.

But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?”

And when He came out onto the land, He was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and was not living in a house, but in the tombs.

The people went out to see what had happened; and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened.

Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well.

But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might accompany Him; but He sent him away, saying,

And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone,

And Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched Me?” And while they were all denying it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing in on You.”

And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

Herod said, “I myself had John beheaded; but who is this man about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see Him.

But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing.

And it happened that while He was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the people say that I am?”

And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.

But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.”

But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you.”

and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

“The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”

All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

But wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion,

Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?”

And he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”

She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.

‘And forgive us our sins,
For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”