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.

But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; you will name him John.

for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.

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

"And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age -- although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month!

So Mary said, "Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

She exclaimed with a loud voice, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child in your womb!

For the instant the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

as he promised to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

They said to her, "But none of your relatives bears this name."

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.

that we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us.

He has done this to show mercy to our ancestors, and to remember his holy covenant --

the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham. This oath grants

that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, may serve him without fear,

Because of our God's tender mercy the dawn will break upon us from on high

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

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.

Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord.

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

and to offer a sacrifice according to what is specified in the law of the Lord, a pair of doves or two young pigeons.

"Now, according to your word, Sovereign Lord, permit your servant to depart in peace.

For my eyes have seen your salvation

a light, for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."

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

Indeed, as a result of him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed -- and a sword will pierce your own soul as well!"

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.

Now Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem every year for the feast of the Passover.

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?"

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,

Therefore produce fruit that proves your repentance, and don't begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that God can raise up children for Abraham from these stones!

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

He told them, "Collect no more than you are required to."

Then some soldiers also asked him, "And as for us -- what should we do?" He told them, "Take money from no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your pay."

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,

and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my one dear Son; in you I take great delight."

the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,

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

The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."

Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.'"

Then the devil brought him to Jerusalem, had him stand on the highest point of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here,

and 'with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.'"

Now Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read,

and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

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?"

Jesus said to them, "No doubt you will quote to me the proverb, 'Physician, heal yourself!' and say, 'What we have heard that you did in Capernaum, do here in your hometown too.'"

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.

"Ha! Leave us alone, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are -- the Holy One of God."

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!"

Demons also came out of many, crying out, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

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.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch."

Simon answered, "Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing! But at your word I will lower the 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."

While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came to him who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed down with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."

Then he ordered the man to tell no one, but commanded him, "Go and show yourself to a priest, and bring the offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

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.

When Jesus saw their faith he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."

When Jesus perceived their hostile thoughts, he said to them, "Why are you raising objections within yourselves?

Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and walk'?

But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" -- he said to the paralyzed man -- "I tell you, stand up, take your stretcher and go home."

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

Jesus answered them, "Those who are well don't need a physician, but those who are sick do.

But those days are coming, and when the bridegroom is taken from them, at that time they will fast."

But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is against the law on the Sabbath?"

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

Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save a life or to destroy it?"

After looking around at them all, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." The man did so, and his hand was restored.

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.

Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God belongs to you.

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

"Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject you as evil on account of the Son of Man!

Rejoice in that day, and jump for joy, because your reward is great in heaven. For their ancestors did the same things to the prophets.

"But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your comfort already.

"Woe to you who are well satisfied with food now, for you will be hungry. "Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

"But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,