In the reign of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the Division called after Abijah. His wife, whose name was Elizabeth, was also a descendant of Aaron.

One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his Division,

And, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.

Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.

When he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision there. But Zechariah kept making signs to them, and remained dumb.

And, as soon as his term of service was finished, he returned home.

Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

To a maiden there who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Her name was Mary.

Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child moved within her, and Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit,

Asking for a writing-tablet, he wrote the words--'His name is John.' Every one was surprised;

All their neighbors were awe-struck at this; and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about;

And all who heard it kept it in mind, asking one another-- "What can this child be destined to become?" For the Power of the Lord was with him.

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit, and, speaking under inspiration, said:

This was the oath which he swore to our forefather Abraham--

About that time an edict was issued by the Emperor Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole Empire.

(This was the first census taken while Quirinius was Governor of Syria).

To be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was about to become a mother.

And she gave birth to her first child, a son. And because there was no room for them in the inn, she swathed him round and laid him in a manger.

Eight days after the birth of the child, when it was time to circumcise him, he received the name Jesus--the name given him by the angel before his conception.

There was at that time in Jerusalem a man named Simeon, a righteous and devout man, who lived in constant expectation of the Consolation of Israel, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Moved by the Spirit, Simeon came into the Temple Courts, and, when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the Law,

While the child's father and mother were wondering at what was said about him,

There was also a Prophetess named Hannah, a daughter of Phanuel and of the tribe of Asher. She was far advanced in years, having lived with her husband for seven years after marriage,

The child grew and became strong and wise, and the blessing of God was upon him.

When Jesus was twelve years old, they went according to custom to Jerusalem,

Thinking that he was with their fellow-travelers, they went one day's journey before searching for him among their relations and acquaintances;

It was not till the third day that they found him in the Temple Courts, sitting among the Teachers, now listening to them, now asking them questions.

However he went down with them to Nazareth, and submitted himself to their control; and his mother treasured all that was said in her heart.

In the fifteenth year of the reign of the Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was Governor of Judea, Herod Ruler of Galilee, his brother Philip Ruler of the territory comprising Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias Ruler of Abilene,

And when Annas and Caiaphas were High Priests, a Command from God came to John, the son of Zechariah, while he was in the wilderness.

This was in fulfillment of what is said in the writings of the Prophet Isaiah--'The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness: "Make ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.

Now after the baptism of all the people, and when Jesus had been baptized and was still praying, the heavens opened,

When beginning his work, Jesus was about thirty years old. He was regarded as the son of Joseph, whose ancestors were--Eli,

On returning from the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was led by the power of the Spirit through the Wilderness for forty days, tempted by the Devil.

All that time he ate nothing; and, when it was over, he became hungry.

And he began to teach in their Synagogues, and was honored by every one.

Coming to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, Jesus, as was his custom, went on the Sabbath into the Synagogue, and stood up to read the Scriptures.

The book given him was that of the Prophet Isaiah; and Jesus opened the book and found the place where it says--

And yet it was not to one of them that Elijah was sent, but to a widow at Zarephath in Sidonia.

And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the Prophet Elisha, yet it was not one of them who was made clean, but Naaman the Syrian."

In the Synagogue there was a man with the spirit of a foul demon in him, who called out loudly:

On leaving the Synagogue, Jesus went into Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a severe attack of fever, and they asked Jesus to cure her.

And even demons came out from many people, screaming 'You are the Son of God.' Jesus rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

At daybreak, Jesus went out and walked to a lonely spot. But crowds of people began to look for him; and they came to where he was and tried to detain him and prevent his leaving them.

Jesus, however, said to them: "I must take the Good News of the Kingdom of God to the other town also, for that was why I was sent."

On one occasion Jesus was staying in a town, when he saw a man who was covered with leprosy. When the leper saw Jesus, he threw himself on his face and implored his help: "Master, if only you are willing, you are able to make me clean."

And then Jesus impressed upon him that he was not to say a word to any one, "but," he added, "set out and show yourself to the priest, and make the offerings for your cleansing, in the manner directed by Moses, as evidence of your cure."

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.)

And there some men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed. They tried to get him in and lay him before Jesus;

One Sabbath Jesus was walking through cornfields, and hi disciples were picking the ears of wheat, and rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.

Jesus' answer was: "Have not you read even of what David did, when he was hungry, he and his companions--

On another Sabbath Jesus went into the Synagogue and taught; and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.

Jesus, however, knew what was in the their minds, and said to the man whose hand was withered: "Stand up and come out into the middle." The man stood up;

And every one in the crowd was trying to touch him, because a power went out from him which restored them all.

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."

A Captain in the Roman army had a slave whom he valued, and who was seriously ill--almost at the point of death.

So Jesus went with them. But, when he was no great distance from the house, the Captain sent some friends with the message-- "Do not trouble yourself, Sir; for I am unworthy to receive you under my roof.

That was why I did not even venture to come to you myself; but speak, and let my manservant be cured.

Jesus was surprised to hear these words from him; and, turning to the crowd which was following him, he said: "I tell you, nowhere in Israel have I met with such faith as this!"

Just as he approached the gate of the town, there was a dead man being carried out for burial--an only son, and his mother was a widow. A large number of the people of the town were with her.

When he saw her, the Master was moved with compassion for her, and he said to her: "Do not weep."

Every one was awe-struck and began praising God. "A great Prophet has arisen among us," they said; "and God has visited his people."

So his answer to the question was: "Go and report to John what you have witnessed and heard--the blind recover their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are made clean, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, the Good News is told to the poor.

Just then a woman, who was an outcast in the town, having ascertained that Jesus was at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster jar of perfume,

Once, when a great crowd was collecting, and, when the people of town after town were flocking to Jesus, he spoke to them in the form of a parable:

"The sower went out to sow his seed; and, as he was sowing, some of the seed fell along the path and was trodden upon; and the wild birds ate it up.

Presently Jesus' mother and brothers came where he was, but they were not able to join him on account of the crowd.

So word was brought to him--'Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.'

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."

So they put off. While they were sailing, Jesus fell asleep. A squall swept down upon the lake, and their boat was filling and they were in danger.

For Jesus was commanding the foul spirit to come out from the man. On many occasions it had seized him, and, even when secured with chains and fetters, and watched, he would break through anything that bound him, and be driven by the demon into the Wilds.

There was a drove of many pigs close by feeding upon the hill- side; and the demons begged Jesus to give them leave to enter into them. Jesus gave them leave.

On his return, Jesus was welcomed by the people; for everyone was looking out for him.

And a man named Jaeirus, who was a President of the Synagogue, came to Jesus, and threw himself at Jesus' feet, with entreaties that he would come to his house,

Because his only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. As Jesus was going, the people were pressing closely round him.

"Who was it that touched me?" Jesus asked; and, while everyone was denying having done so, Peter exclaimed: "Why, Sir, the people are crowding round you and pressing upon you!"

Then the woman, when she saw that she was discovered, came forward trembling, and threw herself down before him; and, in the presence of all the people, she told him her reason for touching him, and that she had been cured instantly.

And every one was weeping and mourning for her. "Do not weep," Jesus said, "she is not dead; she is asleep."

They began to laugh at him, for they knew that she was dead.

Prince Herod heard of all that was happening, and was perplexed, because it was said by some that John must be risen from the dead.

The day was drawing to a close, when the twelve came up to him, and said: "Send the crowd away, so that they may make their way to the villages and farms round about, and find themselves lodgings and provisions, for we are in a lonely spot here."

(For the men among them were about five thousand.) "Get them seated in companies," was his reply, "about fifty in each."

Every one had sufficient to eat, and what was left of the broken pieces was picked up--twelve baskets.

Afterwards, when Jesus was alone, praying, his disciples joined him, and he asked them this question-- "Who do the people say that I am?"

"John the Baptist," was their answer; "others, however, say that you are Elijah, while others say that one of the old Prophets has risen again."

As he was praying, the aspect of his face was changed, and his clothing became of a glittering whiteness.

Who appeared in a glorified state, and spoke of his departure, which was destined to take place at Jerusalem.

And, as Moses and Elijah were passing away from Jesus, Peter exclaimed: "Sir, it is good to be here; let us make three tents, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He did not know what he was saying;

And, while he was speaking, a cloud came down and enveloped them; and they were afraid, as they passed into the cloud;

And, as the voice ceased, Jesus was found alone. The Apostles kept silence, and told no one about any of the things that they had seen.

While the boy was coming up to Jesus, the demon dashed him down and threw him into convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the foul spirit, and cured the boy, and gave him back to his father.

And all present were struck with awe at the majesty of God. In the midst of the general astonishment at all that Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples:

A discussion arose among the disciples as to which of them was the greatest;

And Jesus, knowing of the discussion that was occupying their thoughts, took hold of a little child, and placed it beside him,

But the people there did not welcome him, because his face was set in the direction of Jerusalem.

After this, the Master appointed seventy-two other disciples, and sent them on as his Messengers, two and two, in advance, to every town and place that he was himself intending to visit.

His reply was--"'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thou dost thyself.'"

To which Jesus replied: "A man was once going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him of everything, and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead.

As it chanced, a priest was going down by that road. He saw the man, but passed by on the opposite side.