even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,

that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.

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

But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.

The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.

It happened, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.

Having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!"

Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name 'Jesus.'

Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.

Mary said, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word." The angel departed from her.

She called out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!

As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever."

They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."

Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.

salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;

to show mercy towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,

the oath which he spoke to Abraham, our father,

to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,

In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,

to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace."

It happened, while they were there, that the day had come that she should give birth.

There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.

Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.

When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord

and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."

"Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace;

for my eyes have seen your salvation,

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

Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him,

Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.

When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.

His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.

and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn't know it,

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

When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you."

He said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I must be in my Father's house?"

Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and don't begin to say among yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father;' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones!

Soldiers also asked him, saying, "What about us? What must we do?" He said to them, "Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages."

As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ,

Now it happened, when all the people were baptized, Jesus also had been baptized, and was praying. The sky was opened,

and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form as a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying "You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased."

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

for forty days, being tempted by the devil. He ate nothing in those days. Afterward, when they were completed, he was hungry.

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

Jesus answered him, "Get behind me Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.'"

He led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here,

and, 'On their hands they will bear you up, lest perhaps you dash your foot against a stone.'"

Jesus answering, said to him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'"

Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and news about him spread through all the surrounding area.

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

The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book, and found the place where it was written,

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed,

and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.

He began to tell them, "Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

He said to them, "Doubtless you will tell me this parable, 'Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done at Capernaum, do also here in your hometown.'"

But truly I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land.

There were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed, except Naaman, the Syrian."

They were all filled with wrath in the synagogue, as they heard these things.

and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority.

saying, "Ah! what have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of God!"

Demons also came out from many, crying out, and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" Rebuking them, he didn't allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

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

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

Simon answered him, "Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net."

For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught;

and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive."

He commanded him to tell no one, "But go your way, and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing according to what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them."

It happened on one of those days, that he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every village of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was with him to heal them.

Seeing their faith, he said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."

But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered them, "Why are you reasoning so in your hearts?

Which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you;' or to say, 'Arise and walk?'

But 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, arise, and take up your cot, and go to your house."

Amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God. They were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today."

Levi made a great feast for him in his house. There was a great crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them.

Jesus answered them, "Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do.

He also told a parable to them. "No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old garment, or else he will tear the new, and also the piece from the new will not match the old.

No one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed.

But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.

Jesus, answering them, said, "Haven't you read what David did when he was hungry, he, and those who were with him;

how he entered into the house of God, and took and ate the show bread, and gave also to those who were with him, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests alone?"

Then Jesus said to them, "I will ask you something: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?"

He looked around at them all, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He did, and his hand was restored as sound as the other.

But they were filled with rage, and talked with one another about what they might do to Jesus.

as well as those who were troubled by unclean spirits, and they were being healed.

He lifted up his eyes to his disciples, and said, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.

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

Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall exclude and mock you, and throw out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake.

Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven, for their fathers did the same thing to the prophets.

"But woe to you who are rich! For you have received your consolation.

Woe to you, you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

"But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,