After the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem in Judea, in the reign of King Herod, some Astrologers from the East arrived in Jerusalem, asking:

When King Herod heard of this, he was much troubled, and so, too, was all Jerusalem.

Then Herod secretly sent for the Astrologers, and ascertained from them the date of the appearance of the star;

The Astrologers heard what the King had to say, and then continued their journey. And the star which they had seen in the east led them on, until it reached, and stood over, the place where the child was.

But afterwards, having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their own country by another road.

After they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, and said: "Awake, take the child and his mother, and seek refuge in Egypt; and stay there until I bid you return, for Herod is about to search for the child, to put him to death."

And there he stayed until Herod's death; in fulfillment of these words of the Lord in the Prophet, where he says--'Out of Egypt I called my Son.'

When Herod found that he had been trifled with by the Astrologers, he was very angry. He sent and put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and the whole of that neighborhood, who were two years old or under, guided by the date which he had ascertained from the Astrologers.

'A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and much lamentation; Rachel, weeping for her children, Refused all comfort because they were not.'

But, on the death of Herod, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said:

But, hearing that Archelaus had succeeded his father Herod as King of Judea, he was afraid to go back there; and having been warned in a dream, he went into the part of the country called Galilee.

When Jesus heard that John had been committed to prison, he retired to Galilee.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

You have heard that to our ancestors it was said--'Thou shalt not commit murder,' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to answer for it to the Court.'

You have heard that it was said--'Thou shalt not commit adultery.'

I, however, say to you that any one who looks at a woman with an impure intention has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Again, you have heard that to our ancestors it was said--'Thou shalt not break an oath, but thou shall keep thine oaths as a debt due to the Lord.'

You have heard that it was said--'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'

You have heard that it was said--'Thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thy enemy.'

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Beware of false Teachers--men who come to you in the guise of sheep, but at heart they are ravenous wolves.

But, when he saw the crowds, his heart was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and harassed, 'like sheep without a shepherd';

Now John had heard in prison what the Christ was doing, and he sent a message by his disciples,

'Behold! the Servant of my Choice, My Beloved, in whom my heart delights! I will breathe my spirit upon him, And he shall announce a time of judgment to the Gentiles.

But the Pharisees heard of it and said: "He drives out demons only by the help of Baal-zebub the chief of the demons."

You brood of vipers! how can you, evil as you are, say anything good? For what fills the heart will rise to the lips.

For, just as 'Jonah was inside the sea-monster three days and three nights,' so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

For I tell you that many Prophets and good men have longed for the sight of the things which you are seeing, yet never saw them, and to hear the things which you are hearing, yet never heard them.

At that time Prince Herod heard of the fame of Jesus,

For Herod had arrested John, put him in chains, and shut him up in prison, to please Herodias, the wife of Herod's brother Philip.

Yet, though Herod wanted to put him to death, he was afraid of the people, because they looked on John as a Prophet.

But, when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before his guests, and so pleased Herod,

When Jesus heard of it, he retired privately in a boat to a lonely spot. The people, however, heard of his going, and followed him in crowds from the towns on foot.

On getting out of the boat, Jesus saw a great crowd, and his heart was moved at the sight of them; and he cured all the sick among them.

But the things that come out from the mouth proceed from the heart, and it is these that defile a man;

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts--murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, perjury, slander.

Afterwards Jesus called his disciples to him, and said: "My heart is moved at the sight of all these people, for they have already been with me three days and they have nothing to eat; and I am unwilling to send them away hungry, for fear that they should break down on the way."

So, also, will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each one of you forgives his Brother from his heart."

At this, Jesus said to his disciples: "I tell you that a rich man will find it hard to enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they collected together.

His answer was: "'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy Heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.'

Therefore practice and lay to heart everything that they tell preach but do not practice.

The man who had received the six hundred pounds came up, too, and said 'Sir, I knew that you were a hard man; you reap where you have not sown, and gather up where you have not winnowed;

"I am sad at heart," he said, "sad even to death; wait here and watch with me."

Then the High Priest tore his robes. "This is blasphemy!" he exclaimed. "Why do we want any more witnesses? You have just heard his blasphemy!

Some of those standing by heard this, and said: "The man is calling for Elijah!"

And teaching them to lay to heart all the commands that I have given you; and, remember, I myself am with you every day until the close of the age."

When his relations heard of it, they went to take charge of him, for they said that he was out of his mind.

The People meant by the seed that falls along the path are these--where the Message is sown, but, as soon as they have heard it, Satan immediately comes and carries away the Message that has been sown in them.

So, too, those meant by the seed sown on the rocky places are the people who, when they have heard the Message, at once accept it joyfully;

Heard about Jesus, came behind in the crowd, and touched his cloak.

Now King Herod heard of Jesus; for his name had become well known. People were saying--"John the Baptizer must have risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are active in him."

But when Herod heard of him, he said--"The man whom I beheaded--John--he must be risen!"

For Herod himself had sent and arrested John, and put him in prison, in chains, to please Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because Herod had married her.

For John had said to Herod--'You have no right to be living with your brother's wife.'

Because Herod stood in fear of John, knowing him to be an upright and holy man, and protected him. He had listened to John, but still remained much perplexed, and yet he found pleasure in listening to him.

A suitable opportunity, however, occurred when Herod, on his birthday, gave a dinner to his high officials, and his generals, and the foremost men in Galilee.

And when his daughter--that is, the daughter of Herodias--came in and danced, she delighted Herod and those who were dining with him. 'Ask me for whatever you like,' the King said to the girl, 'and I will give it to you';

When John's disciples heard of it, they came and took his body away, and laid it in a tomb.

On getting out of the boat, Jesus saw a great crowd, and his heart was moved at the sight of them, because they were 'like sheep without a shepherd'; and he began to teach them many things.

Hurried over the whole country-side, and began to carry about upon mats those who were ill, wherever they heard he was.

Because it does not pass into his heart, but into his stomach, and is afterwards got rid of?--in saying this Jesus pronounced all food 'clean.'

For a woman, whose little daughter had a foul spirit in her, heard of him immediately, and came and threw herself at his feet--

"My heart is moved at the sight of all these people, for they have already been with me three days and they have nothing to eat;

So Jesus gave them this warning. "Take care," he said, "beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod."

Jesus looked at the man, and his heart went out to him, and he said: "There is still one thing wanting in you; go and sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall heave wealth in Heaven; then come and follow me."

Then Jesus looked round, and said to his disciples: "How hard it will be for men of wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!"

The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again: "My children, how hard a thing it is to enter the Kingdom of God!

So, addressing the tree, he exclaimed: "May no man ever again eat of your fruit!" And his disciples heard what he said.

Now the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law heard this and began to look for some way of putting Jesus to death; for they were afraid of him, since all the people were greatly impressed by his teaching.

Then came up one of the Teachers of the Law who had heard their discussions. Knowing that Jesus had answered them wisely, he asked him this question: "What is the first of all the commandments?"

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.'

And to 'love him with all one's heart, and with all one's understanding, and with all one's strength,' and to 'love one's neighbor as one loves oneself' is far beyond all 'burnt-offerings and sacrifices.'"

"I am sad at heart," he said, "sad even to death; wait here, and watch."

"We ourselves heard him say 'I will destroy this Temple made with hands, and in three days build another made without hands.'"

"You heard his blasphemy? What is your verdict?" They all condemned him, declaring that he deserved death.

Some of those standing round heard this, and said: "Listen! He is calling for Elijah!"

Yet even they, when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, did not believe it.

They shall take up serpents in their hands; and, if they drink any poison, it shall not hurt them; they will place their hands on sick people and they shall recover."

In order that you may be able to satisfy yourself of the accuracy of the story which you have heard from the lips of others.]

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.

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

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

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.

All who heard the shepherds were astonished at their story,

And the shepherds went back, giving glory and praise to God for all that they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Yes, the sword will pierce your own heart--and so the thoughts in many minds will be disclosed."

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,

But Prince Herod, being rebuked by John respecting Herodias, the wife of Herod's brother, and for all the evil things that he had done,

"Doubtless," said Jesus, "you will remind me of the saying-- 'Doctor, cure yourself;' and you will say 'Do here in your own country all that we have heard that has been done at Capernaum.'

"We have been hard at work all night, Sir," answered Simon, "and have not caught anything, but, at your bidding, I will throw out the nets."

A good man, from the good stores of his heart, brings out what is good; while a bad man, from his bad stores, brings out what is bad. For what fills a man's heart will rise to his lips.

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."

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.

(All the people, when they heard this, and even the tax- gatherers, having accepted John's baptism, acknowledged the justice of God.

And Joanna (the wife of Herod's steward, Chuza), and Susannah, and many others--all of whom ministered to Jesus and his Apostles out of their means.

But by that in the good ground are meant those who, having heard the Message, keep it in the good, rich soil of their hearts, and patiently yield a return.

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.

But Herod himself said: "John I beheaded; but who is this of whom I hear such things?" And he endeavored to see him.