Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by [the power of] the Holy Spirit.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king (Herod the Great), magi (wise men) from the east came to Jerusalem, asking,

Now when they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod intends to search for the Child in order to destroy Him.”

But Jesus replied to him, “Permit it just now; for this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John permitted [it and baptized] Him.

Now when Jesus heard that John [the Baptist] had been arrested and put in prison, He left for Galilee.

Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He gave orders to cast off for the other side of the Sea of Galilee.

Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was grazing.

While He was saying these things to them, a ruler (synagogue official) entered [the house] and kneeled down and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just now died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will live.”

Now these are the names of the twelve apostles (special messengers, personally chosen representatives): first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew, his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

Now when John [the Baptist] in prison heard about the activities of Christ, he sent word by his disciples

When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is an isolated place and the hour is already late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

Then Jesus called His disciples to Him, and said, “I feel compassion for the crowd, because they have been with Me now three days and have nothing [left] to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, because they might faint [from exhaustion] on the way [home].”

Now the Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus [to get something to use against Him], they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven [which would support His divine authority].

Now when Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, He left Galilee and went into the part of Judea that is beyond the Jordan;

But many who are first [in this world] will be last [in the world to come]; and the last, first.

Now when the first [to be hired] came, they thought they would get more; but each of them also received a denarius.

So those who are last [in this world] shall be first [in the world to come], and those who are first, last.”

Now when the owner of the vineyard comes back, what will he do to those tenants?”

Now there were seven brothers among us; the first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother.

So in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had married her.”

Now when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced (muzzled) the Sadducees, they gathered together.

Now while the Pharisees were [still] gathered together, Jesus asked them a question:

For at that time there will be a great tribulation (pressure, distress, oppression), such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will [again].

“Now after a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.

Now when Jesus was [back] in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper,

Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread (Passover Week) the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do You want us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

Now as they were eating Jesus took bread, and after blessing it, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him.”

Now the chief priests and the whole Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) tried to get false witnesses to testify against Jesus, so that they might [have a reason to] put Him to death.

Then the high priest tore his robes [in mock horror] and exclaimed, “He has blasphemed [by making Himself God’s equal]! What further need have we of witnesses or evidence? See, you have now heard the blasphemy.

What do you think?” They answered, “He deserves to be put to death.”

Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came up to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.”

Now Jesus stood before [Pilate] the governor, and the governor asked Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” [In affirmation] Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.”

Now at the feast [of the Passover] the governor was in the habit of setting free any one prisoner whom the people chose.

“He saved others [from death]; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him and acknowledge Him.

He trusts in God; let God rescue Him now, if He delights in Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”

Now from the sixth hour (noon) there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.).

Now after the Sabbath, near dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated.

Now after John [the Baptist] was arrested and taken into custody, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news of [the kingdom of] God,

Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out [terribly from the depths of his throat],

Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they told Him about her.

Now when evening came, after the sun had set [and the Sabbath Day had ended, in a steady stream] they were bringing to Him all who were sick and those who were under the power of demons,

But some of the scribes were sitting there debating in their hearts [the implication of what He had said],

Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting [as a ritual]; and they came and asked Jesus, “Why are John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fasting, but Your disciples are not doing so?”

And He got up and [sternly] rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still (muzzled)!” And the wind died down [as if it had grown weary] and there was [at once] a great calm [a perfect peacefulness].

Now there was a large herd of pigs grazing there on the mountain.

And she rushed back to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter!”

Many [people] saw them leaving, and recognized them and ran there together on foot from all the [surrounding] cities, and got there ahead of them.

When the day was nearly gone, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is an isolated place, and it is already late;

Now when evening had come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and Jesus was alone on the land.

Now the Pharisees and some of the scribes came from Jerusalem and gathered around Him,

Now the woman was a Gentile (Greek), a Syrophoenician by nationality. And she kept pleading with Him to drive the demon out of her daughter.

“I feel compassion for the crowd; they have been with Me now for three days and have nothing [left] to eat.

Now the disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat.

For whoever is ashamed [here and now] of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

who will not receive a hundred times as much now in the present age—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms—along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.

But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”

When Bartimaeus heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout and say, “Jesus, Son of David (Messiah), have mercy on me!”

Many sternly rebuked him, telling him to keep still and be quiet; but he kept on shouting out all the more, “Son of David (Messiah), have mercy on me!”

What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and will give the vineyard to others.

There were seven brothers; the first [one] took a wife, and died leaving no children.

In the resurrection, whose wife will she be? For all seven [brothers] were married to her.”

David himself calls Him (the Son, the Messiah) ‘Lord’; so how can it be that He is David’s Son?” The large crowd enjoyed hearing Jesus and listened to Him with delight.

When they take you and turn you over [to the court], do not worry beforehand about what to say, but say whatever is given to you [by God] in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit [who will speak through you].

“Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: as soon as its branch becomes tender and it puts out its leaves, you recognize that summer is near.

It was now two days before the Passover and [the festival of] Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and the scribes were searching for a deceitful way to arrest Jesus and kill Him;

Now the betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the one; seize Him and lead Him away safely [under guard].”

Now the chief priests and the entire Council (Sanhedrin, Jewish High Court) were trying to obtain testimony against Jesus [which they could use] to have Him [condemned and] executed, but they were not finding any.

Now at the [Passover] feast Pilate used to set free for them any one prisoner whom they requested.

save Yourself by coming down from the cross!”

Let the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed), the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe and trust [in Him]!” Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting Him.

Now some women also were watching from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the Less and of Joses, and Salome.

[Now Jesus, having risen [from death] early on the first day of the week, appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons.

Now it happened while Zacharias was serving as priest before God in the appointed order of his priestly division,

Listen carefully, you will be continually silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe what I told you; but my words will be fulfilled at their proper time.”

The people [outside in the court] were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering about his long delay in the temple.

Now after this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant, and for five months she secluded herself completely, saying,

Now in the sixth month [of Elizabeth’s pregnancy] the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth,

And listen, 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.

“For He has looked [with loving care] on the humble state of His maidservant;
For behold, from now on all generations will count me blessed and happy and favored by God!

Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son.

Now Zacharias his father was filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered by Him, and he prophesied, saying,

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout [carefully observing the divine Law], and looking for the Consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

“Now, Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to leave [this world] in peace,
According to Your word;

Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year for the Passover Feast.

and as they were returning [to Nazareth], after spending the required number of days [at the Feast], the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. Now His parents did not know this,

Even now the axe [of God’s judgment] is swinging toward the root of the trees; so every tree that does not produce good fruit is being cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, the [visible] heaven was opened,

There was a man in the synagogue who was possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon; and he cried out with a loud and terrible voice,

Then Jesus got up and left the synagogue and went to Simon’s (Peter’s) house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Him to help her.

While the sun was setting [marking the end of the Sabbath day], all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Jesus; and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them [exhibiting His authority as Messiah].

Now it happened that while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret (Sea of Galilee), with the people crowding all around Him and listening to the word of God;

and so were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon [Peter]. Jesus said to Simon, “Have no fear; from now on you will be catching men!”

The Pharisees and their scribes [seeing those with whom He was associating] began murmuring in discontent to His disciples, asking, “Why are you eating and drinking with the tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews]?”

Now at this time Jesus went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.

Blessed [joyful, nourished by God’s goodness] are you who hunger now [for righteousness, actively seeking right standing with God], for you will be [completely] satisfied. Blessed [forgiven, refreshed by God’s grace] are you who weep now [over your sins and repent], for you will laugh [when the burden of sin is lifted].

Woe to you who are well-fed (gorged, satiated) now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now [enjoying a life of self-indulgence], for you will mourn and weep [and deeply long for God].

“But I say to you who hear [Me and pay attention to My words]: Love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, [make it a practice to] do good to those who hate you,