"You may have a guard," was Pilate's reply; "go and make the tomb as secure as you can."

And then go quickly and say to him disciples 'He has risen from the dead, and is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him.' Remember, I have told you."

"And should this matter come before the Governor," they added, "we will satisfy him, and see that you have nothing to fear."

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."

I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"

The man got up, and immediately took up his mat, and went out before them all; at which they were amazed, and, as they praised God, they said: "We have never seen anything like this!"

Jesus answered: "Can the bridegroom's friends fast, while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

"Have you never read," answered Jesus, "what David did when he was in want and hungry, he and his companions--

And they watched Jesus closely, to see if he would cure the man on the Sabbath, so that they might have a charge to bring against him.

'Though they have eyes, they may see without perceiving; And though they have ears, they may hear without understanding; Lest some day they should turn and be forgiven.'

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;

But, as they have no root, they stand only for a short time; and so, when trouble or persecution arises on account of the Message, they fall away at once.

Let all who have ears to hear with hear.

For, to those who have, more will be given; while, from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away."

"Why are you so timid?" he exclaimed. "Have you no faith yet?"

But Jesus, overhearing what they were saying, said to the President of the Synagogue: "Do not be afraid; only have faith."

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."

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

"How many loaves have you?" he asked; "Go, and see." When they had found out, they told him: "Five, and two fishes."

When they come from market, they will not eat without first sprinkling themselves; and there are many other customs which they have inherited and hold to, such as the ceremonial washing of cups, and jugs, and copper pans).

You say 'If a man says to his father or mother "Whatever of mine might have been of service to you is Korban"' (which means 'Given to God')--

"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 if I send them away to their homes hungry, they will break down on the way; and some of them have come a long distance."

"How many loaves have you?" he asked. "Seven," they answered.

'Though you have eyes, do you not see? and though you have ears, do you not hear?' Do not you remember,

"I tell you," he added, "that some of those who are standing here will not know death till they have seen the Kingdom of God come in power."

As they were going down the mountain-side, Jesus cautioned them not to relate what they had seen to any one, till after the Son of Man should have risen again from the dead.

But I tell you that Elijah has come, and people have treated him just as they pleased, as Scripture says of him."

"O faithless generation!" exclaimed Jesus. "How long must I be with you? how long must I have patience with you? Bring the boy to me."

The boy's father immediately cried out: "I have faith; help my want of faith!"

If your hand proves a snare to you, cut it off. It would be better for you to enter the Life maimed, than to have both your hands and go into the Pit, into the inextinguishable fire.

If your foot proves a snare to you, cut it off. It would be better for you to enter the Life lame, than to have both your feet and be thrown into the Pit.

If your eye proves a snare to you, tear it out. It would be better for you to enter the Kingdom of God with only one eye, than to have both eyes and be thrown into the Pit,

Salt is good, but, if the salt should lose its saltiness, what will you use to season it? You must have salt in yourselves, and live at peace with one another."

"Teacher," he replied, "I have observed all these from my childhood."

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."

"But we," began Peter, "we left everything and have followed you."

Then he began to teach. "Does not Scripture say," he asked, "'My House shall be called a House of Prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers.'"

"Have faith in God!" replied Jesus.

And therefore I say to you 'Have faith that whatever you ask for in prayer is already granted you, and you will find that it will be.'

And, whenever you stand up to pray, forgive any grievance that you have against any one, that your Father who is in Heaven also may forgive you your offenses."

"What authority have you to do these things?" they said. "Who gave you the authority to do them?"

"I will put one question to you," said Jesus. "Answer me that, and then I will tell you what authority I have to act as I do.

So their answer to Jesus was--"We do not know." "Then I," replied Jesus, "refuse to tell you what authority I have to do these things."

Have you never read this passage of Scripture?--'The very stone which the builders despised has now itself become the corner- stone;

As to the dead, and the fact that they rise, have you never read in the Book of Moses, in the passage about the Bush, how God spoke to him thus--'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?

And to have the best seats in the Synagogues, and places of honor at dinner.

But see that you are on your guard! I have told you all this beforehand.

I tell you that even the present generation will not pass away, until all these things have taken place.

This perfume could have been sold for more than thirty pounds, and the money given to the poor."

You always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you will not always have me.

True, the Son of Man must go, as Scripture says of him, yet alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is being betrayed! For that man 'it would be better never to have been born!'"

Yet, after I have risen, I shall go before you into Galilee."

But Jesus interposed, and said to the men: "Have you come out, as if after a robber, with swords and clubs, to take me?

I have been among you day after day in the Temple Courts teaching, and yet you did not arrest me; but this is in fulfillment of the Scriptures."

Then the High Priest stood forward, and questioned Jesus. "Have you no answer to make?" he asked. "What is this evidence which these men are giving against you?"

Upon which Pilate questioned Jesus again. "Have you no reply to make?" he asked. "Listen, how many charges they are bringing against you."

The Roman Officer, who was standing facing Jesus, on seeing the way in which he expired, exclaimed: "This man must indeed have been 'God's Son'!"

[To his Excellency, Theophilus. Many attempts have been already made to draw up an account of those events which have reached their conclusion among us,

And, therefore, I also, since I have investigated all these events with great care from their very beginning, have resolved to write a connected history of them for you,

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.]

"I am Gabriel," the angel answered, "who stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

"This is what the Lord has done for me," she said, "now that he has deigned to take away the reproach under which I have been living."

Gabriel came into her presence and said: "Hail, you who have been highly favored! The Lord is with you."

When the angel spoke again: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

"How can this be?" Mary asked the angel. "For I have no husband."

"I am the servant of the Lord," exclaimed Mary; "let it be with me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

But how have I this honor, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

"You have no relation of that name!" they exclaimed;

"Have no fear," the angel said. "For I bring you good news of a great joy in store for all the nation.

For my eyes have seen the Salvation

His parents were amazed when they saw him, and his mother said to him: "My child, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been searching for you in great distress."

"Do not collect more than you have authority to demand," John answered.

"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.'

"Stop! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"

"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."

When he saw their faith, Jesus said: "Friend, your sins have been forgiven you."

Which is the easier?--to say 'Your sins have been forgiven you'? or to say 'Get up, and walk about'?

The people, one and all, were lost in amazement, and praised God; and in great awe they said: "We have seen marvelous things to-day!"

I have not come to call the religious, but the outcast, to repent."

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

But 'alas for you who are rich,' for you have had your comforts in full.

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."

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!"

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.

They are like some little children who are sitting in the market-place and calling out to one another--'We have played the flute for you, but you have not danced; We have wailed, but you have not wept!'

When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself: "Had this man been 'The Prophet,' he would have known who, and what sort of woman, this is who is touching him, and that she is an outcast."

But, addressing him, Jesus said: "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Pray do so, Teacher," Simon answered; and Jesus began:

And for this, I tell you, her sins, many as they are, have been pardoned, because she has loved greatly; but one who has little pardoned him, loves but little."

Then he said to the woman: "Your sins have been pardoned."

"To you," he said, "the knowledge of the hidden truths of the Kingdom of God has been imparted, but to others in parables only, that 'though they have eyes they may not see, and though they have ears, they may not understand.'

By the seed which fell upon the rock are meant those who, as soon as they hear the Message, welcome it joyfully; but they have no root, and believe it only for a time, and, when the time of temptation comes, they draw back.

Take care, then, how you listen. For, to all those who have, more will be given; while, from all those who have nothing, even what they seem to have will be taken away."

But Jesus, hearing this, spoke to the President: "Do not be afraid; only have faith, and she shall yet be delivered."

But Jesus said: "It is for you to give them something to eat." "We have not more than five loaves and two fishes," they answered; "unless indeed we are to go and buy food for all these people."

Indeed, I tell you, some who are standing before me will not know death, till they have seen the Kingdom of God."

"O faithless and perverse generation!" Jesus exclaimed; "how long must I be with you and have patience with you? Lead your son here."

"Foxes have holes," he replied, "and wild birds their roosting-places, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."