Now it came about that while the people came pushing to be near him, and to have knowledge of the word of God, he was by a wide stretch of water named Gennesaret;

So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they were about to sink.

And it came about that while he was in one of the towns, there was a leper there: and when he saw Jesus he went down on his face in prayer to him, saying, Lord, if it is your pleasure, you have power to make me clean.

Then He ordered the man not to tell anyone [about the healing], saying, "Go on your way and show yourself to the priest and offer the proper sacrifice for your healing that Moses required [Lev. 13:49; 14:2ff] as evidence to people [that you were healed]."

But the report about him spread even more, and large crowds were gathering to hear [him] and to be healed of their illnesses.

And he withdrew himself, and was about in the desert places and praying.

And it came about that on one of these days he was teaching; and some Pharisees and teachers of the law were seated there, who had come from every town of Galilee and Judaea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was with him, to make those who were ill free from their diseases.

The Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees began debating about this. "Who is this man who speaks so blasphemously?" they asked. "Who can forgive sins except God?"

Because Jesus knew that they were arguing, he asked them, "Why are you arguing about this among yourselves?

Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled about it to his disciples, and said, "Why do you eat and drink with tax-collectors and irreligious people?"

Now it came about that on the Sabbath he was going through the fields of grain, and his disciples took the heads of the grain for food, crushing them in their hands.

And Jesus answered them, "Have you never read about what King David did when he and his men were hungry [I Sam. 21:6];

And it came about, on another Sabbath, that he went into the Synagogue and was teaching there. And a man was there whose right hand was dead.

And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

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

About that time He went out on one occasion into the hill country to pray; and He remained all night in prayer to God.

You are blessed when men hate you and withdraw their fellowship from you and speak abusively about you and reject your name as evil, [all] for being loyal to the Son of man.

"How terrible it will be for you when everyone says nice things about you, because that's the way their ancestors used to treat the false prophets!"

And a certain centurion's bondman who was dear to him was ill and about to die;

and having heard about Jesus, he sent unto him elders of the Jews, beseeching him, that having come he might thoroughly save his servant.

When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

And it came about, after a little time, that he went to a town named Nain; and his disciples went with him, and a great number of people.

And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

And the disciples of John told him about all these things,

And Jesus responding said to them, Having gone, proclaim to John those things which you saw and heard; that the blind are seeing, the lame are walking about, the lepers are being cleansed, the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised up, the poor are having the gospel preached unto them;

And a blessing will be on him who has no doubts about me.

When John’s messengers left, Jesus began speaking to the crowds about John: “What did you go out to the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

It is this man about whom it is written: 'Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.'

They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.

[Jesus then gave this parable]: A certain moneylender had two men who owed him money; one owed him five hundred coins [Note: The total amount was days of a farm laborer's pay, or about $35,000 in 1994], and the other man [owed him] fifty coins [Note: About $3,500 in 1994].

And it came to pass soon afterwards, that he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good tidings of the kingdom of God, and with him the twelve,

And his disciples put questions to him about the point of the story.

So he said, "You have been given knowledge about the secrets of the kingdom of God. But to others they are given in parables, so that "they might look but not see, and they might listen but not understand.'"

And those people [represented by the seed] that fell among thorns are the ones who have heard [the word], and as they go about their business, they become choked by worry, by money and by worldly pleasures, and produce no mature crop.

Now it came about on one of those days that he got into a boat with his disciples; and he said to them, Let us go over to the other side of the water: and they put out the boat.

They came and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we are about to die!" So he got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they died down, and it was calm.

[Finally] they arrived at the district of the Gerasenes, which is opposite [i.e., across the lake from the province of] Galilee. [Note: Matt. 8:28 says 'Gadara.' Geresa and Gadara were two towns about twelve miles apart in the same region east of Lake Galilee].

for he was about to charge the impure spirit to come out from the man. For, many times, had it snatched him away; and he used to be bound with chains and fetters, for a safe-guard, and was wont to break in pieces the bonds, and to be driven by the demon into the deserts.

And when the men who took care of them saw what had come about, they went quickly and gave news of it in the town and the country.

Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

"Return to your house and tell people about the great things God has done for you." So, he went on his way, proclaiming throughout the whole town [i.e., Gerasa. See verse 26] the great things Jesus had done for him.

For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.

upon which Jesus said, who was it that touch'd me? they being all at a loss, what to answer, at length Peter, and the others with him, said, master, the crowd are squeezing and pressing about you, and yet you cry, "who touch'd me?"

And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.

And her father and mother were full of wonder, but he gave orders to them to say nothing about it to anyone.

So they began going from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing the sick everywhere.

Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that John has been raised from the dead,

And Herod said, John I beheaded: but who is this, about whom I hear such things? And he sought to see him.

But when the crowds learned of it, they followed Him; and He welcomed them and He began talking to them about the kingdom of God, and healing those who needed to be healed.

And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place.

But He said to them, "Give ye them to eat." And they said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fishes; unless we, going, should buy food for all this people." (For they were about five thousand men).

For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.

And it came about that when he was in prayer, by himself, and the disciples were with him, he put a question to them, saying, Who do the people say I am?

And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

And when they were about to go away from him, Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah: having no knowledge of what he was saying.

After this voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They kept it to themselves, and said not a word to any one at that time about what they had seen.

Do ye let these words sink into your ears. For the Son of man is about to be delivered into men's hands.

But they understood not this saying, and it was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

Then an argument started among them about who would be the greatest of them.

When Jesus knew what they were disputing about in their minds, He took a small child and placed him at His side,

And it came about that when the days were near for him to be taken up, his face was turned to go to Jerusalem,

Jesus turned about, and rebuked them saying, "Ye know not what manner spirit ye are of.

Jesus said unto him, "No man that putteth his hand to the plough, and looketh back, is apt to the kingdom of God."

Now after these things the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself was about to come.

And in the same house remain, eating and drinking the things with them; for the laborer is worthy of his reward. Go not about from house to house.

"'The very dust of your town that hangs about us we wipe off as a protest. Only be sure of this, that the Kingdom of God is close at hand.'

Jesus answered him, "A certain man was traveling down from Jerusalem to Jericho [Note: This was a town about eighteen miles northeast of Jerusalem], when he was attacked by robbers, who stripped him [of his clothing and belongings] and beat him up, then went away leaving him half dead.

and in like manner also, a Levite, having been about the place, having come and seen, passed over on the opposite side.

Then the next day he gave the lodge keeper two coins [Note: These coins amounted to two days of a farm laborer's pay, or about $140 in 1994] and told him, 'Take care of this [injured] man; and whatever more you have to spend on him I will repay you when I come back [this way] again.'

But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

And it came about that he was in prayer in a certain place, and when he came to an end, one of his disciples said to him, Lord, will you give us teaching about prayer, as John did to his disciples?

And suppose he answers from inside, 'Stop bothering me; the door is now locked, and my children are packed about me in bed; I cannot get up and give you any.'

And he was sending an evil spirit out of a man who was without the power of talking. And it came about that when the spirit had gone the man had the power of talking; and the people were full of wonder.

He knew what they were thinking about, so he said to them, "Any realm divided against itself comes to ruin, house after house falls down;

"When a foul spirit has left a man, it roams about in the Desert, seeking a resting-place; but, unable to find any, it says, 'I will return to the house I have left;"

And it came about that when he said these things, a certain woman among the people said in a loud voice, Happy is the body which gave you birth, and the breasts from which you took milk.

And when the crowds were thronging about him, he began to say, This generation is a wicked generation; it seeketh a sign; and no sign will be given it, but the sign of Jonah.

Yes, I tell you, this generation will be punished [for the death of the prophets], from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who died between the Altar and the sanctuary [i.e., in the Temple area]. [Note: This punishment began about

And in his speaking these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began fearfully to urge and to press him to speak about many things,

About this time, while a crowd of many thousands had assembled, [so large that] people were trampling on one another, Jesus first began telling His disciples, "Watch out for the leavening [effect] of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

But I am warning you about whom you should fear. Fear the One [i.e., God] who, after He has killed [i.e., the body], has power to throw [you] into hell [See note on Matt. 5:29]. Yes, I tell you, fear Him.

Are not five sparrows sold [i.e., in the market as food] for two coins? [Note: The coins here amount to just over one hour's worth of a farm laborer's pay, or about $8 in 1994]. Yet in the presence of God, not a [single] one of them is forgotten.

And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but no one who speaks abusively about the Holy Spirit will be forgiven.

Whenever they bring you before synagogues and rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how you should defend yourselves or what you should say.

Jesus said to His disciples, “For this reason I tell you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; or about your body, as to what you will wear.

For there are more important things in life than food, and [more important things about] your body than the clothing [you wear].

Which of you can add an ell to his height by troubling about it?

If therefore ye cannot do even what is least, why are ye careful about the rest?

"So stop concerning yourselves about what you will eat or what you will drink, and stop being distressed,

because it is the unbelievers who are concerned about all these things. Surely your Father knows that you need them!

Instead, be concerned about his kingdom, and these things will be provided for you as well.

Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

Happy are those servants, which their Lord, when he cometh, shall find waking; Verily I say unto you, he will gird himself about, and make them sit down to meat, and walk by them, and minister unto them.

But if that servant says to himself, My lord is a long time coming; and goes about giving blows to the men-servants and the women-servants, feasting and taking overmuch wine;

I tell you, you will not be released from there until you have paid the last coin [Note: This coin amounted to about five minutes of a farm laborer's pay, or about fifty cents in 1994]."

And there were present certain at that time, telling him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate did mingle with their sacrifices;

What about those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them? Do you think they were worse offenders than all the other people living in Jerusalem?