Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your petition has been heard: and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call his name John.

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.”

And coming to her, the angel said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

but the angel said to her, "Mary, be not afraid: for you are the object of divine favour.

You will conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you are to call His name JESUS.

And she exclaimed loudly, “Blessed [worthy to be praised] are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

He has demonstrated power with His arm. He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their heart.

He has filled those who are hungry with good [things], and those who are rich he has sent away empty-handed.

And they replied to her, " [But] there are not any of your relatives named that."

Then all those who lived in the area became afraid; and people were talking about all these things throughout the entire hill country of Judea.

Salvation from those who are against us, and from the hands of those who have hate for us;

That we, being made free from the fear of those who are against us, might give him worship,

all the days of our life, in such holiness and righteousness that are accept before him.

To shine on them who, in the darkness and shade of death, are sitting, to guide our feet into a way of peace.

"May there be glory to God in the highest [heavens], and may there be peace on earth among men who are pleasing to God."

And he came in the Spirit into the temple; and while the parents are bringing in the little child Jesus, that they may do according to the provisions of law concerning Him,

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

She came forward at that very time and thanked God [in prayer] and spoke about the child [Jesus] to everyone [in the Temple area] who was expecting the redemption of the people of Jerusalem [i.e., their liberation from sin].

Every hollow must be filled up, And every mountain and hill leveled. What is crooked is to be made straight, And the rough roads are to be made smooth,

So he said to the people who went out to him for baptism: You offspring of snakes, at whose word are you going in flight from the wrath to come?

Therefore produce fruit that is worthy of [and consistent with your] repentance [that is, live changed lives, turn from sin and seek God and His righteousness]. And do not even begin to say to yourselves [as a defense], ‘We have Abraham for our father [and so our heritage assures us of salvation]’; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children (descendants) for Abraham [for God can replace the unrepentant, regardless of their heritage, with those who are obedient].

The crowds repeatedly asked him, "What then are we to do?"

There came also a party of tax-gatherers to be baptized, and they asked him, "Rabbi, what are we to do?"

And he said to them, "Collect no more than {what you are ordered to}."

The soldiers also once and again inquired of him, "And we, what are we to do?" His answer was, "Neither intimidate any one nor lay false charges; and be content with your pay."

And the people are looking forward, and all are reasoning in their hearts concerning John, whether or not he may be the Christ;

and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, “You are My Son, My Beloved, in You I am well-pleased and delighted!”

Then the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to turn into bread.”

all this power, said he, will I give thee, and the glory of them: for they are at my disposal, and where I please, I bestow them.

Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.'"

Then he led Jesus to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle (highest point) of the temple, and said [mockingly] to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here;

And Jesus answered [and] said to him, "It is said, 'You are not to put to the test the Lord your God.'"

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

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

He began speaking to them: “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing and in your presence.”

and all were bearing testimony to him, and were wondering at the gracious words that are coming forth out of his mouth, and they said, 'Is not this the son of Joseph?'

“Let us alone! What business do we have [in common] with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

And wonder came on them all and they said to one another, What are these words? for with authority and power he gives orders to the evil spirits and they come out.

Demons also were coming out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But He rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that He was the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).

and they beckoned to the partners, who are in the other boat, having come, to help them; and they came, and filled both the boats, so that they were sinking.

and so were Zebedee's sons, James and John, who were Simon's partners. Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you are to catch men!"

While Jesus was in one of the cities, there came a man covered with [an advanced case of] leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean and well.”

But because they could not find a [suitable] way to get him in [to the house] because of the people crowded [around], they went up to the housetop [Note: This was a flat area, where people retired for rest, prayer, etc., with a stairway accessible from the outside] and lowered the man on his cot through the roof tiles into the presence of Jesus.

And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered [and] said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts?

Which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and walk?

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]?”

And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

I did not come to call those who are doing right to repent [i.e., to change their hearts and lives], but [only those who are] sinners."

And they said to him, "The disciples of John fast often and make prayers--likewise also the [disciples] of the Pharisees--but yours are eating and drinking!"

And he said unto them, 'Are ye able to make the sons of the bride-chamber -- in the bridegroom being with them -- to fast?

But those days are coming, and when the bridegroom is taken from them, at that time they will fast."

But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

And Jesus answering said unto them, 'Did ye not read even this that David did, when he hungered, himself and those who are with him,

how he entered the house of God and took and ate the Presented Loaves and gave some to his followers--loaves which none but the Priests are allowed to eat?"

Then Jesus said to them, "I put it to you all whether we are allowed to do good on the Sabbath, or to do evil; to save a life, or to destroy it."

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed are ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.

Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

Unhappy are you when all men give you their approval: for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

'But I say to you who are hearing, Love your enemies, do good to those hating you,

Give blessing to those who give you curses, say prayers for those who are cruel to you.

And, if ye love them that love you, what sort of thanks are there for you? for, even sinners, love, such as love them.

If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

And if you let those have the use of your money, from whom you are hoping to get it back, what credit is it to you? even sinners do so to sinners, hoping to get back as much as they gave.

But be loving to those who are against you and do them good, and give them your money, not giving up hope, and your reward will be great and you will be the sons of the Most High: for he is kind to evil men, and to those who have hard hearts.

How are you able to say to your brother, "Brother, allow [me] to remove the speck [that is] in your eye," [while] you yourself do not see the beam of wood in your [own] eye? Hypocrite! First remove the beam of wood from your [own] eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck [that is] in your brother's eye!

for every tree is known by its own fruit, for figs are not gathered from thorns, nor grapes vintaged from a bramble.

"And why are you calling me Lord, Lord, and not doing what I tell you?

They are like a person building a house, who dug a deep hole to lay the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the floodwaters pushed against that house but couldn't shake it, because it had been founded on the rock.

and John, having called two of his disciples, sent to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that is coming, or are we to wait for another?

But the men having come to him said, John the baptist has sent us to thee, saying, Art thou he that is coming, or are we to wait for another?

Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.

For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?

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.

For now that John the Baptist has come, not eating bread or drinking wine, you are saying 'He has a demon in him';

And now that the Son of Man has come, eating and drinking, you are saying 'Here is a glutton and a wine-drinker, a friend of tax- gatherers and outcasts.'

But wisdom is justified by all who are truly wise."

Simon answered, "The one who had the largest debt canceled, I suppose." Jesus said to him, "You are right."

Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith [in Me] has saved you; go in peace [free from the distress experienced because of sin].”

And it came to pass thereafter, that he was going through every city and village, preaching and proclaiming good news of the reign of God, and the twelve are with him,

And He said, “To you [who have been chosen] it has been granted to know and recognize the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that though seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.

Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

No man lighting a lamp hides it with a cover, or putteth it under a bed, but on a stand, that they who are coming in, may see the light.

And He was told, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, asking to see You.”

And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

and as they are sailing he fell deeply asleep, and there came down a storm of wind to the lake, and they were filling, and were in peril.

They came to Jesus and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are about to die!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging, violent waves, and they ceased, and it became calm [a perfect peacefulness].

And He said to them, “Where is your faith [your confidence in Me]?” They were afraid and astonished, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the sea, and they obey Him?”