the oath which he swore to our father Abraham:

This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

"A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.

And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.

And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.'

When he rose from prayer, and came to his disciples, he found them sleeping from sorrow.