just as they were passed down to us by those who had been eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning,

Both of them were righteous before God, having lived blamelessly according to all of the commandments and regulations of the Lord.

They had no children because Elizabeth was barren and because both of them were getting old.

When the days of his service were over, he went home.

He displayed his mighty power with his arm. He scattered people who were proud in mind and heart.

On the eighth day they went to circumcise the child. They were going to name him Zechariah after his father,

Fear came over all their neighbors, and throughout the hill country of Judea all these things were being discussed.

While they were there, the time came for her to have her baby,

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, watching their flock during the night.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.

When the days of the festival were over, they left for home. The young man Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.

All who heard him were amazed at his intelligence and his answers.

When Jesus' parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother asked him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been worried sick looking for you!"

He asked them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?"

John would say to the crowds that were coming out to be baptized by him, "You children of serpents! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Even some soldiers were asking him, "And what should we do?" He told them, "Never extort money from anyone by threats or blackmail, and be satisfied with your pay."

Now the people were filled with expectation, and all of them were wondering if John was perhaps the Messiah.

where he was being tempted by the Devil for 40 days. During that time he ate nothing at all, and when they were over he became hungry.

Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. While the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him,

I'm telling you the truth there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when it didn't rain for three years and six months and there was a severe famine everywhere in the land.

There were also many lepers in Israel in the prophet Elisha's time, yet not one of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian."

They were utterly amazed at what he taught, because his message was spoken with authority.

He saw two boats lying on the shore, but the fishermen had stepped out of them and were washing their nets.

because Simon and all the people who were with him were amazed at the number of fish they had caught,

and so were James and John, Zebedee's sons and Simon's partners.

Some men were bringing a paralyzed man on a stretcher. They were trying to take him into the house and place him in front of Jesus.

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

Amazement seized all the people, and they began to praise God. They were filled with fear and declared, "We have seen wonderful things today!"

Later, Levi gave a large banquet at his home for Jesus. A large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.

One time Jesus was walking through some grain fields on a Sabbath. His disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.

The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Jesus closely to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, in order to find a way of accusing him of doing something wrong.

But Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he told the man with the paralyzed hand, "Get up, and stand in the middle of the synagogue." So he got up and stood there.

The others were furious and began to discuss with each other what they could do to Jesus.

They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Even those who were being tormented by unclean spirits were being healed.

After Jesus had finished saying all these things to the people who were there listening, he went to Capernaum.

Soon afterwards, Jesus went to a city called Nain. His disciples and a large crowd were going along with him.

Then he went up and touched the bier, and the men who were carrying it stopped. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!"

At that time Jesus had healed many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits, and had given sight to many who were blind.

Now the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and told himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who is touching him and what kind of woman she is. She's a sinner!"

"Two men were in debt to a moneylender. One owed him 500 denarii, and the other 50.

Those who were at the table with them began to say among themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?"

After this, Jesus traveled from one city and village to another, preaching and spreading the good news about God's kingdom. The Twelve were with him,

Now while a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from every city, he said in a parable:

"A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was sowing, some seeds fell along the path, were trampled on, and birds from the sky ate them up.

Now as they were sailing, Jesus fell asleep. A violent storm swept over the lake, and they were taking on water and were in great danger.

So the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind, they were frightened.

Then all the people from the region surrounding the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were terrified. So he got into a boat and started back.

Jesus asked, "Who touched me?" While everyone was denying it, Peter and those who were with him said, "Master, the crowds are surrounding you and pressing in on you."

Her parents were amazed, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Now there were about 5,000 men. So he told his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about 50."

All of them ate and were filled. When they collected the leftover pieces, there were twelve baskets.

One day, while Jesus was praying privately and the disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?"

Suddenly, two men were talking with him. They were Moses and Elijah.

They had a glorified appearance, and were discussing Jesus' departure that he would shortly bring about in Jerusalem.

Just as Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter told Jesus, "Master, it's good that we're here! Let's set up three shelters one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (Peter didn't know what he was saying.)

But while he was saying this, a cloud appeared and surrounded them, and they became terrified as they were being overshadowed by the cloud.

But they didn't know what this meant. Indeed, the meaning was hidden from them so that they didn't understand it; and they were afraid to ask him about this statement.

While they were walking along the road, a man told him, "I will follow you wherever you go."

Now as they were traveling along, Jesus went into a village. A woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.

Jesus was driving a demon out of a man who was unable to talk. When the demon had gone out, the man began to speak, and the crowds were amazed.

Since he knew what they were thinking, he told them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is devastated, and a divided household collapses.

How terrible it will be for you experts in the Law! You have taken away the key to knowledge. You didn't go in yourselves, and you kept out those who were trying to go in."

Meanwhile, the people had gathered by the thousands and were trampling on one another. Jesus began to speak first to his disciples. "Watch out for the yeast that is, the hypocrisy of the Pharisees!

But be sure of this: if the homeowner had known at what time the thief were coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into.

"I've come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already ablaze!

At that time, some people who were there told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

He asked them, "Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all the other Galileans because they suffered like this?

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?

Even as he was saying this, all of his opponents were blushing with shame. But the rest of the crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things he was doing.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones to death those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you people were unwilling!

One Sabbath, Jesus went to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal. The guests were watching Jesus closely.

When Jesus noticed how the guests were choosing the places of honor, he told them a parable.

When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who were invited, "Come! Everything is now ready.'

Because I tell all of you, none of those men who were invited will taste anything at my banquet.'"

Now large crowds were traveling with Jesus. He turned and told them,

No one would give him anything, even though he would gladly have filled himself with the husks the pigs were eating.

"Then Abraham told him, "If your brothers do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded, even if someone were to rise from the dead.'"

It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.

That's the way it is with you. When you have done everything you were ordered to do, say, "We are worthless servants. We have done only what we ought to have done.'"

When Jesus saw them, he told them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." While they were going, they were made clean.

Jesus asked, "Ten men were made clean, weren't they? Where are the other nine?

Except for this foreigner, were any of them found to return and give praise to God?"

People were eating, drinking, marrying, and being given in marriage right up to the day when Noah went into the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed all of them.

So it was in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building.

Jesus also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves, thinking they were righteous, but who looked down on everyone else:

Now some people were even bringing their infants to Jesus to have him touch them. But when the disciples saw this, they sternly told the people not to do that.

Those who were listening to Jesus asked, "Then who can be saved?"

As they were listening to this, Jesus went on to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and because the people thought that the kingdom of God would appear immediately.

So those who were sent went off and found it as Jesus had told them.

While they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?"

He replied, "I tell you, if they were quiet, the stones would cry out!"

They will level you to the ground you and those who live within your city limits. They will not leave one stone on another within your walls, because you didn't recognize the time when you were visited."

Then Jesus went into the Temple and began to throw out those who were selling things.

but they couldn't find a way to do it, because all the people were eager to hear him.

When the scribes and the high priests realized that Jesus had told this parable about them, they wanted to arrest him right then, but they were afraid of the crowd.

Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died childless.

While all the people were listening, he told his disciples,

Now while some people were talking about the Temple how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God he said,

So the high priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put him to death, because they were afraid of the crowd.