J. Vernon McGee Thru the Bible Radio - (42) Book of Luke

Return to Home Page Grace Baptist Church

To listen quickly (within 8 seconds) click on "Listen" which is audio streamed. To listen using your computer media player, double-click on "Download". To save the file right-click on "download" and save to directory you choose.. The download files are in MP3 format.

The Book of Luke - Summary

Luke's Gospel (good news) is a record, in order, of the main events in Jesus' life. Its author was Luke, who was a doctor. Luke was a friend of Paul.

Luke probably did not belong to the Jewish people. His book shows that Jesus cared about everyone. Jesus cured many ill people. Jesus cared about women (for example, Luke 7:11-17). Jesus allowed children to come to him (Luke 18:15-17). And Jesus cared about poor people (Luke 21:1-4).

Jesus taught many lessons to the people. Often, he told parables (stories with a meaning) to teach the people about God. Jesus wanted everybody to confess their evil deeds and to trust in God.

Some evil leaders opposed Jesus. They plotted that Jesus would die. Jesus knew about their plans (Luke 18:31-34). But Jesus also knew that God wanted him to die (Luke 22:20-22, Luke 22:42). And, after Jesus' death, God would cause Jesus to live again.

Luke describes these events. The Bible taught that these things would happen (Luke 24:25-27, Luke 24:44-49).

Luke explained these events further in his other book, called Acts (Acts chapters 2-3). When Jesus died, he suffered the punishment for our evil deeds. So, we must confess our evil deeds to God. And we must invite God into our lives.
http://www.easyenglish.info/bible-outline/luke-summary.htm

Listen	Download	Introduction to the Book of Luke
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 1 The Dedication to Theophilus; Gabriel Predicts John's Birth; Gabriel Predicts Jesus' Birth; Mary's Visit to Elizabeth; Mary's Praise; The Birth and Naming of John; Zechariah's Prophecy.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 2 The Birth of Jesus; The Shepherds and the Angels; The Circumcision and Presentation of Jesus; Simeon's Prophetic Praise; Anna's Testimony; The Family's Return to Nazareth; In His Father's House; In Favor with God and with People.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 3 The Messiah's Herald; The Baptism of Jesus; tghe Geneology of Jesus Christ.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 4 The Temtation of Jesus; Ministry in Galilee; Rejection at Nazareth; Driving Out an Unclean Spirit; Healings at Capernaum; Preaching in Galilee.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 5 The First Disciples; Cleansing a Leper; The Son of Man Forgives and Heals; The Call of Levi; Dining with Sinners; A Question about Fasting.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 6 Lord of the Sabbath; The Man with the Paralyzed Hand; The 12 Apostles; Teaching and Healing; The Beautitudes; Woe to the Self-Satisfied; Love Your Enemies; Do not Judge; A Tree and Its Fruit; The Two Foundations.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 7 A Centurion's Faith; A Widow's Son Raised to Life; In Praise of John the Baptist; An Unresponsive Generation; Much Forgiveness, Much Love.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 8 Many Woman Support Christ's Work; The Parable of the Sower; Why Jesus Used Parables; The Parable of the Sower Explained; Using Your Light; True Relationships; Wind and Wave Obey the Master; Demons Driven Out by the Master; A Girl Restored and a Woman Healed.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 9 Commissioning the Twelve; Herod's Desire to See Jesus; Feeding 5,000; Peter's Confession of the Messiah; His Death and Resurrection Predicted; Take Up Your Cross; The Transfiguration; The Power of Faith over a Demon; The Second Prediction of His Death; Who is the Greatest; In His Name; The Journey to Jerusalem; Following Jesus.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 10 Sending Out the Seventy; Unrepentant Towns; The Return of the Seventy; The Son Reveals the Father; The Parable of the Good Samaritan; Martha and Mary.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 11 The Lord's Prayer; Keeping Asking, Searching, Knocking; A House Divided; An Uncleaned Spirit's Return; True Blessedness; The Sign of Jonah; The Lamp of the Body; Religious Hypocracy Denounced.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 12 Beware of religious Hypocrisy; Fear God; Acknowledging Christ; The Parable of the Rich Fool; The Cure for Anxiety; Ready for the Master's Return; Rewards and Punishment; Not Peace but Division; Interpreting the Time; Setting Accounts.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 13 Repent or Perish; The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree; Healing a Daughter of Abraham; The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast; The Narrow Way; Jesus and Herod Antipas; Jesus' Lamentation over Jerusalem.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 14 A Sabbath Controversy; Teachings on Humility; The Parable of the Large Banquet; The Costg of Following Jesus.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 15 The Parable of the Lost Sheep; The Parable of the Lost Coin; The Parable of the Lost Son.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 16 The Parable of the Dishonest Manager; Kingdom Values; The Rich Man and Lazarus.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 17 Warnings from Jesus; Faith and Duty; The 10 Lepers.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 18 The Parable of the Persistent Widow; The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector; Blessing the Children; The Rich Young Ruler; Professions and the Kingdom; The Third Prediction of His Death; A Blind Man receives His Sight.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 19 Jesus Visits Zacchaeus; The Parable of the 10 Minas; The Triumphal Entry; Cleansing the Temple Complex.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 20 The Authority of Jesus Challenged; The Parable of the Vineyard Owner; God and Caesar; The Sadducees and the Resurrection; The Question about the Messiah; Warning against the Scribes.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 21 The Widow's Gift; Destruction of the Temple Predicted; Signs of the End of the Age; The Destruction of Jerusalem; The Coming of he Son of Man; The Parable of the Fig Tree; The Neeed for Watchfulness.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 22 The Plot to Kill Jesus; Preparation for Passover; The First Supper; The Dispute over Greatness; Peter's Denial Predicted; Money-Bag, Backpack, and Sword; The Prayer in the Garden; The Judas Kiss; Peter Denies His Lord; Jesus Mocked and Beaten; Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 23 Jesus Faces Pilate; Jesus Faces Herod Antipas; Jesus or Barabbas; The Way of the Cross; Crucified Between Two Criminals; The Death of Jesus; The Burial of Jesus.
Listen	Download	Luke Chapter 24 Resurrection Morning; The Emmaus Disciples; The Reality of the Risen Jesus.

Book of Luke Outlines by J.Vernon McGee PDF format <Link>

========================================================== http://www.easyenglish.info/english-learners-bible/luke-taw.htm

About this book

Chapter 1

v1 Great things have happened in our country. Many people have tried to write about them. v2 Some people were present when these things started to happen. They saw everything that happened. They told us what they had seen. And they told us what they had heard. They are the people who told the Good News. v3 Most important Theophilus, I have checked all these facts. Now I also know about all the things that happened from the beginning. I am writing to tell them to you. It is good for you also to know all these facts. This is the reason for this letter. v4 You have already heard about all these things. Now you can be sure that they are true.

What happened before John the *Baptist was born

v5 There was a man whose name was Zechariah. He lived when Herod was king of Judea. Zechariah was a *priest and he belonged to a group of *priests from the *family of Abijah. He had a wife called Elizabeth. And they were both from the *family of the *priest called Aaron.

v6 Zechariah and Elizabeth obeyed God all the time. They did not do wrong things. God liked how they lived. v7 But they had no children. Elizabeth could not have a baby and they were both getting old.

v8 One day, Zechariah’s group was working at the *Great House of God. And Zechariah had a special job to do. v9 The *priests chose one of their group to go into a special room inside the *Great House of God. Zechariah’s job was to burn *incense there.

v10 While Zechariah was burning *incense, many men were outside the special room. They were praying to God.

v11 The *incense was burning on a special table, when an *angel from God appeared to Zechariah. The *angel was standing at the right hand side of the table.

v12 When Zechariah saw the *angel, he was very surprised. He was also very afraid. v13 ‘Zechariah, do not be afraid’, the *angel said to him. ‘God has heard what you prayed. He will give you what you asked for. Your wife Elizabeth will have a baby boy. You will call him John. v14-15 He will be very important to the *Lord. So, he will make you very happy. Many other people will also be very happy because he has been born. He must never drink anything with alcohol in it. From the time that he is born, the *Holy Spirit will live inside him.

v16 He will teach many people in *Israel. Then they will turn their lives towards the *Lord their God and they will obey God again. v17 John will prepare the people for the *Lord. The *Holy Spirit will lead John as he led Elijah. John will be as powerful as Elijah was. He will help fathers to love their children. He will teach people that do not obey God. Then they will think right things. And they will do right things that good people do. John will prepare *Israel’s people. Then they will be ready when the *Lord comes.’

v18 ‘How can I be sure about this?’ Zechariah asked the *angel. ‘After all, I am an old man. My wife is also old.’

v19 ‘I am called Gabriel’, answered the *angel. ‘My place is in front of God. I am always ready to work for God. He has sent me to speak to you. He told me that I should tell you this good news. v20 Now listen to me. Because you did not believe my message, you will be quiet. You will not speak again until the time that your son is born. My message will become true at the right time.’

v21 While this was happening, the people outside were waiting for Zechariah. They were thinking, ‘Why has Zechariah stayed for such a long time in the special room? Why has he not come out yet?’ v22 When he did come out, he tried to talk to them. But he could not speak. So they knew that he had seen something special in the room. He was moving his head and his hands about, to tell them what had happened. But he remained quiet.

v23 When Zechariah had finished his work in the *Great House of God, he returned home. v24 Soon, a baby was growing inside his wife Elizabeth. She stayed in her house for 5 months. v25 ‘The *Lord has now given me a baby’, she said. ‘He has been kind to me. He has helped me to feel good about myself. Because of this, other people cannot say bad things about me any longer.’

What happened before Jesus was born

v26 When Elizabeth’s baby had grown inside her for nearly 6 months, God sent the *angel Gabriel to Nazareth. Nazareth is a town in Galilee. v27 Gabriel went there to visit a young woman. Her name was Mary. She had never had sex with anyone. She had promised to marry a man called Joseph. He belonged to the *family of King David.

v28 Gabriel arrived. ‘Hello, Mary’, he said. ‘God loves you very much. He is very near to you.’

v29 Mary had a lot of problems in her mind about what Gabriel said. She did not understand why he said it. v30 ‘Do not be afraid, Mary’, Gabriel went on to say. ‘God has been kind to you. v31 Listen! A baby boy will grow inside you. When he is born, you will call him Jesus. v32 He will be great. The strong God above will call him his *Son. The *Lord God will make him king. He will rule as King David ruled. v33 He will rule over the *family of Jacob for all time. He will be king for all time.’

v34 ‘How can this happen?’ Mary asked. ‘I have never had sex with anyone.’ v35 ‘The *Holy Spirit will come to you’, the *angel answered. ‘The power of God will cover you like a shadow. So, your child will be completely good. He will never do anything that is wrong. He will be called God’s *Son. v36 Another thing! Your cousin, Elizabeth, is very old. People said that she could not have a baby. Listen! She also will have a son. The baby has grown inside her now for nearly 6 months. v37 There is nothing that God cannot do.’

v38 ‘I am the servant of the *Lord’, Mary answered. ‘I have heard what you have said. I want the *Lord to cause it to happen to me.’ Then the *angel left her.

Mary visits Elizabeth

v39 After that, Mary prepared herself and she left on a journey. She hurried to a town in the hills of Judea. v40 When she arrived at the home of Zechariah, she said, ‘Hello’ to Elizabeth. v41 When Elizabeth heard Mary speak, she felt her baby move quickly inside her. The *Holy Spirit filled her. v42 Then she spoke to Mary in a loud voice, ‘God has made you very happy. He has been more good and kind to you than to other women. He has also been good and kind to your baby. v43 I am not an important person and you are the mother of my *Lord. So, it is a very good thing that you have visited me. v44 Listen! When I heard you say, “Hello” to me, the baby moved quickly inside me. He was very happy. v45 The *Lord told you what would happen. And you believed what he told you. This makes you a very happy person.’

This is Mary’s song

v46 Then Mary said,

‘All of me wants to say to the *Lord, “How good and great you are!”

v47 I am happy because of God. It is he who saves me.

v48 I do not think that I am an important person.

God knows this, so he has looked at me with love.

Listen! From now on all people will say that

God has been very good and kind to me.

v49 After all, God has done great things for me.

He is very powerful and strong.

He is good in everything.

v50 He is kind to people that obey him.

He is also kind to all their children. He will do this for all time.

v51 He has shown how strong he is.

Some people think that they are very important.

But he has sent them away alone in different directions.

v52 Some people were ruling countries.

But he has taken their important jobs away from them.

He has given important work to people that do not feel important.

v53 He has fed hungry people with good things.

He has sent rich people away with nothing.

v54 He promised that he would never forget his people, *Israel.

Now he has helped them.

v55 He made a promise to Abraham and to our other *fathers.

“I will be kind to you for all time”, he said. Now he has done what he promised.’

v56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. Then she returned to her home.

John the *Baptist is born

v57 Then it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby. She had a son. v58 Her family and the people that lived near her heard about her baby. They knew that the *Lord had been very kind to her. They saw that she was happy. So they were happy too. v59 When the child was 8 days old, they came to the house of Zechariah and Elizabeth. The child had to be *circumcised on that day. The people wanted to call the child Zechariah. This was the same name that his father had.

v60 ‘No’, said Elizabeth. ‘His name will be John.’

v61 ‘You cannot really want his name to be John!’ they said. ‘You do not have anybody in your family called John.’ v62 Then they moved their hands at his father. They wanted to know the boy’s name.

v63 So Zechariah asked for something to write on. He wrote, ‘His name is John.’ Everyone was very surprised at what he wrote. v64 Immediately, Zechariah could speak again. He could speak very well again. He began to tell God, ‘You are very great!’

v65 The people that lived near Zechariah and Elizabeth were surprised. They were surprised about what had happened. They saw how great God was. Many people that lived in the hills of Judea also talked about all these things. v66 Everyone that heard about these things thought about them. ‘What will this child be?’ they asked each other. After all, they could see that God really was with him.

This is Zechariah’s song

v67 The *Holy Spirit filled John’s father. Then he spoke well about God. The *Holy Spirit helped him to speak this message.

v68 ‘The *Lord God of *Israel is a great God.

He has come to save his people.

v69 He has sent a very strong person that will save us.

This person is in the *family of David. David was his servant.

v70 Long ago, God gave his Spirit to good people so that they could tell us about this.

This is what they said:

v71 “God will save us from our enemies.

He will save us from everyone that *hates us.

v72 He has promised to be kind to our *fathers.

He will remember to do the things that he promised.”

v73 Yes, he will remember the promises that he said to Abraham.’

v74 ‘ “I will keep you safe from your enemies.

Then you can work for me and not be afraid.

v75 You can work for me in the right way.

You can do this all your lives.” ’

v76 Zechariah then spoke to his child.

‘You, child, will be called a servant of the great God above.

The *Holy Spirit will give to you messages to speak.

You will go in front of the *Lord to prepare a way for him.

v77 You will tell his people how God can save them.

They have done wrong things but God will *forgive them.

v78 Our God will *forgive us because he is very kind.

He will send someone from the highest place.

This person will be like the sunrise to us.

v79 As the sun gives light to everybody, so he will shine on all people.

Some people are like people who are in the dark. They are living without God.

Some people are afraid to die.

But he will shine on everybody.

He will show us how to live so that we will not be afraid.’

v80 Zechariah’s child grew. God made him strong in his mind. He went and he lived in the *desert for many years. Later, God sent him to *Israel’s people, to teach them.

Chapter 2

Jesus is born

v1 While Mary’s baby was growing inside her, Caesar Augustus was ruling the whole *Roman world. He *ordered his men, ‘Count everyone who is in the *Roman world.’ v2 This was the first time that the *Romans had counted everyone. Quirinius was the *Roman ruler of Syria at this time.

v3 So everyone went to his own home town for the *Romans to count them. v4 Joseph also went to his home town. He was living in the town called Nazareth in Galilee. He went to the town called Bethlehem in Judea. King David had been born there, so Bethlehem was called the town of David. Joseph belonged to the *family of David. That is why he went to Bethlehem.

v5 Joseph took Mary with him so that the *Romans could count them. She went because she had promised to marry him. She would soon have a baby.

v6 While they were in Bethlehem, her baby was born. v7 This was her first baby, and it was a boy. She put cloths round him. Then she put him in an animal’s feeding box. She did this because they could not stay in the hotel. There were no empty rooms for them.

Some people leave their sheep to go and see Jesus

v8 That night some people were living in the fields near Bethlehem. They were keeping their sheep safe. v9 Then an *angel of the *Lord appeared to them. A bright light from God shone all round them. So that frightened them very much. v10 ‘Do not be afraid’, the *angel said. ‘Listen! I bring you good news. This news will make everyone very happy. v11 Something happened today in the town of David. Someone special was born. It is he who will save you. He is the *Messiah. He is the *Lord. v12 I will tell you how you will know this baby. You will find him with cloths round him. He is lying in an animal’s feeding box.’

v13 Just then a lot more *angels also appeared. They were speaking about God.

v14 ‘God is beautiful and great and important’, they said.

‘He lives in the highest place.

He will be good to the people on earth that make him happy.

They will not have troubles in their minds or in their *spirits.’

v15 After that, the *angels returned to God’s home. Then these people said to each other, ‘Perhaps we should leave the sheep and go to Bethlehem immediately! The *Lord has sent *angels to tell us what has happened. We want to see this baby.’

v16 So they hurried to Bethlehem. There, they found Mary and Joseph with the baby. The baby really was lying in a feeding box. v17 After they had seen the baby, they told everybody about him. They told them what the *angel had said to them. v18 Many people heard what the men said. They were very surprised. v19 Mary remembered all that the men from the fields had said. She thought about everything for a long time. v20 The men then returned to their sheep. ‘How great you are!’ they were saying to God. ‘How good you are! Everything that the *angel told us was true! We have heard good news. We have seen very special things!’

Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the *Great House of God

v21 When the baby was 8 days old, it was time for the *priest to *circumcise him. His parents called him Jesus. The *angel had told Mary that she must call the baby, Jesus. He told her that before she had a baby inside her.

v22 Long ago, the *Lord gave Moses rules for his people to obey. One rule told how to become *clean after a baby was born. Now the time had come for Mary and Joseph to obey this rule. So, they took the baby Jesus to the *Great House of God in Jerusalem to show him to the *Lord.

v23 This is what the *Lord had said: ‘The first male baby born to a woman or to an animal is mine. So you must bring him to me. v24 When you do this, also bring two special birds for the *priest to kill.’ That is what Mary and Joseph did.

v25 At this time, a man called Simeon was living in Jerusalem. He was good and he always obeyed God. He had waited a long time to see the special person that would save *Israel. The *Holy Spirit was with Simeon. v26 ‘You will not die yet’, the *Holy Spirit had told him. ‘You know that God has promised to send the *Messiah. You will see him before you die.’ v27 Now the day had come. The *Holy Spirit told Simeon that he should go to the *Great House of God. Mary and Joseph were bringing the baby Jesus to do what the rule said. v28 Simeon went to them. He took Jesus from Mary and he held him in his arms. Then he thanked God.

v29 ‘Master, you have done what you promised to your servant. Now, I can die with no trouble in my mind.

v30 Now I really have seen the person that will save people.

v31 You have sent him to earth so that everyone will know about him.

v32 He will be like a light to people. He will show you to those that are not *Jews. They will then know you. And they will know what you want from them. Then they will know what you want them to do. He will also show that your people of *Israel are very special.’

v33 That is what Simeon said about Jesus. His message surprised Mary and Joseph very much.

v34 Then Simeon asked God to be good and kind to Mary and to Joseph. After that, he spoke just to Mary, the mother of Jesus. ‘God has chosen this baby. Many people in *Israel will become less important because of him. And many people will become alive again because of him. He will be like a sign that points to God. Many people will speak against him. v35 This will show their secret thoughts about God. This will make you very sad, too. It will seem that a sharp knife is cutting inside you. That is how sad you will be’, Simeon said to her.

v36 A very old lady called Anna was there in the *Great House of God, too. She often spoke messages that the *Holy Spirit gave to her. She was the daughter of Phanuel. She belonged to the *family of Asher. She had lived with her husband for 7 years and then he had died.

v37 After that, she had lived alone until she was 84 years old. Now she never left the *Great House of God. She stayed there day and night to pray to God. Often she went without food so that she could pray better.

v38 At that moment, Anna came to where Mary and Joseph were standing. When Anna saw the baby, she began to thank God for him. Then she began to speak about him to other people. Many people were waiting for God to make Jerusalem *free. These were the people that she was speaking to.

v39 When Mary and Joseph had finished obeying all the rules, they returned home. They went back to the town called Nazareth in Galilee. v40 There the child grew. God was good and kind to him and God made him strong. He could then understand many things.

The boy Jesus visits the *Great House of God

v41 Every year, Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem for the *Passover week.

v42 When Jesus was 12 years old, his parents took him with them to Jerusalem. They went as usual for the *Passover week. v43 When the week finished, everyone left to return home. The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know this. v44 They thought that he was with their group. So they travelled for a whole day. Then they began to look for him among their family and friends.

v45 They could not find him, so they went back to Jerusalem. They looked for him for three days, v46 before they found him in the *Great House of God. He was sitting among the teachers. He was listening to what they were saying. He was also asking them questions. v47 Everyone that was listening to Jesus was very surprised. He understood so many things and he could answer difficult questions. v48 When his parents saw him there, they were also very surprised. ‘My son’, said his mother, ‘why have you done this to us? Your father and I have looked everywhere for you. We have had a lot of troubles in our mind.’

v49 ‘You should not really have had to look for me’, Jesus answered. ‘I must be doing what my Father wants me to do. Really, you should have known that.’ v50 But they did not really understand what he was saying to them.

v51 Jesus returned to Nazareth with them and he obeyed them. Mary was careful to remember all the special things that had happened. She thought about them a lot. v52 Jesus grew into a man. He could understand more and more things. Everyone loved him and God also thought well of him.

Chapter 3

John the *Baptist prepares people to welcome Jesus

v1 This report about John, the son of Zechariah, began while Tiberius Caesar was ruling the *Roman world. He had ruled for almost 15 years. Pontius Pilate was ruling the country called Judea. And Herod was ruling the land called Galilee. Philip was the brother of Herod. He was ruling the countries called Iturea and Traconitis. Lysanias was ruling Abilene. v2 While these men were ruling, the most important *priests were Annas and Caiaphas. At that time John, the son of Zechariah, was living in the *desert. He heard God speak to him.

v3 John travelled to many places near to the river Jordan. ‘You are doing many bad things’, he taught everybody. ‘Stop doing them. You should be sorry for what you have done. If you are, I will *baptise you with water. God will then *forgive you.’

v4 John was teaching as Isaiah had spoken a long time before. God gave him messages. Someone wrote down these messages in a book. Isaiah told people what would happen.  He said:

            ‘People will hear someone who is shouting in the *desert:

            “The *Lord is coming. Make the road ready for him.

            Make it straight.

v5  Fill in every valley and make every mountain and hill flat.

            Take away every curve so that the road is straight.

            Take away all the rocks so that the road is flat.

v6        Then you will see how God will save you.” ’

v7 Crowds of people were coming out into the *desert to hear John speak. They wanted John to *baptise them. ‘Yes’, he said, ‘God will soon *punish people that do wrong things. But you are as dangerous as snakes. v8 You have to show that you are sorry. You have to show it by how you live. Stop doing things that God does not like. Do not begin to say to yourselves, “God will not *punish us. After all, we are part of the *family of Abraham.” Listen! God can make children for Abraham out of these stones! v9 You are like trees that have bad fruit. People cut down bad trees and they throw them into the fire. In the same *way, God will *punish bad people. And he will do it very soon.’

v10 ‘So, what should we do?’ the crowd asked.

v11 ‘If you have two shirts, give one away. Give it to a man that does not have a shirt. If you have some food, give some of it away. Give some to a man that has no food.’

v12 In the crowd, there were people that took money on behalf of the government. These men also wanted John to *baptise them. ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ they asked. v13 ‘You must take the right amount of money from the people. You must not take more than the rules say.’

v14 Then some soldiers spoke. ‘What about us? What should we do?’

‘Do not rob people of their money’, John replied. ‘Do not say that a person has done something wrong, if he has not. It is wrong to get money by doing that. And you must be happy with the money that you get for your work.’

v15 ‘Is John the *Messiah?’ the people were thinking. ‘Is he the man that God will send to save *Israel?’ They were all hoping that he might be. v16 John knew what they were thinking. ‘I have only *baptised you with water’, he said. ‘But someone else is coming to *baptise people. He is much greater and more important than I am. He is so important that I am not good enough even to undo his shoes. He will *baptise some of you with the *Holy Spirit and with fire. v17 Think about a farmer that brings the *wheat home. Then he uses a tool to make the seeds separate from what remains. He stores all the seeds. But he burns all that remained. This person will be like that. He will come very soon. He will keep good people safe. But he will *punish bad people in the fire that nobody can put out.’

v18 John said many more things to the people. He was telling them the good news about how God could change their lives. v19 But the ruler Herod stopped him. John had told Herod that it was wrong for him to marry Herodias. She was the wife of his brother. John had also told Herod that he had done many other bad things.

v20 Then Herod did an even worse thing; he locked John up in prison.

John *baptises Jesus

v21 While John was *baptising all the people, he also *baptised Jesus. When Jesus was praying, the sky opened. v22 Then the *Holy Spirit came down. He seemed like a bird. He came and he rested on Jesus. People heard a voice from the sky. ‘You are my Son. I love you. You make me very happy.’

The *family of Jesus

v23 Jesus was about 30 years old when he started to tell the Good News. People thought that he was Joseph’s son.

He was Heli’s son.

v24 Heli was Matthat’s son.

Matthat was Levi’s son.

Levi was Melki’s son.

Melki was Jannai’s son.

Jannai was Joseph’s son.

v25 Joseph was Mattathias’ son.

Mattathias was Amos’s son.

Amos was Nahum’s son.

Nahum was Esli’s son.

Esli was Naggai’s son.

v26 Naggai was Maath’s son.

Maath was Mattathias’s son.

Mattathias was Semein’s son.

Semein was Josech’s son.

Josech was Joda’s son.

v27 Joda was Joanan’s son.

Joanan was Rhesa’s son.

Rhesa was Zerubbabel’s son.

Zerubbabel was Shealtiel’s son.

Shealtiel was Neri’s son.

v28 Neri was Melki’s son.

Melki was Addi’s son.

Addi was Cosam’s son.

Cosam was Elmadam’s son.

Elmadam was Er’s son.

v29 Er was Joshua’s son.

Joshua was Eliezer’s son.

Eliezer was Jorim’s son.

Jorim was Matthat’s son.

Matthat was Levi’s son.

v30 Levi was Simeon’s son.

Simeon was Judah’s son.

Judah was Joseph’s son.

Joseph was Jonam’s son.

Jonam was Eliakim’s son.

v31 Eliakim was Melea’s son.

Melea was Menna’s son.

Menna was Mattatha’s son.

Mattatha was Nathan’s son.

Nathan was David’s son.

v32 David was Jesse’s son.

Jesse was Obed’s son.

Obed was Boaz’s son.

Boaz was Salmon’s son.

Salmon was Nahshon’s son.

v33 Nahshon was Amminadab’s son.

Amminadab was Ram’s son.

Ram was Hezron’s son.

Hezron was Perez’s son.

Perez was Judah’s son.

v34 Judah was Jacob’s son.

Jacob was Isaac’s son.

Isaac was Abraham’s son.

Abraham was Terah’s son.

Terah was Nahor’s son.

v35 Nahor was Serug’s son.

Serug was Reu’s son.

Reu was Peleg’s son.

Peleg was Eber’s son.

Eber was Shelah’s son.

v36 Shelah was Cainan’s son.

Cainan was Arphaxad’s son.

Arphaxad was Shem’s son.

Shem was Noah’s son.

Noah was Lamech’s son.

v37 Lamech was Methuselah’s son.

Methuselah was Enoch’s son.

Enoch was Jared’s son.

Jared was Mahalaleel’s son.

Mahalaleel was Kenan’s son.

v38 Kenan was Enosh’s son.

Enosh was Seth’s son.

Seth was Adam’s son.

Adam was the son of God.

Chapter 4

The *devil tries to cause Jesus to do wrong things

v1 Jesus was now full of the *Holy Spirit. When he returned from the river Jordan, the *Holy Spirit led him into the *desert. v2 He stayed there for 40 days and he did not eat anything. At the end of 40 days, he was very hungry. During this time the *devil tried to cause Jesus to do wrong things. They were things that God did not want him to do.

v3 ‘If you are the *Son of God’, the *devil said, ‘change this stone into food.’

v4 ‘No!’ Jesus replied, ‘the book of God says that food alone cannot cause people to live.’

v5 After that, the *devil led Jesus up to a high place. In one moment, he showed him all the countries in the whole world. v6 ‘I will let you rule the whole world’, the *devil said, ‘and I will give you power over everyone and over everything. It all belongs to me. So, I can give it to anyone that I choose. v7 Just bend your knee in front of me. And say that I am great and important. Then I will give you the whole world to rule over.’

v8 ‘No!’ Jesus replied. ‘This is what God says in his book:

  “Bend your knee in front of the *Lord God. Tell him how great and important he is. Only obey him.” ’

v9 The *devil now took Jesus to Jerusalem. He led him to the highest part of the *Great House of God. Then he said, ‘If you are the *Son of God, jump down from here to the ground. v10 After all, it says in God’s book:

  “God will *order his *angels to keep you safe.”

v11 It also says,

  “They will hold you safe in their hands. They will not let you hurt your feet against a stone.” ’

v12 ‘No!’ replied Jesus. ‘That is not what God wants. His book says,

  “Do not do something dangerous just to cause God to save you.” ’

v13 The *devil tried to cause Jesus to do many things that God did not like. When the *devil had finished, he left Jesus alone for a time.

Jesus goes to Nazareth

v14 The *Holy Spirit continued to make Jesus very powerful when he returned to Galilee. Everyone who lived in and near Galilee heard the news about him. v15 He taught in the *Jewish meeting places and everyone said good things about him.

v16 Jesus came to Nazareth, the town where he had grown up. On the *Jewish day for rest, he went into the meeting place. He always did this. Then he stood up to read aloud from the *Old Testament.

v17 They gave him the book of messages that God had given to Isaiah. Jesus opened the book. He found the place where Isaiah wrote.

v18 ‘The Spirit from the *Lord God is upon me.

He has chosen me to tell good news to poor people.

He has sent me to tell people who are in prison, “You can go *free!”

I must say to people that cannot see, “See again!”

I must cause people that are like slaves to be *free.

v19 I must tell everyone, “This is the year when God will save his people.” ’

v20 Jesus closed the book and he gave it back to an officer of the meeting place. Then he sat down to teach the people. Everyone in the meeting place was looking at him.

v21 ‘Today’, Jesus said to them, ‘this message has become true. It has happened while you were listening.’

v22 Everyone was saying good things about Jesus. They were surprised. ‘How well he spoke! And he is only the son of Joseph, is he not?’ they were asking each other.

v23 ‘Next’, Jesus replied, ‘you will be repeating the *proverb, “Doctor, make people well in your own town.” We have heard that you did many surprising things in Capernaum. This is your home town, so do the same things here! v24 People do not accept a person that comes from their home town. That really is true. They do not believe that he receives messages from God.

v25 What I shall tell you now is true. Elijah received messages from God. Elijah said that it would stop raining. And it did not rain for three and a half years. So there was no food or water to drink in all the country. There were many *widows in the country of *Israel at that time. v26 But God did not send Elijah to stay with a *widow in *Israel. Instead, God sent Elijah to the country called Sidon. There Elijah stayed with a *widow in a place called Zarephath.’

v27 ‘Here is another example. There were many people in *Israel with bad illnesses of the skin, when God’s servant Elisha was alive. But God did not make any of them well. Instead, he made a man from the country called Syria well. The man was called Naaman.’

v28 The people in the meeting place heard what Jesus said. They became very angry. v29 They stood up and they caused him to leave the town. The town was on the top of a hill. So, they took him to the top and they wanted to throw him down. v30 But Jesus walked through the middle of the crowd and he went away.

Jesus causes a bad *spirit to leave a man

v31 Jesus went down to a town in Galilee called Capernaum. On the *Jewish day for rest, he began to teach in the meeting place. v32 They were really surprised because his words had authority. v33 In the meeting place was a sick man. He had a bad *spirit that was living inside him. The *spirit caused him to shout and to make a lot of noise. v34 ‘Jesus of Nazareth, what do you want to do to us? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the *Holy One. You come from God.’

v35 ‘Be quiet!’ Jesus replied. ‘Come out of the man.’ At this, the bad *spirit caused the man to fall to the ground in front of the people. Then it came out without hurting him.

v36 All the people were very surprised and they said to each other, ‘How can this man speak in that *way? He has power and authority. When he *orders bad *spirits to come out of people, they come out.’ v37 Then they began to tell everyone about Jesus. As a result, people in all the places near Capernaum heard the news about Jesus.

Jesus makes many people well

v38 Jesus then left the meeting place and he went into Simon’s home. The mother of Simon’s wife was sick with a very bad *fever. So, they asked Jesus to make her well. v39 Jesus came and he stood near her. He then *ordered the *fever to go away and it left her. So, she got up immediately and she began to prepare food for her visitors.

v40 When the sun began to go down, the people brought many sick people to see Jesus. They had many different illnesses. He put his hands on each person and they became well.

v41 Bad *spirits also came out of many people. The *spirits knew that he was the *Messiah. So, when they came out, they began to shout, ‘Jesus, you are the *Son of God.’ But Jesus stopped them shouting. He would not let them speak.

v42 Early the next morning, Jesus went alone to a quiet place. The people went to look for him. When they found him they said, ‘Do not leave us! Please stay with us in Capernaum.’ v43 ‘I cannot stay with you’, Jesus replied. ‘I must go to other towns to teach everyone the good news. I will tell them how God rules in the lives of his people. That is what God sent me to do.’

v44 Then he left them. And he started to teach in other *Jewish meeting places in the country called Judea.

Chapter 5

Jesus asks some men to follow him

v1 One day, Jesus was standing on the shore of Lake Gennesaret. And a crowd was pushing to get near to him. They were listening to him. He was talking about the message of God.

v2 Jesus saw two fishing boats at the edge of the lake. The *fishermen had left the boats there and they were now washing their *nets.

v3 One of the boats was Simon’s. So Jesus climbed into it. He then asked Simon to push it away a little from the shore. When Jesus had sat down in the boat, he started to teach the people again.

v4 When he finished teaching them, he spoke to Simon. ‘Now take the boat out into deep water’, he said. ‘Then put down the *nets into the water to catch some fish.’

v5 ‘Teacher’, Simon replied, ‘we worked all last night and we did not catch anything. But because you say it, I will put down the *nets.’ v6 So they went and they put the *nets down into the water. When they did that, they caught many fish. There were so many fish that the *nets began to break. v7 So Simon shouted to the other *fishermen that always worked with him. ‘Come’, he said, ‘we need you.’ When they saw that, the men came in their boat. They filled both boats with the fish. There were so many that the boats began to go down. v8 When Simon saw all the fish, he went down on his knees in front of Jesus. He was afraid. ‘Sir’, he said, ‘I am a bad man. So please leave me.’

v9 Simon said this because he was very surprised. He was surprised because they had caught so many fish. His friends in the other boat were very surprised, too. v10 James and John were also very surprised. They were sons of Zebedee and they always worked with Simon. ‘Do not be afraid of me’, Jesus then said to Simon. ‘From now on you will catch men!’

v11 After that, they went and they pulled their boats up on the shore. Then they left everything and they went with Jesus.

This is about a man with an illness of his skin and bones

v12 One day, Jesus was in a certain town. A man with an illness of his skin and bones that was called leprosy was there.

When the man saw Jesus, he threw himself down on his knees in front of him. ‘Sir, if you want’, he said, ‘you can make me well. Please do it.’

v13 Jesus touched him with his hand. ‘I do want to’, he said. ‘Be well.’ Immediately, the illness was gone. v14 ‘Do not tell anyone about this’, Jesus said to him. ‘Instead, go and show yourself to the *priest. Take him a gift for God. Moses told people, “You must do this when you are better from this illness.” So give this gift to God. This will show everyone that you are now well.’

v15 After this, more and more people started to hear the news about Jesus. Crowds were coming to hear him teach. The sick ones also wanted him to make them well. v16 But he would go away from the crowd to pray in quiet places.

Jesus makes well a man that cannot walk

v17 One day, while Jesus was teaching in a house, many people were sitting there. Some were *Pharisees. Other people were teachers of God’s rules. They had come from many villages in Galilee, and from Judea and Jerusalem. At that time, the power of the *Lord was present for Jesus to make sick people well.

v18 Then some men arrived. They were carrying a man on a small carpet. The man could not move his legs. They tried to get into the house, because they wanted to bring the man to Jesus. v19 But the house was full of people, and they could not get in. So, they carried the small carpet with the man on it to the flat roof of the house. Then they made a hole in the roof. After that, they put the small carpet down through the hole. The man was still lying on it. He came down in the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus. v20 When Jesus saw this, he said to himself, ‘These men really believe in me.’ So, he spoke to the sick man. ‘My friend’, he said. ‘I *forgive you for all the bad things that you have done.’

v21 The *Pharisees and the teachers of God’s rules were there. They heard what Jesus said. So, they began to talk to each other about it. ‘What he says is wrong. He cannot *forgive people for the things that they have done. Only God can do that. And he is only a man.’ v22 Jesus knew what these men were saying. ‘You should not be thinking these things’, he told them. v23 ‘I said to this man, “I *forgive you for all the bad things that you have done.” But I could say to him, “Get up and walk.” I want to show you that my words are true. Which is the best one to say? v24 Now I will show you that I, the *Son of Man, have authority on earth. I can *forgive people for the bad things that they have done. I will show you that I can forgive them.’ Then he turned to the man that could not move his legs. ‘I say to you’, he said, ‘stand up. Take up your carpet and go home!’

v25 Immediately, the man stood up in front of them. He took the carpet that he had used to lie on. He went home. ‘How great and powerful God is’, he was saying. v26 What had happened surprised everyone. They were afraid. ‘How great and powerful God is’, they said to each other. ‘We have seen very strange and special things happen today.’

Jesus asks Levi to come with him

v27 After this happened, Jesus went for a walk. He saw a man that took money on behalf of the government. His name was Levi and he was working in his office. ‘Follow me’, Jesus said to him. v28 Levi got up and followed him. He left everything behind.

v29 Soon after this, Levi made a large meal for Jesus at his house. A big crowd of people also came and they were eating with them. Many of these people also took money on behalf of the government. v30 Some *Pharisees and teachers of God’s rules saw them. They did not like these people. So, they spoke to the men that followed Jesus. ‘You eat and drink with these bad people. That is not right. Some of them even take money on behalf of the government.’

v31 ‘People that are well do not need a doctor’, Jesus answered them. ‘It is sick people that need one. v32 I have not come for people that have not done wrong things. Some people know that they have done wrong things. I am asking those people to come to me. I want them to stop doing wrong things. I want them to start doing right things.’

v33 When they heard this, they asked Jesus about something else. ‘Some people obey what John the *Baptist teaches. Those people often stop eating food to pray better. The people that obey the *Pharisees do the same. Why do those that obey you never go without their meals?’

v34 Jesus used a picture story to answer their question. ‘When a man is marrying, he gives a big meal. His friends do not go without food then. v35 But the time will come when people will take him away from his friends. Then they will go without food.’

v36 Then Jesus told them another picture story. ‘You do not tear a piece of cloth from a new coat to mend an old one. If you do that, you will have torn the new coat. Also, the new piece of cloth will not seem the same as cloth from the old coat.

v37 Bottles that people have made out of the skin of an animal teach us the same. Nobody pours new *wine into an old skin bottle. If they do, the new *wine will break the old bottle. The *wine will run out and they will lose it. And they will have destroyed the bottle. v38 Instead, people must put new *wine into a bottle that they have made out of new animal skin.

v39 Also, after he has drunk old *wine, nobody wants new *wine. He says, “The old *wine is much better.” ’

Chapter 6

What the *Jews can do on their day for rest

v1 On a *Jewish day for rest, Jesus was walking through some fields where *wheat was growing. Then the men that were following him began to pick some of the *wheat. They were *rubbing the seeds with their hands. Then they were eating the *wheat that remained.

v2 Some *Pharisees were walking along with them. ‘You should not be doing that’, they said. ‘You know that it is against God’s rules to work on our day for rest.’

v3 ‘Remember what David did. He did it when he and his men were hungry’, Jesus replied. ‘You have certainly read about it. v4 He went into the *Great House of God. And he took the special bread that was there. It is against God’s rules for anyone except the *priests to eat that bread. But he ate some of it and he also gave some to his friends.

v5 The *Son of Man has authority to say what people can do on the day for rest’, Jesus said.

Jesus makes a man well on their day for rest

v6 On another *Jewish day for rest, Jesus went into the meeting place and he taught. A man was there. His right hand was very small and weak. The man could not use this hand. v7 Some teachers of God’s rules and some *Pharisees were careful to watch Jesus. They wanted a reason to say that he was doing wrong things. If he made this man well, they would say, ‘Jesus is not obeying the rules that God gave. He works on the day for rest.’ v8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he spoke to the man. ‘Get up and stand in front of everyone.’ The man got up and he stood there. v9 ‘Let me ask you something’, Jesus then said to the people. ‘What should we do on the day for rest? Do God’s rules say that we should do good things? Or do they say that we should do bad things? Should we save the life of someone? Or should we destroy a life?’ v10 Nobody replied. So Jesus looked round at everyone. ‘Put out your hand’, he said to the man. When he put it out, it became well. He could use it again.

v11 Then the *Pharisees and those that taught God’s rules were very angry. They began to talk to each other. ‘What can we do to Jesus?’ they said.

Jesus chooses the 12 men

v12 One day Jesus went up a hill to pray. He remained there all night and he was talking to God. v13 In the morning, he asked all those that were following him to come to him. Then he chose 12 of them that he would send out with his message. These 12 men were called *apostles. These are their names:

v14 Simon. Jesus called him Peter.

Andrew. He was the brother of Simon.

James,

John,

Philip,

Bartholomew,

v15 Matthew,

Thomas,

James, the son of Alphaeus,

Simon the *Zealot,

v16 Judas, son of James,

Judas Iscariot. He sold Jesus to those who wanted to kill him.

Jesus tells a special message

v17 After Jesus had chosen the 12 men, they all came down the hill. He stopped and he stood on a flat place. A large crowd of those that were following stood with him. There were also many people from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judea and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. v18 These people had all come to hear Jesus teach. Those that were ill wanted him to make them well. He was also making well those people that had bad *spirits. v19 All the people were trying to touch him, because he was making each person well with his great power.

Jesus teaches those that follow him

v20 Jesus looked at those that were following him. He spoke this message to them.

‘Listen, you that are poor. You are children of God, so be happy.’

v21 ‘Listen, you that are hungry now. God will feed you, so be happy.’

‘Listen, you that are crying now. God will cause you to laugh, so be happy!’

v22 ‘People may *hate you, because you obey me, the *Son of Man. They may say that you are very bad. They may cause you to go away. They may do other bad things to you. When that happens, be happy. v23 After all, God will give you many good things when you go to his home. So, be very happy! Jump up and down because you are so happy. Think about those that do bad things to you now. It was their *fathers that also did the same bad things long ago. They did bad things to those that spoke messages from the *Holy Spirit.

v24 Listen, you that are rich now. And listen, you that have a comfortable life. Trouble will come to you.

v25 Listen, you that are full now. You will be hungry.

Listen, you that are laughing now. You will be sad and you will cry.

v26 Trouble will happen to you, if people always say good things about you. Your *families long ago said the same good things about bad people. Those bad people said that they spoke messages from the *Holy Spirit. But they did not.’

Love people that want to hurt you

v27 ‘I say this to you who are listening carefully to me’, Jesus said. ‘Love people that want to hurt you. Do good things to people that *hate you. v28 Say good things to people that say bad things to you. Pray for people that do bad things to you.

v29 Someone may hit you on one side of your face. If he does, let him hit the other side of your face too. Someone may take away your coat. If he does, do not stop him from taking your shirt too. v30 Give to anyone that asks you for things. Someone may take things that are yours. If he does, let him keep them. Do not ask for them back again. v31 Do to other people the good things that you want them to do to you.

v32 Do you only love people that love you? If you do, you are not doing anything special. Do not want people to speak well about you because you love like that. After all, even bad people love those who love them. v33 Do you only do good things to people that do good things to you? If you do, you are not doing anything special. Do not want people to speak well about you for that. After all, even bad people do the same. v34 Do you lend things only to people that will give your things back? If you do that, you are not doing anything special. After all, even bad people lend things to other people. They believe that they will get them back again. v35 No! I am *telling you to love people that want to hurt you. Do good things to them. Lend things to them and do not want to get them back again. If you do this, the high God will give you a great gift. He is kind even to people that do not say “thank you”. He is even kind to bad people. So you will really be his sons. v36 So be kind, as God your Father is kind.

v37 Do not say to someone, “You are a bad person.” If you do not, God will not say to you, “You are bad person.” Do not say to people, “God should *punish you because you are bad.” If you do not, they will not say that to you. *Forgive other people and God will *forgive you. v38 Give to other people and God will give to you. He will give to you more than you gave. He will fill your pocket until no more will go in. It will be so full that it will come out over the top. How you give to other people, God will give to you.’

v39 Jesus also used this picture story to teach the people. ‘A *blind man cannot lead another *blind man. If he does, they both will fall into a hole in the ground.

v40 A student is less important than his teacher is. But when the student has learned everything, he will be like his teacher.

v41 Perhaps you want to tell your brother about his mistake. If you want to do that, first remember your own mistakes. v42 If you do not, you are like this: You are like a person that has a piece of wood in his eye. That person then says, “Brother, you have some dirt in your eye. Let me take it out for you.” Do not be like that person. You say one thing but you do something different yourselves. First, make right your own mistakes. Only then can you know how to tell another person about his mistake.’

A picture story about a tree and its fruit

v43 ‘Good trees only make good fruit. Bad trees only make bad fruit. v44 So in this way you can know if a tree is good or bad. You can know by the fruit that it makes. You only pick good fruit from good fruit trees and bushes. *Figs do not grow on *thorn bushes. *Grapes do not grow on *briers.’

v45 ‘People are the same. A good man brings good things out of his mind. His good thoughts are very valuable. A bad man brings bad thoughts out of his mind. He values the bad things inside his mind. So, when a person speaks, his words show something. They show whether his mind is full of good thoughts or bad thoughts.’

A picture story about men that are building a house

v46 ‘Do not call me, “master, master”, and then not obey me’, said Jesus. v47 ‘Some people hear my message and they obey it. Let me tell you what those people are like. They are like a man who built a house. v48 This man dug down to the rocks. He put the first line of stones on the rock. After that, he built the house on top of the rock. Then a storm came and it brought a lot of water. The water hit the house but it could not move it. The water could not move the house because the man had built it very well.

v49 Some other people hear my message but they do not obey it. Let me tell you about those people. They are like another man who built a house. This man did not dig down deep to the rock. Instead, he put the first line of stones on the ground and he built on them. Then a storm came and it brought a lot of water. It hit this house and it fell down immediately. The water completely destroyed it.’

Chapter 7

A *Roman officer believes that Jesus can help him

v1 After Jesus had finished speaking to the people, he went to Capernaum. v2 A *Roman officer there had a servant that he loved. The servant was very ill and he was dying.

v3 The officer heard about Jesus, so he sent some of the *Jewish leaders to speak to him. ‘Please go to Jesus’, he said to them. ‘I would like him to make my servant well. Ask him if he would come to do that.’ v4 The *Jewish leaders then went to Jesus. ‘Please would you do something for this *Roman officer’, they were saying. ‘Please would you go and make his servant well. v5 This man loves the *Jewish people. He himself built a meeting place for us.’

v6 So Jesus started to go with them. When he was not very far away from the house, the officer sent some friends to talk to him. He told them that they should say. ‘Sir, I do not want to be a trouble to you. I am not as important as you are. So you should not come into my house. v7 I did not come to talk to you myself, because I am not good enough. Instead, just say a word and my servant will be well again. v8 After all, someone also has authority over me. And so I have authority over other soldiers. I say to one soldier, “Go!” and he goes. I say to another one, “Come!” and he comes. And I say to my servant, “Do this!” and he does it.’

v9 When Jesus heard this message from the officer, he was very surprised. He turned towards the crowd that was following him. ‘Listen!’ he said. ‘I have not found anyone like this man in all of *Israel. Nobody else believes so well in me.’

v10 The friends of the officer returned to his house. Then they saw that the servant was well again.

Jesus makes a dead man alive again

v11 The next day, Jesus went to a town called Nain. Those that always followed him and a large group of other people went with him. v12 When he had almost reached the gate of the town, lots of people were coming out. They were carrying a dead man in a box to bury him. His mother had no other sons and her husband was also dead. A large crowd from the town was with her.

v13 When the *Lord Jesus saw her, he felt very sorry for her. ‘Do not cry’, he said. v14 He went to the box and he touched it. So the people that were carrying the box stopped. ‘Young man’, said Jesus, ‘get up, I say to you!’ v15 At this, the dead man sat up and he began to talk. Jesus then gave him back to his mother.

v16 Everyone that saw this was afraid. ‘How great and powerful God is’, they said. ‘An important servant of God has appeared among us. God has come to save his people.’

v17 This news about Jesus went all through Judea. It also reached the people in the countries that were near there.

Jesus talks about John the *Baptist

v18 Then some men went to visit John the *Baptist in prison. Those people obeyed what he taught them. They told him about Jesus and about all that he was doing. So, John chose two of them. v19 ‘I want you to go to the *Lord Jesus for me’, he said. ‘Say to him, “John said that someone would come. John asks if you are that man. Are you the *Messiah? Or should we still look for someone else?” ’

v20 So the two men came to Jesus. ‘John the *Baptist has sent us to you’, they said. ‘He wants us to ask you, “Are you the man that would come? Or should we still look for someone else to appear?” ’

v21 At that time, Jesus made many people well. They had many different illnesses. Some had bad *spirits. Jesus also caused many that could not see to see again. v22 Then he replied to the two men that John had sent. ‘Go back to John’, he said. ‘Tell him what you have seen. And tell him what you have heard. People that could not see can see now. People that could not walk can walk now. Some had illnesses of the skin; they are now well. Some could not hear, but now they can. Some people were dead; they now live again. Poor people are hearing the good news. v23 If anyone continues to believe in me, he will be happy.’

v24 The two men that followed John left. Then Jesus began to speak to the crowd about him. ‘You went out to see John in the *desert. Think about what you went to see’, he said to them. ‘You certainly did not go to see a tall piece of grass. The wind blows grass about. John is not weak, as grass is. v25 If not that, think about what you went to see. You certainly did not go to see a man who was wearing expensive clothes. People like that have many beautiful things and they live in big houses. John is not like them. He lives in the *desert. v26 So think about what you went out to see. You went out to see a man that receives messages from God. Yes, and John was even more important than that. v27 A long time ago, God spoke about him. “Listen! I will send someone with a message from me. He will arrive first to prepare your way.” ’

v28 Jesus also said to the people, ‘Yes, John is a very important person. He is greater than any man that has lived before. But there are people that are not great. But God rules in them. Any one of those people is more important than John.’

v29 A lot of people heard what Jesus said. ‘What God says about us is right’, they said. So they asked John to *baptise them. Some of these people took money on behalf of the government. v30 The *Pharisees and the people that taught God’s rules did not want John to *baptise them. They did not believe the message that God was giving to them.

v31 So Jesus continued to teach. ‘I will talk to you about the people that are alive today. I will tell you what they are like’, he said. v32 ‘They are like children who are sitting in the market place. They are playing. They shout out to other children, “We made happy music on a *pipe for you, but you did not dance. We sang a sad song and you did not cry.” v33 You are like those children. When John the *Baptist came, he often went without food. He never drank *wine. So you said that he had a bad *spirit in him. v34 Then I, the *Son of Man, came. I both eat and drink. So you say about me, “Look at this man! He eats and drinks too much. He is a friend of those people who take money on behalf of the government. He is a friend of other bad people.” That is what you say about us. v35 But God is *wise and good. *Wise people understand and they agree with him.’

A woman pours expensive *oil on Jesus

v36 Then one of the *Pharisees asked Jesus to eat a meal with him. So Jesus went to his house and sat down to eat. v37 In that town was a woman that did many wrong things. She heard that Jesus was eating a meal at the house of the *Pharisee. So she took a small jar of *oil and she went there. The *oil was very expensive and it had a beautiful smell. Someone had made the small jar out of white stone. v38 When she went inside, she stood behind Jesus. She was crying and she made his feet wet with her *tears. Then she dried them with her hair and she kissed them. She then poured all the *oil out of the jar on to his feet. v39 When the *Pharisee saw this, he said to himself, ‘This man cannot be someone that receives messages from God. If he were, he would know all about this woman. He would not let her touch him. He would know that she is a very bad person.’

v40 ‘Simon’, said Jesus to him, ‘I want to tell you something.’ ‘Yes, Teacher, tell me’, replied Simon. So he told him a picture story about two men.

v41 ‘Someone had lent them money. He had lent one of them 500 *silver coins. He had lent the other one 50 coins.’

v42 ‘Neither of the men had the money to pay him back. Then the man that had lent them the money *forgave them. “You do not need to pay back my money”, he said to them both.

Which of these two men will love that man most?’ Jesus asked.

v43 ‘I think’, replied Simon, ‘that it is the first man. It is the man that needed to pay back the most money.’

‘You are right’, said Jesus. v44 Then he turned towards the woman. ‘You see this woman’, he said to Simon. ‘When I came into your house, you did not give me water for my feet. But she has washed my feet with her *tears and she has dried them with her hair. v45 You did not welcome me with a kiss’, he went on to say. ‘But this woman began to kiss my feet when she came in. And she has not stopped. v46 You did not put *oil on my head. But she has brought expensive *oil with a sweet smell to put on my feet.’

v47 ‘So I tell you this. This woman has done many bad things. But I have *forgiven them. She loves me a lot, because I have *forgiven her a lot. If I only *forgive a little, a person only loves me a little.’

v48 ‘Woman’, Jesus then said, ‘I *forgive you for all the bad things that you have done.’

v49 The other people at the meal talked among themselves. ‘Who is this man? Can he really *forgive the bad things that people have done?’

v50 ‘You believed that I could *forgive you!’ Jesus told the woman. ‘You will not have troubles in your mind any longer. You can go now.’

Chapter 8

The women that helped Jesus

v1 After this, Jesus started to travel from one place to another. In each town or village, he spoke the good news to the people. ‘God wants to rule in your lives’, he was telling them. The 12 men that always followed Jesus were going with him. v2 Some women were also travelling with them. These women had been ill, but Jesus had made them well again. One of the women was Mary Magdalene. Jesus had sent 7 bad *spirits away from her. v3 Another of the women was Joanna, the wife of Chuza. Chuza had authority over all the people that worked in the house of King Herod. Another of the women was Susanna. These and other women were helping Jesus and the 12 men that he had chosen. They were using their own money to do this.

The picture story about a farmer that planted seeds

v4 Large crowds of people were coming to Jesus from many towns. A large number were already together when Jesus told this story.

v5 ‘A farmer went out to plant seeds in his field. While he was throwing the seeds, some fell on the path. Then people walked on them and the birds ate them. v6 Some seeds fell on ground with rocks in it. They started to grow, but the young plants had no *roots. Because there was no water in the ground, they died. v7 Some seeds fell among weeds. Then the weeds grew up with the young plants. They stopped the young plants from becoming strong, so they soon died. v8 But some seeds fell on good ground. Good, strong plants grew up from them. Each of these plants made one hundred seeds.’

When Jesus finished the picture story, he said, ‘You have ears. So listen well to what I say.’

Jesus explains why he tells picture stories

v9 The men that always followed Jesus asked him about this story. They asked him what it meant. v10 ‘God helps you to understand what these stories mean’, he replied. ‘But they are a secret to other people. They do not understand how God rules in the lives of his people. So, I tell picture stories to teach them. They have their eyes wide open, but they do not really see. They hear the words, but they do not understand.’

Jesus explains the picture story about the seeds

v11 ‘This is what the story means’, he went on to say. ‘The seed is like the message of God.

v12 Some seeds fell on the path. Some people hear the message from God, but they do not think about it. They are like the path. The *devil comes and he takes the message away from them. Because he takes it away, they cannot believe it. Because they do not believe it, God does not save them.

v13 Some seeds fell on ground with rocks in it. People that are happy to hear the message of God are like this ground. But the message does not change their lives and their thoughts. They believe in God for a time. But when they have trouble or difficulty, they stop believing.

v14 Some seeds fell among weeds. Some people hear the message and they believe for a time. They are like the ground with weeds. They start to think about the things of this world. They want to get money and things that make them happy in this life. These things push the message from God out from their lives, so they stop believing. They are like a plant that has no fruit.

v15 Some seed fell on good ground. Some people that hear God’s message are like this ground. They remember and they obey. They are good and honest. They continue to believe and they do many good things. They are like a plant that has lots of good fruit.’

v16 ‘People do not light a *lamp and then cover it’, Jesus went on to say. ‘Nor do they put the *lamp in a jar or under a bed. Instead, they put it in a high place. Then other people that come into the room can see the light from the *lamp.’

v17 ‘The message of God is the same. It is a secret to some people. But one day everyone will see everything that has been a secret.

v18 So you should be careful how you listen. The person that has really heard a message will hear more. Some have not listened to it, so they have nothing. They think that they have a little. But they will lose even that.’

The mother and brothers of Jesus come to see him

v19 Then the mother and brothers of Jesus came to see him. But they could not reach him because of the large crowd. v20 ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside’, someone told Jesus. ‘They want to see you.’

v21 ‘I will tell you who my mother and brothers are’, replied Jesus. ‘Some people hear the message of God and they obey it. Those people are my mother and brothers.’

Jesus stops a storm

v22 One day Jesus got into a boat with those that always followed him. ‘I want us to go over to the other side of the lake’, he said. So, they started to cross the lake. v23 While they sailed, Jesus began to sleep. Then a strong wind started to blow across the lake. Water began to fill the boat and they were in danger. v24 So those in the boat with Jesus woke him. ‘Master, master, we shall die!’ they said.

Then Jesus got up and he spoke to the wind and to the water. ‘Stop’, he said. ‘Be quiet.’ The wind stopped immediately and the water became flat. v25 ‘You do not believe in me and you should believe’, Jesus said then.

The event frightened them and they were very surprised. ‘So who is this man?’ they asked each other. ‘He even has authority over the wind and the water. He just speaks and they obey him.’

Jesus makes a man well

v26 Jesus and the 12 men that always followed him arrived at Gadara. In Gadara, the people called Gerasenes lived. This place is across the lake from Galilee. v27 When Jesus got off the boat, a man from the town came towards him. He had many bad *spirits and they were living inside him. He had not worn any clothes for a long time. He did not live in a house. Instead, he lived in a place where people buried dead bodies. v28 When he saw Jesus, he screamed. Then he fell to the ground in front of him. ‘What do you want to do with me, Jesus?’ he said in a loud voice. ‘You are the *Son of the powerful God above. Please do not hurt me.’ v29 He said this because Jesus had spoken to the bad *spirit. ‘Come out of this man’, he had *ordered. People usually kept this man tied up. They tied his hands and feet with *chains. But when the bad *spirit took hold of him, he broke the *chains. The *spirit then caused him to go into the places where people do not live.

v30 ‘What is your name?’ Jesus then asked. ‘My name is *Legion’, he replied. People called him this, because many bad *spirits had gone into him.

v31 The bad *spirits asked Jesus again and again not to send them to *hell.

v32 There was a large group of pigs and they were eating their food on the side of the hill. ‘Let us go into the pigs’, they asked Jesus. ‘You can go into them’, he replied. v33 So the bad *spirits came out of the man and they went into the pigs. All the pigs rushed together down the high hill. They ran into the lake and all of them died in the water.

v34 The men that were taking *care of the pigs saw this happen. They ran away to tell other people about the pigs. They went to all the towns and villages that were near. v35 So the people came out from all these places to see what had happened. When they arrived, they found the man. He was sitting at the feet of Jesus. The bad *spirits had gone out of him. He was now quiet and his mind was well again. He was also wearing clothes. When the people saw this, they were afraid. v36 Some people had seen Jesus make the man well. They told the other people how he had done this. v37 Then all the people from the country of the people called Gerasenes spoke to Jesus. ‘Please leave us’, they said. They said this because they were very afraid. So, he got back into the boat. He was ready to return to the other side of the lake. v38 Then the man that had had the bad *spirits spoke. ‘Please let me come with you’, he said to Jesus. ‘No’, he replied. v39 ‘You must return to your home. Go. And tell everyone all that God has done for you.’

So the man went away. He went everywhere in the town. He continued to tell all the people, ‘Jesus has done very good things for me.’

Jesus makes Jairus’s daughter well

v40 When Jesus returned to the other side of the lake, the crowd was very happy to see him. They were all waiting for him to come back. v41 Then a man called Jairus came to see him. He was a ruler in the meeting place. He went down on his knees at the feet of Jesus. ‘Please come to my house’, he said. v42 ‘I have a daughter. She is 12 years old and she is very ill. She will die very soon. She is the only child that I have.’

So, Jesus started to go to see his daughter. A crowd of people went with him and they were pushing against him. v43 There was a woman in the crowd that had lost blood for 12 years. She had paid all her money to doctors and she had no money left. But nobody could stop her bleeding. v44 She came behind Jesus in the crowd. Then she touched the edge of his clothes. Immediately she stopped bleeding. v45 ‘Who touched me?’ asked Jesus.

Everyone round him said, ‘It was not me. I did not touch you.’ ‘Master’, said Peter, ‘the people are in a crowd round you. Many people are touching you.’

v46 ‘Someone did touch me’, said Jesus. ‘I felt it when power went out from me.’ v47 The woman knew that she could not hide it. So she was very afraid, when she came to Jesus. She went down on the ground in front of him. She spoke so that all the people could hear her. ‘I wanted to be well’, she told them, ‘so I touched the edge of his clothes. As soon as I touched him, I became well.’ v48 ‘Daughter’, Jesus said to her, ‘you are well again, because you believed in me. Do not have troubles in your mind any longer.’

v49 While Jesus was still speaking to the woman, someone arrived from Jairus’s house. ‘Your daughter is dead’, he told him. ‘Do not ask the teacher to come now.’

v50 Jesus heard what the man said. So he spoke to Jairus. ‘Do not be afraid. Just believe that I can make her well.’

v51 When they arrived at the house, Jesus would not let everyone go in. He only took Peter, James and John. He also let the mother and father of the girl go into the house. v52 Many people there were crying. They were hitting themselves because they were very sad. ‘Do not cry’, Jesus told them. ‘She has not died. She is only asleep.’

v53 They knew that she had died. So, they *laughed at him. v54 But Jesus took hold of her hand. ‘My child, get up’, he then said to her in a loud voice. v55 She became alive again and she stood up immediately. ‘Give her something to eat’, he said to her parents. v56 They were very surprised. ‘You must not tell anyone what has happened’, he said to them.

Chapter 9

Jesus sends out the 12 men that always followed him

v1 Jesus asked the 12 men that always followed him to come to him. Then he gave them power to make sick people well. He also gave them authority to send bad *spirits out of people. v2 Then, he sent them out to tell other people about how God rules in the lives of his people. He told them also that they should make sick people well. v3 ‘When you go’, he said, ‘take nothing for your journey. Do not take a stick, a bag or food. Do not take any money or two sets of clothes.’

v4 ‘Find a house where the people in it are happy to have you. Stay at that house all the time you are visiting people in that town. v5 In some towns, the people will not be happy to see you. They have not believed the message that God sent to them. When you are leaving them, clean the dirt of that town from your feet. This shows them that they have not believed the message.’

v6 Then the 12 men that followed Jesus started out. While they were going from one village to another, they talked to all the people. They told them the good news about Jesus and they made many sick people well.

A ruler hears about Jesus

v7 Herod the ruler heard reports about all that was happening. He was confused because people were saying different things about Jesus. Some were saying, ‘John the *Baptist has come back and he is alive again.’ v8 Some were saying, ‘It is Elijah that has come back.’ Some other people were saying, ‘This is one of God’s servants that died a long time ago. He is alive again and he speaks messages from the *Holy Spirit.’

v9 ‘My soldiers killed John’, Herod said. ‘They cut off his head. So, who is this man? I hear strange stories about him.’ So, he was trying to meet Jesus.

Jesus feeds 5000 men and their families

v10 The 12 men that Jesus had sent out returned from their journeys. They told him what they had done. Then he took them away from the crowd, so that he could be alone with them. They went in the direction of a city called Bethsaida. v11 But the crowds found out where they were going. So they went to find Jesus. When he saw the crowds coming, he received them well. He told them how God rules in the lives of his people. Some sick people were there and he made them well.

v12 When it was nearly evening, the 12 men that always followed Jesus came up to him. ‘This is a place without houses’, they said. ‘Send the crowd away now, so that they can buy food. There are some villages and farms near here. Maybe they can sleep there.’

v13 ‘You give them something to eat’, said Jesus.

‘But we only have 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish’, they replied. ‘Do you want us to go and buy food for all these people?’ v14 There were about 5000 men in the crowd.

‘Say to them that they should sit down on the ground in groups’, Jesus replied. ‘There should be about 50 people in each group.’

v15 So they did this. When the people had sat down, v16 Jesus took the 5 loaves and the 2 fish. Then he looked up towards the sky and he thanked God for the food. He broke it into pieces. And he gave it to the 12 men that always followed him. ‘Give it out to all the people’, he said. v17 Everybody ate and they all had enough. Then they picked up all the food that remained. They filled 12 baskets with it.

Peter says who Jesus is

v18 Jesus was alone and he was praying. The 12 men that always followed him came up to him. ‘Who do the people say that I am?’ he asked them.

v19 ‘Many people say that you are John the *Baptist’, they replied. ‘Some people say that you are Elijah. Other people say that you are one of the servants of God from long ago. They say that the servant has become alive again.’

v20 ‘What do you think?’ Jesus then asked them. ‘Who do you say that I am?’

‘You are the *Messiah’, replied Peter. ‘God sent you.’

v21 ‘Listen!’ Jesus then said to them. ‘You must not tell this to anyone, that I am the *Messiah.’ He said this very strongly.

v22 ‘They will cause the *Son of Man to have a lot of pain’, he went on to say. ‘The leaders of the *Jews will be against him. The important *priests and teachers of God’s rules will also not accept him. They will kill him, but three days later God will cause him to be alive again.’

v23 Then Jesus spoke to all the people that were there. ‘Perhaps someone wants to obey me’, he said to them. ‘That person must say no to what he wants for himself in this life. He must live every day like a person that has only one day to live. He must obey me and he must become like me.

v24 After all, whoever wants to keep his own life will lose it. But whoever gives up his life for me will save it. v25 Perhaps you want to get the whole world and all that is in it. You might do that but lose yourself. Then you will have nothing at all. You will have destroyed yourself in the end. v26 Perhaps you are now ashamed of me and of my words. If you are, I will be ashamed of you. I will be ashamed of you when I return. When I come back again, everyone will see me. I will *look as great and beautiful as my Father God. The good *angels of God will be with me, too. They will also *look very great and beautiful.’

Jesus *looks different and he meets Moses and Elijah

v27 ‘Listen!’ said Jesus. ‘Some people that are standing here will soon see how God rules. They will see this before they die. They really will.’

v28 About 8 days after Jesus had said these things, he went up a mountain to pray. And he took Peter, John and James with him. v29 While he was praying, his face began to *look different. His clothes also became very white and shining. v30 Then two men appeared and they were talking with him. They were Moses and Elijah.

v31 Moses and Elijah *looked very great and beautiful. They talked with Jesus about how he would soon die in Jerusalem. This was how God wanted him to leave this world.

v32 While this was happening, Peter was very, very tired. And those that were with him were very, very tired too. Then they really woke up and they saw Jesus. He *looked very great and beautiful. They also saw the two men that were standing near to him. v33 Then the two men began to leave. So, Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Teacher’, he said, ‘it is very good that we are here. We should build three huts. One hut will be for you, one hut for Moses and one hut for Elijah.’ He did not really know what he was saying.

v34 While Peter was speaking, a cloud appeared. And it covered them all. When the shadow covered them, they were afraid. v35 Then they heard a voice from the cloud. ‘This is my Son’, the voice said. ‘I have chosen him. So listen to him.’

v36 The voice stopped speaking. Then the three men saw that they were alone with Jesus. They did not tell anyone at this time about what they had seen.

Jesus makes a boy well

v37 The next day, Jesus and the three men that were with him came down from the mountain. A large crowd met him. v38 Then a man from the crowd shouted to him. ‘Teacher, please, I ask you to be kind to my son. He is my only child. v39 Sometimes a bad *spirit quickly takes hold of him and he screams. The *spirit throws his body first one way then another and *foam comes out of his mouth. When the *spirit leaves him in the end, it has always hurt him. v40 I asked those that follow you to send the bad *spirit out of him. But they could not do it.’

v41 ‘You people today do not believe in God’, Jesus said to the crowd. ‘You have turned away from him. I have already been with you a long time. But you still do not believe in him. It is difficult to be patient with you.’ Then he spoke to the man. ‘Bring your son here.’

v42 While the boy was coming, the bad *spirit threw him to the ground. It pulled the boy first one way and then the other. ‘Stop!’ Jesus said to it. He then made the boy well and he gave him back to his father.

v43 Everybody was very surprised at what they saw. They knew that God was very powerful.

Jesus speaks again about his death

The people were still thinking about everything that Jesus was doing. Then he began to talk to those that always followed him. v44 ‘Be careful. And do not forget what I am telling you. People will give the *Son of Man to powerful men to kill him.’ v45 But they did not understand what he had said. It was still a secret, so they could not understand his words. But they were afraid to ask him, ‘What do you mean?’

Who will be the most important?

v46 Then those that followed Jesus began to argue with each other. ‘Which of us is the most important?’ ‘I am’, they were each saying. v47 Jesus knew what they were thinking. So he picked up a small child. He made the child stand at one side of him. v48 ‘If someone accepts this child because of me’, he said, ‘he accepts me. And he also accepts him who sent me. After all, the person who makes himself the least important is really the greatest.’

v49 ‘Teacher’, John then said, ‘we saw a man. He was speaking to people that had bad *spirits in them. “Jesus says that you must come out”, he was saying. We told the man that he must not do this. We said that because he is not in our group.’

v50 ‘Do not try to stop him’, Jesus said to him. ‘If someone is not against you, he is working with you.’

People in a village in Samaria do not accept Jesus

v51 Time was passing and soon Jesus would go back to God. He knew this, so he began to go to Jerusalem. v52 He arrived near a village in the country of Samaria. Then he sent some people to the village with a message. They went to ask for a place to stay for the night. v53 But the people in the village would not let him stay there. This was because he was going to Jerusalem.

v54 Then James and John heard about what had happened. ‘Jesus’, they asked, ‘do you want us to ask God to send fire down from the sky? Do you want us to kill these people?’

v55 Jesus turned round. ‘No!’ he said, ‘do not do that. That would be very wrong.’ v56 Then they all went on to another village.

What it costs to obey Jesus

v57 When they continued on their journey, a man spoke to Jesus. ‘I will follow you. And I will go where you go.’

v58 ‘Wild animals’, he replied, ‘have a place to sleep. Wild birds also have their own places to live. But I, the *Son of Man, have no regular place to lie down and rest.’

v59 ‘Come with me!’ Jesus then said to another man. ‘First’, he replied, ‘let me go home and bury my father. Then I will come with you.’

v60 ‘No!’ said Jesus, ‘let dead people bury their own dead people. You go. And tell other people about how God rules.’

v61 ‘Sir’, said another man, ‘I will come with you. But please let me first go to say goodbye to my family.’

v62 ‘A man that ploughs a field must continue to look in front of him’, replied Jesus. ‘If he looks behind him, he cannot plough well. You are like a man that wants to look behind him. People like that cannot show other people how God really rules.’

Chapter 10

Jesus sends out 72 men that always followed him

v1 After this, Jesus sent out another 72 men that always followed him. He sent them on in front of him in pairs. They went to every town and village that he would visit soon. v2 ‘Many people are wanting to believe God’s message’, he said to them before they went. ‘They are like a field with many plants with *ripe seeds. But there are very few workers to bring in the *ripe seeds. So, you must pray to God to send out workers. They will go and tell his message.’

v3 ‘I am sending you out’, Jesus went on to say. ‘So go! But listen! You will be like young sheep among wild animals. v4 Do not carry a purse or bag. Do not take extra shoes. When you meet other people on the road, do not waste time in long conversations.’

v5 ‘When you go into a house, first say, “We pray that all will be well with you!” v6 Someone in the house may believe what you say. If he does, it will be well with him. But if nobody accepts your kind words, take them back. v7 While you are in the town, you should stay in the same house. Accept the food and drink that the people in the house give to you. This is for the work that you are doing. Do not go from one house to another to get food. v8 The people may accept you when you go into a town. Eat what those people give to you. v9 Make the sick people well in that town. Give this message to all the people there: “We bring the news that God wants to rule in your lives now.” v10 Sometimes when you go into a town, the people will not accept you. You should then go into the streets of that town and you should say to the people, v11 “There is dirt from your town on our feet. We will clean it off to show that you have not accepted the message from God. Listen! God wants to rule in your lives, but you have refused him.” v12 One day God will *judge everyone. At that time, he really will *punish the people from that town. Yes, he will *punish them more than the people that lived in Sodom.’

Some towns where people did not believe

v13 ‘It will be bad for you, people of Chorazin’, Jesus went on to say. ‘It will be bad for you, people of Bethsaida. I have done great things in your cities. If I had done such great things in Tyre and Sidon, the people there would have listened to me long ago. They would then have put on clothes made from the hair of a goat. They would also have put ash on their heads. This would show God that they were sorry. They would have stopped doing bad things and they would have started to obey him. v14 Yes, when God *judges everyone, he will *punish the people of Tyre and Sidon. But he will *punish more the people of Chorazin and Bethsaida.

v15 And the people in Capernaum, they try to lift themselves up to God’s place. But he will throw them down to *hell!’

v16 ‘The person that listens to you, listens to me’, Jesus told those that he was sending out. ‘The person that does not accept you does not accept me. And the person that does not accept me also does not accept someone else. He does not accept him who sent me.’

The 72 men return

v17 Later, the 72 men that Jesus sent out returned to him. They were very happy. ‘Master’, they said, ‘even bad *spirits obey us. We use your name and we say, “Leave!” Then they leave.’

v18 ‘I was watching and I saw the *devil fall’, replied Jesus. ‘He fell very fast, like *lightning from the sky. v19 Listen! I have given authority and power to you. You will even stand on dangerous snakes and insects and you will have authority over all the power of the *devil. Nothing will hurt you. v20 But do not be happy just because you have authority over bad *spirits. Your names are in the book where God is. That is why you should be happy.’

Jesus is very happy

v21 At this moment, the *Holy Spirit made Jesus very happy. ‘Father’, he said, ‘you rule all things above and on the earth! I thank you for this. You have taught people that do not know many things. Now they can understand this. But you have hidden all these things from other people. They think that they understand everything. And they think that they are *wise. Yes, Father, this is how you chose it to happen.’

v22 ‘My Father has given me all things’, he then said. ‘Only the Father knows who I am. Nobody else really knows that I am the *Son of God. Only I know who the Father is. Nobody else knows, except those people that I choose to tell.’

v23 Then he turned. And he spoke only to those that always followed him. ‘Be happy! God has helped you to see the things that you see. v24 Listen! There have been many rulers. Many men have received messages from God. Those people all wanted to see the things that you are seeing. But they did not see them. They wanted to hear what you are hearing. But they did not hear it.’

This is a picture story about a good man from Samaria

v25 A man that taught God’s rules then stood up. He wanted to show that Jesus really did not know the rules well. So he asked a question. ‘Teacher, what must I do to live for all time?’

v26 ‘What do God’s rules say?’ Jesus asked. ‘What do you understand from them?’

v27 ‘It says that we should *love the *Lord our God’, he replied. ‘We should *love him very much, with every part of our body and of our mind. We should also love people that live near to us. We should love them as much as we love ourselves.’

v28 ‘You have told me the right answer’, said Jesus. ‘If you do this, you will live for all time.’

v29 But the man wanted to show that he had been right to ask a question. So he asked, ‘Who are the people near to me that I must love?’

v30 Jesus answered by telling a picture story. ‘A man was going down the road from Jerusalem to Jericho town. On the way, some men attacked him. They took away all his clothes and they hit him with sticks. He was almost dead when they left him. v31 But it happened that a *priest was going down that road. He saw the man, who was lying there. But he walked past him on the other side of the road. v32 A *Levite was also going down the road. He came to the place where the man was lying. He saw him. But he also walked past on the other side of the road.’

v33 ‘But a man from Samaria was also travelling along the road. And he came to the place where the man was lying. When he saw him, he felt very sorry for him. v34 He went across to him. He poured oil and *wine on the places where he was bleeding. Then he tied those places with clean cloths. After that, he put the man on his own animal. They arrived at a small hotel. He took him in and he was kind to him.’

v35 ‘The next day, the man from Samaria took out two *silver coins from his purse. He gave the money to the man that was taking *care of the hotel. “Be kind to this man for me”, he said. “I will return. This money may not be enough. I will pay you for any more that you have spent on him.” ’

v36 Then Jesus asked the man that taught God’s rules a question. ‘Three men passed the man that was lying on the road. Which of them showed love to him?’

v37 ‘It was the man that was kind to him’, he answered.

Then Jesus said to him, ‘Yes, you are right. So go and do the same for other people.’

Jesus visits the home of Martha and Mary

v38 Jesus and those that always followed him continued their journey. They arrived at a certain village. There, a woman called Martha asked Jesus to come into her house. v39 This woman had a sister called Mary. Mary sat down near Jesus. She was listening to the things that he was teaching. v40 But Martha was thinking to herself, ‘I cannot do all this work alone.’ So she came to Jesus. ‘Master’, she said, ‘my sister is not helping me with the work. She has left me to do it alone. You cannot really believe that this is right! Say to her that she must help me!’

v41 ‘Martha, Martha’, replied Jesus, ‘you have troubles in your mind about very many things. v42 But only one thing is really important. And Mary has chosen it. Nobody will take it away from her.’

Chapter 11

Jesus teaches those that always followed him how to pray

v1 One day, Jesus was praying in a certain place. He finished praying. Then, one of those that always followed him came to him. ‘Master’, he said, ‘John taught those that followed him how to pray. Please teach us as he did.’

v2 ‘When you pray’, he replied, ‘you should say this:

            “Father, we want all people to know that you are good and important.

            You will rule everyone one day. We pray that that day will come soon.

v3        Please give us the food that we need each day.

v4        *Forgive us for all the wrong things that we have done.

            After all, we also *forgive everyone that has done wrong things to us.

            Do not let us agree to do wrong things.” ’

v5 He then told a picture story to teach them how to pray. ‘Let me tell you about someone that goes to a friend at midnight. “My friend”, he says, “please give me three loaves of bread. v6 Another friend of mine is on a journey and he has arrived at my house. But I have no food to give him.” v7 But his friend answers from inside his house. “Do not cause problems for me! I have locked my door. My children and I have gone to bed. So, I cannot get up and give you any bread.” v8 I will tell you what will happen. Perhaps the friend will not give him anything because they are good friends. But if he continues to knock, he will get up. If he continues to ask for bread, his friend will give him bread. He will give him everything that he asks for.

v9 So I tell you this. Continue to ask for what you need. And you will receive it. Continue to look for what you need. And then you will find it. Continue to knock at the door and God will open it for you. v10 After all, everyone that asks for something will receive it. Everyone that looks for something will find it. God will open the door for everyone that knocks on it. v11 Some of you are fathers. You would not give your son a snake if he asks for fish! v12 If your son asks you for an egg, you would not give him an insect to hurt him. v13 You are bad. But you know how to give good things to your children. And your Father above knows much better than you do how to give good things. So he will send the *Holy Spirit to those people that ask him.’

Jesus teaches the people about the *devil

v14 One day, Jesus was *ordering a bad *spirit to come out of a man. Because of the bad *spirit, the man could not speak. But after it had gone out of him, the man could speak. All the people that were watching were surprised at this. v15 But some people in the crowd were not happy with Jesus. ‘Yes, this man can cause bad *spirits to come out from people’, they said. ‘But the *devil works with him, because the *devil rules all the bad *spirits.’

v16 Some other people in the crowd did not believe in Jesus. They wanted to show that his power was not from God. ‘Do something powerful’, they were saying. ‘If you do, we will believe. We will believe that God has sent you.’

v17 But Jesus knew what those people were wanting. ‘If groups of people in a country fight each other’, he said to them, ‘they will destroy their own country. If people in one family fight with each other, they will destroy their family. v18 The *devil is the same. The people who obey him must not fight each other. If they do, he will soon not have anybody to rule. But you say that the *devil helps me to send bad *spirits out of people. If this were true, the *devil would be fighting himself. He would soon not have anybody to rule. v19 You say that the *devil helps me to cause bad *spirits to leave. But some men obey what you teach. And they also cause bad spirits to leave. So think about who helps them to do that. That shows that you are wrong. v20 So when I cause bad *spirits to leave people, I use the power of God. This shows that God is ruling among you.

v21 When a strong man has all his arms for war, he can take *care of his own house. Nothing bad will happen to his things inside the house. v22 But someone may come that is stronger than he. Then the stronger man attacks him and beats him. The stronger person then takes away all his arms for war. These arms had made him feel safe. The stronger man will also give away all the things that he had taken.’

v23 ‘If someone is not helping me, he is against me. If a person is not working with me to bring people together, he is causing them to run away from me.’

v24 ‘When a bad *spirit goes out of a person, it travels through dry places. It goes to look for a new place to live. If it does not find anywhere, it says to itself, “I will return to the house where I lived before.” v25 It goes back to that house. But it finds that it is clean. Everything inside is in the right place. v26 So it goes out and it brings back 7 worse *spirits. They all go into the house and they live there. Now the man is worse than he was at the beginning.’

v27 While Jesus was saying this, a woman in the crowd shouted out. ‘How happy is the woman that gave birth to you! How happy is the woman that fed you from her breasts!’

v28 ‘How happy, rather’, he replied, ‘are the people that hear the message from God. That is if they obey it.’

Jesus talks about Jonah

v29 The crowd round Jesus was growing larger, so he began to speak to them. ‘The people that are alive today are very bad. They want God to show them some powerful work. But God will not show them anything. They will only see the same powerful thing that happened to Jonah. v30 Something happened to him. It showed the people in Nineveh that God had sent him. The same thing will happen to me, the *Son of Man. I will be like Jonah to the people that are living today. Then they will know that God sent me.’

v31 ‘Many years ago’, Jesus then said, ‘the queen of a country in the south travelled a long way to see King Solomon. She went to listen to the *wise ideas that he taught. Listen! There is someone here today that is greater than Solomon. But you will not listen to him. So, when God *judges all people, that queen will stand in front of him. And she will speak against the men that are alive today. After all, she travelled a long way to hear the *wise ideas of Solomon.’

v32 ‘Jonah is the same. When he spoke to the people in Nineveh, they stopped doing bad things. And they obeyed God. Listen! There is someone here today that is greater than Jonah. But you will not obey him. God will *judge all people. Then those men that lived in Nineveh will stand in front of him. They will also speak against the people that are alive today. After all, when Jonah spoke to the people in Nineveh, they stopped doing bad things. And they obeyed God.’

Jesus talks about being full of light

v33 ‘When someone lights a *lamp, he does not hide it. Nor does he put a pot over it. Instead, he puts it in a high place, so that people will see the light. They will see it when they come in. v34 Your eyes are like a *lamp, and your body is like a room. If a *lamp is clean, the whole room has light. But if it is dirty, the whole room is in the dark. v35 So, be sure that your eyes are not like a dirty *lamp. If they are, you will be bad, like a dark room. v36 So, your eyes should be like a clean *lamp. There will be nothing bad in you. You will be like a room that is full of light.’

v37 While Jesus was speaking, a *Pharisee asked him to eat a meal with him. So, he went to his house and he sat down at the table. v38 Jesus did not wash his hands before he ate the meal. This surprised the *Pharisee. v39 So the *Lord Jesus spoke to him. ‘You *Pharisees are like someone that only cleans the outside of a cup and plate. You only clean the part that people can see. But inside, your mind is full of very bad thoughts. You think about taking valuable things from other people. v40 What fools you are! The God that made the outside of you also made the inside. He sees everything inside you. v41 So give to poor people with good thoughts. So then God will say that everything inside and outside of you is clean.’

v42 ‘You *Pharisees give to God one tenth of the little plants that have a nice smell. You also give him one tenth of the little plants that cause food to taste nice. You are right to give them. But trouble will happen to you, because you do not also do the most important things. You do not *love God. And you do not do what is right. You should do these. And you should also give him a tenth of what you grow.

v43 Trouble will happen to you *Pharisees, because you like to have the best seats in the meeting place. And people speak to you in the market place as they speak to an important person. You like that too.

v44 Yes, you want to seem good but you are not. So trouble will happen to you. Sometimes, when people bury a dead body, they do not put a mark there. Because of that, other people walk on that ground. You are like that ground. You seem good but, inside, you are not.’

v45 Then one of those that taught God’s rules spoke out. ‘Teacher’, he said, ‘when you say these things, you are also saying bad things about us.’

v46 ‘Trouble will also happen to you that teach God’s rules’, Jesus replied. ‘You give rules to people to obey. They are like things that are too heavy to carry. You put them on their backs, but you do not help them to carry them. Not even with one finger do you help them!’

v47 ‘Yes, trouble will happen to you that teach God’s rules! A long time ago, your *fathers killed the men that spoke for God. Now, you build up beautiful stones to remember the place where they buried them. v48 You know that your *fathers killed these men. You build up these stones. So you show that you agree with your fathers. You agree with what they did. v49 God is *wise. That is the reason that he said, “I will send men that I choose. I will also send other men that receive messages from me. They will speak my messages. But people will kill some of them. They will do bad things to some of them.” v50 People have killed those that speak for God since the beginning of the world. But he will *punish the people alive today for all those murders. v51 Abel was the first to die and Zechariah was the last. They killed him between the *Great House of God and God’s special table. The *priests kill and burn animals as a gift to God on that special table. Yes, God will *punish the people who are living today for all those murders.

v52 Trouble will happen to you that teach God’s rules. You have not taught other people to understand the messages from God. They wanted to find out what is true. You yourselves have not found out. And you have also stopped the people that wanted to know. So they could not find out.’

v53 Then Jesus left that place. The *Pharisees and those that taught God’s rules started to be very much against him. They were asking him many difficult questions. v54 They were trying to cause him to say something wrong. They were waiting to take hold of him if he did.

Chapter 12

Jesus *tells the people to be careful how they live

v1 While all this was happening, many thousands of people were present. There were so many people that they were almost walking over each other. Jesus began to talk first to those that always followed him. ‘Do not become like the *Pharisees. They want other people to think that they are good. But they are not. They are like *yeast that causes bread to grow.’

v2 ‘People do things secretly, but everybody will know about those things. And people say things secretly, but everybody will know about those things. v3 You have said things in the dark of the night. But people will hear those things in the light of day. You have said things into someone’s ear behind a door that you have shut. But people will shout out all those things from the tops of the houses.

v4 You are my friends, so I tell you this. Do not be afraid of those people that can kill your body. After that, they can do nothing worse to you. v5 I tell you that you should be afraid of God. He has the power to kill and to throw people into *hell. Once more I am telling you, be afraid of him.

v6 People sell 5 small birds for 2 coins of little value. But each little bird is valuable to God. He takes *care of them all. v7 He does the same for you. He even knows how many hairs there are on your head. So, do not be afraid of people. You are of more value to God than very many small birds.

v8 I also say this to you. Say to other people, “I obey Jesus.” If you do, I, the *Son of Man, will say to the *angels of God, “That person is someone that obeys me.” v9 But another person who knows me will say, “I do not know Jesus. I do not obey him.” If he does, I will say to the *angels of God, “I do not know this person. He does not obey me.”

v10 Somebody may speak against the *Son of Man, and God will *forgive him. But somebody may speak against the *Holy Spirit. And he may say that the Holy Spirit is bad. God will never *forgive that person.’

v11 ‘People will take you into places for meetings. They will cause you to stand in front of rulers and other people that have authority. These men will ask you questions. But do not be afraid of them. Do not think, “I do not know how to answer them.” v12 When the time comes, the *Holy Spirit will teach you. He will tell you what to say.’

Jesus tells a picture story about a rich fool

v13 Someone in the crowd spoke to Jesus. ‘Teacher’, he said, ‘I have a problem with my brother. Our father died. *Tell my brother to give me my part of what our father left us.’

v14 ‘It is not my job to say which of you is right or wrong’, he replied. ‘And it is not my job to say what each of you should have.’ v15 Then he spoke to all the people. ‘Think well and be very careful! Do not want more than you need. The life of a person is worth more than the things that he has. Even if he is very rich, that is still true.’

v16 He then told them a picture story. ‘A man had some very good ground, where he planted seeds. The plants grew very well. And he had much more than he planted. v17 He thought about how much he would soon have. “I have nowhere to store all the seeds from my plants”, he said to himself. v18 But then he decided what to do. “I will pull down the building”, he said to himself, “where I now store my seed. Then I will build a bigger building to store it all. There I will also keep everything else that is mine. v19 Then I will say to myself:

You have plenty of things stored away. These will be enough for you for many years. Now you can live an easy life. Eat and drink. Enjoy yourself.”

v20 But God said to the man, “You are a fool. Tonight you will die. You will have to leave everything behind. Think about all your things that you have stored away. Think about what will happen to them. Think about who will have them.” ’

v21 ‘Some people think only about having many things for themselves’, Jesus went on to say. ‘That picture story is for those people. But God says about them, “They have nothing of value at all.” ’

Do not have troubles in your mind

v22 ‘So I tell you that you should not be always thinking about things’, Jesus then said to those that always followed him. ‘Do not be always thinking about the food that you need to stay alive. Nor be always thinking about the clothes that you need to wear. v23 After all, your life is more important than your food. Your body is more important than your clothes.

v24 Think about the birds. They do not plant seeds in the ground, nor cut down plants to eat. They have no buildings to store food. But they do not go hungry. God gives them food. You are of much more value than the birds.

v25 Your life is the same. Even if you are always thinking about your life, you cannot make it any longer. v26 No, you cannot do a small thing like that. So, do not always be thinking about the things that you need. v27 Think about how the wild flowers grow. They do not work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you this about them. It is true that King Solomon wore very beautiful clothes. But even one wild flower is more beautiful than he was. v28 It is God that gives beautiful clothes to wild flowers and grass. And they are alive in the field for a very short time. After that, people burn them. Yes, God gives clothes to those flowers, so he will do much more for you. He will give you all that you need. You do not yet believe in him very well.’

v29 ‘Food and drink are the same. Do not always be thinking about the food and drink that you need. v30 People that do not know God are always thinking about these things. That is true. But your Father, God, knows that you need them. v31 Instead, always be thinking about the things that are important to him. Let him rule you. So then he will also give you the things that you need. v32 Yes, you are only a small group of people, but do not be afraid. After all, your Father, God, has chosen you to rule with him. v33 Sell what you have and give the money to poor people. Do good things. So you will have things of great value when you live in God’s home. There your things will never become old. Their value will never decrease. Nor can anyone take them from you. No insect can destroy them there. v34 After all, you will want to be in the same place as the things that are of value to you.’

Be ready for Jesus to return

v35 ‘Always be ready for my return. Be like those that are ready to start work. They have put on their clothes so that they are ready for work. And they have lit their *lamps.

v36 You must be like servants that are waiting for their master to arrive. When he returns home from the marriage party, he will knock on the door. His servants should be ready to open it for him immediately. v37 Those servants will be very happy if their master finds them awake. If he does, he will do this. He will tie his belt so that his clothes are short. He will say to them, “Sit at the table. I will come and I will give you some food.” ’

v38 ‘The master may arrive in the middle of the night. He may even arrive just before the sun rises. But, if the master finds them awake and ready, the servants will be happy.

v39 You must also understand this. The master of a house does not know when a robber will try to get in to his house. If he knew, he would keep awake. He would not let the robber come in and take away his things.

v40 You also must be ready. The *Son of Man will come at a time when you are not thinking, “He will come now.” ’

Be a good servant

v41 Peter then asked Jesus. ‘Master, are you only talking to us that follow you? Or is this picture story for everyone to hear?’

v42 ‘Be *wise. And be a man that the master can *trust’, said Jesus. ‘The master will choose a man like that. He will say to him, “I want you to rule my house and the other servants. Give them food at the right time.” v43 This servant will be very happy when his master comes home. His master sees that he has done everything well. So he is happy. v44 I will tell you what will happen. The master will let the servant rule over everything that he has. v45 But perhaps the servant says to himself, “My master will not come yet.” So, he begins to hit the other servants. He hits both the men and the women. He eats too much. He also drinks too much and he becomes a drunk.

v46 The master of that servant will come home and he will surprise the servant. He did not think that his master would come home on that day or at that time. Then the master will *punish him a lot. He will put the servant with those people that do not obey him.

v47 A servant may know what his master wants him to do. He should get ready and obey. If he does not, his master will *punish him. He will hit him a lot. v48 But another servant perhaps did not know what his master wanted him to do. So he did the wrong things. The master will hit him because he did the wrong things. But he will not hit him as much. He did not know that those things were wrong. If masters give much to their servants, they will want a lot in return. And God wants much from the person to whom he has given much.

v49 I came to start a fire on earth. I would be happy if that fire were already burning. v50 I have a *baptism of pain to receive. I cannot rest until this has happened.’

v51 ‘I did not come so that everyone will agree. Do not think that I came for that reason. No, that is not true. Instead, I came to make people into separate groups. v52 From now on, because of me, 5 people in a family will become 2 separate groups. 2 will be against the other 3. 3 of them will be against the other 2. v53 The father will be against his son and the son will be against his father. The mother will be against her daughter and the daughter will be against her mother. The mother will be against her son’s wife. And the son’s wife will be against his mother.’

v54 ‘You see a cloud that is rising in the west’, Jesus then said to the crowd. ‘Immediately you say, “It will rain.” And the rain does come. v55 Sometimes you know that the south wind is blowing. So you say, “It will be very hot weather.” And the hot weather does come. v56 You want other people to think that you understand many things. So, you look at the earth and the sky. And you say what weather will come. Yes, you know how to do that. So look at the things that are happening near you now. They show you what will soon happen. But you do not understand what they are showing you. And you should know it.’

v57 ‘Also, you should know what these things mean for you. You should do what is right. v58 After all, something like this may happen to you: Someone says, “You have a debt and you have done something wrong.” So he takes you to the *judge. Before you arrive at the office of the *judge, try to agree with this man. If you do not agree together about the matter, it may be bad for you. He will say to the *judge, “This man has not paid me back my money.” So the *judge will say to his officer that he should put you in prison. v59 I tell you what will happen then. You will not leave there until you have paid back all the debt.’

Chapter 13

Stop doing wrong things or die

v1 At that time, some people were standing near to Jesus. They told him what happened to some people from Galilee. They were burning animals as a gift for God. Pilate sent some soldiers to kill them.

v2 ‘So think about these people from Galilee’, Jesus replied. ‘Perhaps you think that they had done more bad things than other people from Galilee. And so that is why they had to die. v3 No, they were not worse than other people. All of you have also done many bad things. So, you must turn away from all bad things and you must turn to God. If you do not, I tell you this. You will also die as they did.

v4 And you remember what happened to those 18 people in Siloam. A high building fell and it killed them. Perhaps you think that they had done more bad things than the other people in Jerusalem. v5 No, they had not. All of you have also done many bad things. So, you must turn away from all bad things and you must turn to God. If you do not, I tell you this. You will also die as they did.’

Jesus tells a picture story about a *fig tree

v6 Then he told this story. ‘A man had a garden where he grew fruit. He had planted a *fig tree there. But when he came to look for fruit, he could not find any.

v7 “Look”, he then said to his gardener, “For three years, I have come to look for fruit on this tree. But I have never found any. So cut the tree down! I do not think that it should be here. It is wasting the ground.”

v8 “Master”, the gardener replied, “leave the tree in the ground for one more year. Let me dig round it and let me put some dirt from animals on it.” ’

v9 ‘ “If I do that, next year, the *fig tree may have some fruit on it. If it does not, I will cut it down for you.” ’

Jesus makes a sick woman well again

v10 One day, Jesus was teaching in a meeting house. It was the *Jewish day for rest.

v11 There was a woman there that had a bad *spirit inside her. It had lived there for 18 years and it had made her ill. She had to bend her back all the time. She could not stand up straight. v12 Jesus saw her. ‘Woman, come here’, he said. ‘You are better from your illness.’ v13 He put his hands on her and immediately she could stand up straight. ‘How great you are!’ she said to God. ‘How good and powerful you are!’

v14 But the leader of the meeting house was angry. He was angry because Jesus had made a sick person well on their day for rest. So he spoke to the people. ‘There are 6 days each week when we should work’, he said to them. ‘Come on any of those days and get well. But you should not come on our rest day to get well.’

v15 ‘You are wrong’, the *Lord Jesus said to him. ‘You say one thing and you do something different yourselves. You each take your *ox or your *donkey outside on the day for rest. You then give them water to drink.’

v16 ‘Look at this woman’, he went on to say. ‘She is in the *family of Abraham. But it is like a bad *spirit from the *devil has kept her tied up for 18 years. So it is certainly right to make her *free on our day for rest.’ v17 These words caused the leaders of the meeting place to feel ashamed of themselves. But all the people there were very happy. They were happy because they had seen Jesus do many good and powerful things.

Jesus tells picture stories about seeds and *yeast

v18 Then he told them a story. ‘I will tell you about the place where God rules. For example, v19 it is like a very small seed. A man takes it and he plants it. He puts it in his garden and it grows. It then grows into a tree. It is so big that birds can make a place to live among the branches.’

v20 ‘Here is another example. The place where God rules is like this’, he went on to say.

v21 ‘It is like *yeast. A woman takes some and she puts it in three large bowls of flour. Then the *yeast grows and it goes through all the flour.’

This is a picture story about a narrow door

v22 Jesus was continuing his journey to Jerusalem. On the way, he went through towns and villages. In each one, he taught the people. v23 One day, somebody asked him a question. ‘Sir, will God only save a small number of people?’

v24 ‘Do your best to go in by the narrow door’, he said to the people. ‘I tell you that many people will want to go in. But they will not be able to get in. v25 Soon the master of the house will get up and he will shut the door. And then you may still be standing outside the door. You will knock and you will say, “Master, open the door for us to come in.”

“I do not know where you come from”, he will reply. “I do not know you.” v26 “But Master”, you will begin to say, “we had meals with you. You taught us in the streets of our villages.”

v27 “No!” he will tell you, “I do not know you. All of you have done very bad things, so go away from me.”

v28 Then you will cry because you are outside. You will bite on your teeth because you are in pain. You will see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the place where God rules. You will also see all the people that brought messages from God there. But God will shut you outside. v29 At that time, people will come from the east and from the west. They will also come from the north and from the south. They will all come to the place where God rules. There they will sit down together to eat a special meal. v30 At that time, some people that are now last will be first. Some people that are now first will be last.’

v31 At this moment, some *Pharisees came to Jesus. ‘Go away from here’, they said to him. ‘Go somewhere else because Herod wants to kill you.’

v32 ‘Herod is a bad man’, replied Jesus. ‘Tell him that I am still causing bad *spirits to come out of people. I am still making sick people well again. I will continue to do all these things for a little longer. Then I will have finished my work. v33 But I need to continue my journey for a little longer. After all, only in Jerusalem do people kill those that speak messages from God.

v34 Oh, you poor people of Jerusalem! You kill those that speak God’s messages to you. And you throw stones to kill those that God has sent to you. Many times, I have wanted to bring all of you near to me. A female bird brings all her babies together and she covers them with her body. But you would not let me keep you from danger, as she keeps her babies. v35 So listen! The place where you live will become like a *desert. I tell you this. One day you will say, “Happy is the man that God sends here with his authority.” But until you say that, you will not see me again.’

Chapter 14

Jesus goes to the house of a *Pharisee

v1 One *Jewish day for rest, Jesus went into the house of a leader of the *Pharisees. This man had asked him to come and to eat a meal with him. They were all watching him carefully. v2 A sick man came up to him. His arms and legs had become too large, because they were full of water. v3 So Jesus spoke to those that taught God’s rules. He also spoke to the *Pharisees. ‘If we make someone well on our day for rest, are we obeying the message of God or not?’

v4 But they would not say anything. So, he took the sick man and he made him well again. Then he let him go away. v5 ‘Think’, said Jesus. ‘You have a son or an animal that falls into a well on a day for rest. Think about what you do. You pull the animal out of the well immediately. Do you not do that even on a rest day?’

v6 They had to agree. They could not say anything else.

v7 Jesus then told a picture story to those that were sitting at the meal. He had watched how the people chose the best places to sit.

v8 ‘When someone asks you to come to a meal’, he said, ‘do not sit in the best place. After all, a man that is more important than you may come later. v9 Then this might happen if you are sitting in the best seat. The man that asked you to the meal might say to you, “Give your place to this man.” Then you will feel ashamed that you sat there. You will have to move to the lowest place and sit there. v10 Instead, when someone asks you to a meal, you should do this. Go and sit in the least important place. So the man that asked you will see you there. And he may say to you, “Friend, move up to a better place.” Everyone who is sitting at the table will see this happen to you. So they will know that you are an important person. v11 It will be the same where God rules. Some people may put themselves in an important place. God will send them all down lower. But he will send the man that puts himself in a low place to a higher one.’

v12 Jesus also spoke to the man that had asked him to the meal. ‘When you give a meal at midday or in the evening, do not ask your friends to come. Do not ask your brothers or your family. And do not ask the rich people that live near you. If you do, they will later ask you to eat at their house. This will pay you for the meal that you gave to them. v13 Instead, when you give a big meal, you should ask the poor people to come. Ask people that have lost an arm or a leg. And ask people that cannot walk very well. And ask people that cannot see. v14 Do this because they cannot later ask you to eat at their houses. So you will be happy because they cannot pay you for the meal. Instead, God will pay you. One day, people that have obeyed God will become alive again. On that day, God will pay you for what you did for those poor people.’

Jesus tells a picture story about a big meal

v15 The men at the table heard what Jesus said. ‘One day, there will be a big meal in the place where God rules. How happy are those people who will eat together at that big meal’, one of the men said.

v16 Jesus answered him by telling a story. ‘One day an important man made a big meal. He asked many people to come to eat in his house. v17 When the meal was ready, he sent his servant out to tell them. So, the servant went to those that his master had asked. “Come now”, he said. “The meal is ready for you.” v18 But each person gave a reason why he could not come to the meal. “I have bought a field”, said the first man. “So I must go out and see it. Please say that I am sorry. Tell your master why I cannot come to his meal.” v19 “I have bought 5 pairs of *oxen”, the next man said. “So I am just going to see if they work well together. Please say that I am sorry. Tell your master why I cannot come to his meal.” v20 “I have just married”, said the third man. “That is why I cannot come to the meal.” ’

v21 ‘The servant went back to his master. He told him what everyone had said. Then the master of the house was very angry. “Go out quickly to every street in the town”, he said to his servant. “Bring the poor people here. Bring those that have lost an arm or a leg. And bring those that cannot walk well. And bring those that cannot see.” v22 The servant did that. Then he came back to his master. “Sir”, he said, “I asked all these people to come to your meal. But there are still some empty places at the table.” v23 The master spoke to his servant again. “Go out to the roads outside the town. Look for people by the side of the road. *Order them all to come, so that my house is full. v24 But I tell you this. None of the people that I asked at the beginning will eat the meal.” ’

What it will be like to obey Jesus

v25 Many people were travelling with Jesus on his journey. So he turned towards them. v26 ‘If someone wants to obey me’, he said, ‘he must live like this: He must love his own father and mother less than he loves me. He must love his wife and his children less than he loves me. He must love his brothers and sisters less than he loves me. He must even love himself less than he loves me. If he does not do that, he cannot obey me. v27 He must live like a person that will die very soon. Yes, if he is not ready to die for me, he cannot obey me. So think about what it will be like to obey me.’

v28 ‘Here is an example. One of you wants to build a tall building. Before he starts to build, he will sit down. He will decide how much it will cost. He needs to know if he has enough money to finish the building. Think about it. v29 If he does not do this, he may not have enough money. He can put the lowest stones in the ground, but he cannot finish the building. If he then has to stop, other people will *laugh at him. They will say to each other, v30 “That man is a fool. He started to build, but he could not finish.” ’

v31 Then Jesus gave them another example. ‘A king wants to fight a war against another king. But before he goes to fight, he sits down. He thinks to himself. “Can I win this war? My army is large, but the other king has twice as many soldiers in his army. v32 No, I cannot do it. I know I cannot beat the other king.” So, while the stronger king is far away, he sends a man with a message. He tells the king that he does not want to fight. He wants to know what he can do to become a friend of the stronger king. v33 It is like that for all of you’, Jesus then said. ‘You must leave everything behind you. Only then, can you come and obey me.

v34 So remember this. Salt is good. But if you mix the salt with something else, it is no longer any good. You cannot cause it to taste like salt again. v35 You would not put it on your field. It cannot make the ground good. You would throw it away. You have ears. So, listen well to what I am saying.’

Chapter 15

v1 One day, all the people that had done many bad things were coming round Jesus. Some were people that took money on behalf of the government. They all wanted to hear what Jesus was saying. v2 The *Pharisees and those that taught God’s rules did not like this. They thought that it was wrong for him to be friendly to people like that. ‘This man is friendly to people that have done bad things’, they said. ‘He even eats with them in their homes.’

Jesus tells a picture story about a sheep that a man has lost

v3 So Jesus told them this story.

v4 ‘Think about a man that has a hundred sheep’, he said. ‘He may lose one of them. Think about what he does. He leaves all the other sheep in the country where nobody lives. Then he goes. And he looks for the sheep that he has lost. He looks until he finds it. v5 When he finds the sheep, he is very happy. He lifts it up and he puts it across his shoulders. v6 Then he carries it back home. He speaks to all his friends and to the people that live near him. He asks them to come to his house. “I have found the sheep that I lost”, he says. “So come here and we can all be happy together.” v7 The same happens when one person turns away from doing wrong things. This makes those that live above with God very happy. They will be happier about him, than about the many people that already obey God.’

Jesus tells a picture story about a coin that a woman has lost

v8 ‘Now think about a woman that has ten valuable coins. She may lose one of them. Think about what she does. She lights a *lamp and she sweeps inside her house. She looks carefully until she finds the coin. v9 Then she speaks to all her friends and to those that live near to her. She asks them to come to her house. “I have found the coin that I lost”, she says. “So come here and we can all be happy together.”

v10 The same happens when a person turns back to God. This makes the *angels of God very happy.’

Jesus tells a picture story about two sons

v11 Jesus then told another story. ‘There was a man that had two sons. v12 The younger son went to his father. “Father, please give me now my part of your things”, he said. So, the father gave both sons their part of his things. v13 After a few days, the younger son sold what his father had given to him. Then he left home. He took with him the money and everything that he had. He went on a long journey to a country far away. He wasted all his money there and he did many bad things. v14 Then after he had spent everything, something bad happened in that country. There was almost no food anywhere. So, the young man had nothing to eat. v15 He went to a man from that country and he asked for work. The man sent him into his fields to watch his pigs. v16 Nobody gave him anything to eat. So he even wanted to eat the food that the pigs were eating.

v17 Then the son began to think about what he had done. “My father has many servants”, he said to himself, “and they have plenty of food to eat. They even have extra food. But I shall die here because I do not have any food. v18 So I will go to my father. ‘I have done bad things against God’, I will tell him. ‘And I have done them against you. v19 So I am not good enough for you to call me your son any longer. Instead, please accept me as one of your servants.’ ”

v20 So he stood up and he returned to his father. But he was still a long way from the house when his father saw him. He felt very sorry for his son and he ran towards him. Then he put his arms round him and he kissed him. v21 “Father”, the son said, “I have done bad things against God and against you. So I am not good enough for you to call me your son.” v22 But the father shouted to his servants. “Hurry!” he said. “Fetch the most beautiful coat that we have. Put it on him and put a ring on one of his fingers. Put shoes on his feet. v23 Fetch the young cow that we keep ready to eat on a special day. It is already fat. Kill it and prepare it. We shall eat a big meal and we shall be happy together. v24 I thought that this son of mine was dead. But now he has returned to me alive. I thought that he had left me for all time. But now he has come home.” Then they began to be happy together.

v25 While these things were happening, the older son was working in the field. On his way back to the house, he heard music. He heard people who were dancing. v26 So he spoke to one of the servants. “What is happening?” he asked him. v27 “Your brother has returned”, the servant replied. “Your father has killed the young fat cow for him. He did this because your brother is alive and well.” v28 When he heard this, he was very angry. He would not go into the house, so his father came out. “Please come in”, he said. v29 “Listen”, replied the older son, “I have worked for you for many years. I have always obeyed you. But you never even killed a young goat for me. If you had done that, I could have been happy with my friends. We could have had a meal together. v30 But now this other son of yours has returned. He has wasted all the money that you gave to him. He has spent it on women of the streets. But you have killed the young fat cow just for him.” v31 “My son”, said his father, “you are always with me. All that I have is yours. v32 We thought that your brother was dead. But now he has returned to us alive. We thought that he had left us for all time. But now he has come home. So we must be happy together.” ’

Chapter 16

Jesus tells a picture story about a man that thought *wisely

v1 Jesus then told another story to those that followed him. ‘A rich man had a servant who worked for him. The servant took *care of the money that the man had. Then some people came to tell the rich man about his servant. They said that he was wasting his master’s things. v2 So the master sent someone to fetch his servant. “I am hearing bad stories about you”, he said. “So write down everything that you have done with my money and my things. After you have done this, you will stop working for me.”

v3 “I must think about what I can do”, the servant said to himself. “My master will not let me work for him any longer. I am not strong enough to dig. And I would be ashamed to ask other people for money. v4 I must stop working for my master. I know what I can do then. If I do it, people will accept me into their homes.”

v5 Many people had a debt that they had not paid back to the master. So, the servant asked those people to come to him. “How big is your debt to my master?” he asked the first man. v6 “I have to give him 100 *barrels of *oil”, he replied. “Here is the paper with your debt written down on it”, said the servant. “Take the paper. Sit down and write quickly on the paper - 50 *barrels.” ’

v7 ‘ “And how big is your debt to my master?” he asked the next man. “I have to give him 100 baskets of *wheat”, he replied. “Here is the paper with your debt written down on it. Take the paper and write on it - 80 baskets.” ’

v8 ‘The servant was not honest. But his master spoke well about what he had done. What he had done would help him later. People that do not obey God think carefully. They know how to do well with people like themselves. People that obey God often think less carefully.

v9 I tell you this. People may get money in wrong ways. But you should use it to be good to those who need help. You will die, one day. Then those people will be happy to see you in that place where people live for all time.

v10 If you can *trust a person with a very small thing, you can also *trust him with bigger things. And if you cannot *trust a person with a very small thing, you cannot *trust him with big things. v11 So if people cannot *trust you with money in this world, nobody will *trust you with really valuable things. v12 And if people cannot *trust you with other people’s things, nobody will give you things for yourself.

v13 A slave cannot work for two masters. If he does, he will only like one of them. He will work well for one master and he will think bad things about the other one. God and money are like masters. You cannot work for both of them.’

v14 The *Pharisees heard all this. They loved money, so they *laughed at him. ‘You are wrong’, they said to Jesus. v15 ‘You like it when people look at you’, he replied. ‘You want them to think that you are good people. But God sees inside you. He knows what you are thinking. People think that it is important for other people to think well of them. But God thinks that this is wrong.’

v16 ‘Moses wrote down the rules that God gave to him. Other men wrote down messages that the *Holy Spirit gave to them. Those books were the only authority until John the *Baptist began to speak. From the time when John started to tell them about it, people have also heard the good news. The good news is about how God rules. Since then, everyone is really trying to get into where God rules.

v17 But this does not mean that anyone can destroy God’s rules. One day, God will destroy the earth and the sky. But everything that God’s men have written in the book of rules must happen. v18 Sometimes, a man sends away his wife, and then he marries another woman. If he does this, he is very bad. And sometimes, a husband sends away his wife and she marries another man. This other man is also doing something wrong.’

Jesus tells a story about a rich man and a poor man

v19 ‘At one time, there was a rich man that also had expensive clothes. Some of the clothes were *purple. And some of them were soft and white. This man had large meals every day. v20 There was also a poor man called Lazarus. He had *sores all over his skin. He lay at the gate of the rich man. v21 He was very hungry. He even wanted to eat the bits of food that the rich man threw away. And even the dogs came and they put their *tongues on the *sores on his body. v22 The poor man then died and *angels carried him away. They put him at the side of Abraham. The rich man also died and his family buried him. v23 He went to a bad place called Hades. He was in a lot of pain there. He saw Abraham. He was far away from him. He also saw Lazarus at the side of Abraham. v24 So he shouted out, “Father Abraham, please be kind to me. Please send Lazarus to me. I am in great pain because I am in a fire. Let him put the end of his finger into some water. Let him use the water to make my mouth cool.” v25 “My child”, replied Abraham, “remember the time when you were alive on earth. Remember what happened then. You had lots of good things and Lazarus had lots of bad things. Now I am taking *care of Lazarus, and you are in pain. v26 But that is not everything. Between you and us, there is a hole. It is wide and long and deep. There is a reason why this hole is there. Nobody can cross from here to where you are. And nobody can cross from where you are to come here.” v27 “If that is true, Father Abraham”, he said, “please send Lazarus to my family. v28 I have 5 brothers that are still alive. He can *tell them not to do the same things as I did. So they will not also come here when they die. They will not be in great pain, as I am.”

v29 “They have the books that Moses wrote”, said Abraham. “They have all the messages that other men wrote. The men that heard from God wrote them. Your family should listen to them.” ’

v30 ‘ “No, Father Abraham”, he said, “they will not listen to the messages that Moses and the other servants of God wrote. But if someone goes to them from among the dead people, they will listen. So then they will turn away from doing wrong things. And they will turn back to God.”

v31 “You say that they do not believe. They do not believe what Moses and the other servants of God said. So also they will not believe someone that comes back from among the dead people.” ’

Chapter 17

v1 ‘Some people will try to cause other people to do wrong things. You can be sure about that’, Jesus said to those that always followed him. ‘But God will *punish every person that tries to do that. v2 So he must stop doing it. If not, he should ask someone to hang a big stone round his neck. Then people should throw him into the sea with the stone. So he will not cause one of these little people to do wrong things.’

v3 ‘Be careful how you think. If your brother does something wrong, talk to him about it. Your brother may say, “I am sorry for what I did. I will not do it again.” If he says that, you must *forgive him. v4 Your brother may do a bad thing to you many times in a day. He may turn to you many times and say, “I am sorry for what I did. I will not do it again.” If he does that, you must *forgive him.’

v5 ‘Help us’, said the 12 men that Jesus had chosen, ‘to believe more and more in you.’

v6 ‘The amount that you believe in me is not even as big as a small seed’, the *Lord replied. ‘If it was as big as that, you could say to this tree, “Pull yourself out of the ground and plant yourself in the sea.” And the tree would obey you.

v7 Think about this. You have a servant that is ploughing. Or you have a servant that is taking *care of your sheep. When he comes in from his work, you would not say to him, “Sit down and eat.” v8 No, you would not say that. You would say to him, “Prepare the evening meal for me. Get yourself ready and bring the food to me. I will eat and drink first. You can eat when I have finished.” v9 Servants should do what their masters *order them to do. Their masters do not thank them when they do that. v10 It is the same with you. The Master tells you what you should do. And you do it. “We are not *special servants”, each of you should say to himself. “We have only done what we should do.” ’

The 10 men that had *leprosy

v11 On his journey to Jerusalem, Jesus was travelling along the border between Samaria and Galilee. v12 When he was going into a village, 10 men came towards him. These men had an illness of the skin. They stopped some way away from Jesus v13 and they shouted, ‘Jesus, Master, please be kind to us.’

v14 Jesus saw them standing there. ‘Go and show yourselves to the *priests’, he answered.

While they were going there, they became well again. v15 Then one of these 10 men saw that Jesus had made him well. He turned back and he started to shout out, ‘God is very good. He has made me well.’ v16 He went down on his knees in front of Jesus. ‘Thank you, Master’, he said. This man was from Samaria.

v17 ‘I made 10 men well again’, Jesus said. ‘There should be another 9 men! v18 Only this one man came back to thank God, and he is from Samaria. There should be other men that came from *Israel.’

v19 Then he spoke to the man. ‘Stand up again and go on your way. You believed in me, so now you are really well.’

Jesus talks about the time when God will rule

v20 Then some *Pharisees asked Jesus a question. ‘When will God begin to rule here?’

‘You will not see anything different when God begins to rule here’, Jesus replied. ‘People will not see it happen. v21 Nobody will say, “Look everyone! God is ruling here”, or “Look! God is ruling over there.” No, it is not like that. God is already ruling in the lives of his people.

v22 The days are coming when you will really want to see me return’, he said to those that always followed him. ‘But you will not see me. v23 At that time, people will say to you, “There he is!” or “Here he is!” But do not go out with them to look. v24 After all, when *lightning shines, it makes the whole of the sky light. It will be like that when I return. Everyone will see me. v25 Before this happens, the people alive now will say, “We do not want Jesus to be our king. Kill him!” And I will feel much pain.’

v26 ‘Remember the report about the time when Noah was alive. Remember what happened then. My return will happen quickly too. v27 While Noah was making his boat, people were eating food. And they were drinking. Men and women were marrying. They continued to do all this until the day when Noah went into his boat. Then it rained for a long time and the deep water killed all the people.’

v28 ‘The same things happened when Lot was alive. People in the city called Sodom were eating. And they were drinking. They were buying and selling things. They were planting seeds and they were building houses. v29 But then, Lot went away from Sodom. On that same day, God caused it to rain fire and burning stones from the sky. This killed all the people in Sodom. v30 The same things will happen on the day when I show myself.

v31 On that day, this is what people must do. If they are outside their house, they must not go back inside to get their things. In the same *way, people that are working in the fields must not return to their house. They must not go back for the things that were in the house. No, they must just run away from Jerusalem. v32 Remember what happened to Lot’s wife.’

v33 ‘Whoever wants to save his life will lose it. But if he loses his life for me, he will save it. v34 I tell you this. At that time, two men will be sleeping in bed at night. The *angels will take one of them and they will leave the other one behind. v35‑36 Two women will be working together in the same place. The *angels will take one of them and they will leave the other one behind.’

v37 ‘Where will this happen?’ those that followed Jesus asked him. ‘If a dead body is lying somewhere, *vultures will come together’, he said to them.

Chapter 18

Jesus talks about how to pray

v1 Then Jesus told those that always followed him a picture story. It taught them that they must not get tired. But they must go on praying. v2 ‘In a certain city’, he said, ‘there was a *judge. He did not think that either God or people were important.’

v3 ‘A woman lived in that same city. Her husband had died. She continued to come to the *judge with a problem. “Please keep me safe from the person that is against me”, she was saying. v4 For a time, the *judge would not do anything for her. Later, he thought about himself. “I do not think that either God or people are important. v5 But this woman causes me trouble. If I do not do anything for her, she will continue to come to me again and again. She will make me very tired. So, I will help her. I will say that she is right.” ’

v6 ‘This *judge was not a good man’, Jesus said. ‘But you should think about what he said to himself. He will only help because the woman causes him trouble. v7 But God always helps those that he has chosen to be his children. When they continue to ask him for help, he will answer them immediately. He will not wait. v8 I tell you this. He will say that they are right. He will help them quickly. I shall return to earth. But I will not find many people that still believe in me then.’

Jesus tells a story about two men that were praying

v9 Jesus also told another picture story to teach people. Some people thought that they were very good. They also thought that they were better than other men.

v10 ‘One day, two men went into the *Great House of God to pray. One man was a *Pharisee. The other man received money on behalf of the government. v11 The *Pharisee stood by himself. And he prayed where other people could see him. “Thank you, God, that I am different from all these other people. They rob. They are bad. They have sex with women that they have not married. Thank you also that I am different from this man. He receives money on behalf of the government. v12 I stop eating on two days of each week. I give to you one tenth of all that I receive.”

v13 But the other man stood very far away. He would not even look up to the sky.

He was hitting his body with his hands to show how sorry he was. “Please, God, be kind to me”, he was saying. “I have done many bad things.” ’

v14 ‘Let me tell you about these men when they went home’, said Jesus. ‘The man that received money on behalf of the government was now right with God. But the *Pharisee had not made anything right with God. Some people say that they are good. God will say to them, “Go away from me. You are not good.” Other people know that they are not good. God will say to them, “Come up here. I have made you good.” ’

Jesus is with little children

v15 People were even bringing little children to Jesus. They were doing this so that he could touch the children. But those that always followed Jesus saw this. So they said to them, ‘Stop bringing all these children here.’

v16 Then Jesus shouted out to them. ‘Let the children come to me. Do not try to stop them. God rules in the lives of people that are like these children. v17 Let me tell you something important. You must receive God as a child does. If you do not, God will never rule in your life.’

Jesus meets a rich ruler

v18 A *Jewish ruler came to Jesus. ‘Good teacher’, he asked, ‘what should I do so that I can live for all time?’

v19 ‘Why do you say that I am good?’ said Jesus. ‘Nobody is good, except God. v20 You know the rules of God. Do not have sex with anyone that is not your wife. Do not kill anyone. Do not rob anyone. Only say true things about people. Love your father and your mother.’

v21 ‘I have obeyed all these rules since I was 12 years old’, he replied.

v22 Jesus heard what he said. ‘You still need to do one thing’, he said. ‘You must sell everything that you have. Give the money to the poor people. So, then you will have many valuable things in the place above, where God lives. Then come back and obey me.’

v23 When the ruler heard this, he became very sad. This was because he was very rich.

v24 Jesus saw that the ruler had become sad. ‘It is very difficult for rich people to ask God to rule in their lives’, he said. v25 ‘After all, it is difficult for a big animal to pass through the hole in a *needle. But it is even more difficult for a rich man to ask God to rule in his life.’

v26 ‘So who will God save?’ asked the people that were listening to Jesus.

v27 ‘God can do things that no man can do’, he replied.

v28 ‘Listen!’ said Peter, ‘we have left everything to obey you.’

v29 ‘Let me tell you something important’, replied Jesus. ‘Some people leave their home to obey God and to let him rule in their lives. They may leave their wife, their brothers, their parents and their children. v30 These people will receive, in this life, very much more than they left. And after they die, they will have something else. They will have a life that does not have an end.’

v31 Jesus took the 12 men that he had chosen away from the other people. ‘Listen!’ he said. ‘We are going to Jerusalem. When we are there, many bad things will happen to me. A long time ago the servants of God wrote down messages from the *Holy Spirit. Everything that he told them about the *Son of Man will now happen to me. v32 This is what he said. The *Jews will give me to those that are not *Jews. They will *laugh at me. They will do bad things to me. They will *spit on me. v33 They will hit me with a *whip and then they will kill me. But after three days, I will become alive again.’

v34 The 12 men that Jesus had chosen did not understand any of these things. Something hid these things from them. So they did not know what Jesus was talking about.

Jesus makes a man well that cannot see

v35 When Jesus was getting near to Jericho, a man was sitting by the side of the road. This man could not see and he was asking people to give him money. v36 Then he heard a large crowd of people who were passing by him. So, he asked the people near him what was happening.

v37 ‘Jesus from Nazareth is passing by’, they replied.

v38 The man began to shout out. ‘Jesus, *Son of David, please be kind to me.’ v39 The people that were walking in the front of the crowd tried to stop him. ‘Be quiet!’ they were saying to him.

But he started to shout even louder. ‘*Son of David, please be kind to me!’

v40 Then Jesus stood still. ‘Bring that man to me’, he said. Then when the man came near, Jesus spoke to him.

v41 ‘What do you want me to do for you?’

‘Sir’, he replied, ‘please cause me to see again.’

v42 ‘See again’, said Jesus. ‘You are well now because you believed in me.’

v43 Immediately the man could see again. He started to follow Jesus. He was saying, ‘God, you are very great and powerful.’

Many people saw what had happened. ‘God, how great and important you are’, they also said.

Chapter 19

Zacchaeus meets Jesus

v1 Jesus went into Jericho and he was walking through the city. v2 There was an important man there called Zacchaeus. He took money on behalf of the government and he had become very rich. v3 He was trying to see who Jesus was. There was a big crowd there and he was a small man. So he could not see him. v4 So he ran on in front of the crowd and he climbed up a tree. He could see Jesus more easily from the tree, because he would walk along that way. v5 When Jesus came to the tree, he looked up. ‘Zacchaeus, come down quickly’, he said. ‘Today I must stay in your home.’

v6 So Zacchaeus came down quickly and took him into his home. He was very happy about this. v7 The people saw what had happened. And they were not happy. ‘Jesus has gone to stay in the home of a man that does bad things’, they were saying.

v8 Zacchaeus then stood up in front of everyone and he spoke to the Master. ‘Listen, Master’, he said. ‘I will give half of all that I have to poor people. I have taken too much money from some people. I will give them 4 times as much as I took from them wrongly.’

v9-10 ‘Today’, said Jesus to him, ‘God’s *salvation has come to this home. After all, I came to look for people that God has lost. And I have come to save them. And Zacchaeus is also part of the *family of Abraham.’

Jesus tells a picture story about 10 servants

v11 While the people were still listening, he told them a story. He did this because he was getting near to Jerusalem. He knew that the people had wrong thoughts. They had wrong thoughts about what would happen there. They were thinking that God would begin to rule his people immediately after that.

v12 ‘An important man left his home and he travelled a long way to another country’, he told them. ‘There he would receive authority to rule his own country. After that, he would return as king. v13 Before he left, he asked 10 of his servants to come to him. He gave each of them 10 pounds of *silver. “Use this money to get more money for me while I am away”, he said.’

v14 ‘The people who were living in his country did not like the man. So, they sent a group of people after him with a message. That message was: “We do not want this man to rule over us.”

v15 When the king returned, he asked those 10 servants to come to him. He wanted to know how much more money they had made from his money. They should have bought things with it and then they should have sold those things again for more money.

v16 The first servant came. “Master”, he said, “your money has made 10 more pounds.”

v17 The master was happy. “You have done well. You are a good servant that I can *trust. You have used a small amount of money well. So you will rule over 10 cities.”

v18 The second servant came. “Master, your money has made 5 more pounds.”

v19 “You will rule over 5 cities”, the Master said to him.

v20 Then another servant came. “Master”, he said, “here is your money. I put it away in a piece of cloth. v21 I did this because I was afraid of you. After all, you tell people what they should do all the time. You take things that you did not work for. You do not put seeds in the ground, but you take the plants from the fields.”

v22 “You are a bad servant”, the Master replied. “I will use your own words to show you that you have done the wrong thing. You said that you know about me. That I tell people what they should do all the time. That I take things that I did not work for. That I do not put seeds in the ground, but I take plants from the fields. v23 You should have put my money into the bank. When I came home, I might have had my money back again with extra.” v24 Some other servants were standing near to their master. “Take the money from this servant”, he said to them. “Give it to the servant that has 10 pounds.”

v25 “But, Master”, they replied, “that servant has 10 pounds already.”

v26 “Let me tell you this”, the Master said. “Some people have something. To them I give more. Other people have nothing. From them I take away even the small thing that they have. v27 Now I must *punish these other people that did not want me to rule over them. Bring them here and kill them in front of me.” ’

Jesus goes into Jerusalem

v28 When Jesus had said all this, he went on in front of them. He was going up to Jerusalem. v29 And he was getting near to two villages called Bethphage and Bethany. They were at the hill called the Mount of *Olives. So, he sent two of those that always followed him into one of the villages.

v30 ‘Go into the village that is in front of you. When you go in, you will find a young *donkey. Someone has tied it up there. Nobody has ridden on it before. Remove the tie and bring the donkey here to me. v31 Someone may ask, “Why are you taking the *donkey?” If they do, tell them: “The Master needs to use it.” ’

v32 The two men that Jesus sent went into the village. They found everything there that Jesus had told them about. v33 While they were taking the young *donkey, some men spoke to them. It was their *donkey. They asked, ‘Why are you taking the young *donkey?’ v34 ‘The Master needs to use it’, they replied. v35 They brought it to Jesus, and they put their coats on top of it. Then they helped Jesus to get on to it. v36 While he was riding along, the people were putting their coats down on the road.

v37 Jesus got near to the lowest part of the hill called the Mount of *Olives. The whole crowd of those that followed him became very happy. ‘God, how great and powerful you are’, they were shouting out. ‘You are very powerful. Thank you for all the great things that we have seen. v38 Happy is the King that comes with the authority of God. We want all to be well in the place above where God lives. We pray that it will be. He is beautiful. He has all power and authority.’

v39 Some of the *Pharisees in the crowd spoke to Jesus. ‘Teacher’, they said, ‘stop those people that are following you from saying these things.’

v40 ‘Let me tell you this’, replied Jesus. ‘If these people were quiet, the stones of the city would shout out instead!’

v41 When Jesus got near to the city, he looked at it in front of him. He cried because he felt very sorry for the people in it. v42 ‘You need to know what you should do, to live without trouble’, he said. ‘You need to be well with God. But now, something is hiding these things from you. v43 As a result, bad days will come to you. Your enemies will build a wall round you. They will shut you in completely, and they will not let you leave. v44 You did not understand that God had come to save you. So your enemies will kill you and they will destroy your city. They will break down your walls and they will not leave one stone in the right place.’

Jesus teaches in the *Great House of God

v45 Jesus went into the *Great House of God. Some people were selling things there. He began to cause them to leave. v46 ‘This is what God has said in his book’, Jesus said. ‘God has said, “My house will be a place where people come to pray.” But you have made it into a place where people rob each other.’

v47 Jesus was teaching every day in the *Great House of God. The leaders of the *priests and those that taught God’s rules wanted to kill him. The leaders of the people also wanted to kill him. v48 But all the people were listening to him. They wanted to hear all that he was saying. So, the leaders did not know how to kill him.

Chapter 20

Jesus talks about his authority

v1 One day, Jesus was teaching in the *Great House of God. He was telling people the good news about how God rules. Then the leaders of the *priests and the teachers of God’s rules came to him. With them were some other *Jewish leaders. v2 They all came to speak to him. ‘Tell us what authority you have to do these things’, they said. ‘Who gave you this authority?’

v3 ‘I also will ask you something’, he answered them. ‘Tell me this. v4 John had authority to *baptise people. Did this authority come from God or did someone else give it to him?’

v5 The *Jewish leaders talked to each other about his question. ‘We could say that God gave John authority. But if we say that, Jesus will say to us, “So why did you not believe him?” v6 Or we could say that someone else gave him that authority. Then all the people would throw stones at us to kill us. After all, they are sure that John received messages from the *Holy Spirit.’ v7 So they answered, ‘We do not know who gave John authority to *baptise.’

v8 ‘So, I will not tell you who gave me authority to do these things’, Jesus replied.

Jesus tells a picture story about farmers

v9 Then Jesus began to tell this story to the people in the *Great House of God.

‘A man planted a field with *vine plants. He let some farmers take *care of the plants. Then he went away to another country and he stayed there for a long time.

v10 When it was time to pick the fruit, the man sent a servant to the farmers. The servant said to them, “Please give me part of the fruit for my master.”

But the farmers hit him with sticks and they sent him away with nothing.

v11 The master then sent another servant to the field. They also hit him with sticks and they did other bad things to him. They also sent him away with nothing. v12 The master sent a third servant to the field. The farmers hurt him badly too and they threw him out of the field.

v13 Then the master of the field said to himself, “I must think about what I should do. I know what I will do. I will send my son that I love very much. Perhaps they will be kind to him.” v14 But the farmers saw him coming. “This is the son of our master”, they said to each other. “When our master dies, he will have the field. We should kill him and then the field will be ours.”

v15 So they threw him out of the field and they killed him.’

‘This is what the master will do to the farmers’, said Jesus. v16 ‘He will come to those farmers. He will kill them and he will give the field to other farmers.’

‘That must not happen!’ replied the people when they heard this. v17 Jesus then looked at the people. ‘You say that this must not happen. But this is what is in God’s book.

            “The builders refused to use one special stone.

            But that stone is now the one that makes the corner of the wall strong.

v18 When a person falls on to that stone, it will break their body into pieces. But when that stone falls on top of someone, it will destroy him completely.” ’

The leaders ask Jesus a question

v19 The teachers of God’s rules and the *priests wanted to take hold of Jesus immediately. They knew that Jesus was talking against them in the story. But they did not do it, because they were afraid of the people.

v20 So this is what they did to catch Jesus. They gave money to people to ask him a difficult question. These people seemed to be good, but they were not honest. Instead, they wanted to hear Jesus say something wrong. Then they would take him to the ruler of the city for him to *punish Jesus. v21 This is what these people asked: ‘Teacher, everything that you say is right. And everything that you teach is right. We know that. You do not say something different to an important person to make him happy. Instead, you teach everyone the same message. And you say what God really wants them to do. v22 Should we pay money to the *Roman leaders who rule us? Do God’s rules let us do this or not?’

v23 Jesus knew that the men wanted him to say the wrong thing. He knew that they only seemed to be good people. v24 ‘Show me a coin’, he said to them. ‘Whose picture and name are on it?’

v25 ‘They are the picture and the name of the *Roman ruler’, they replied.

‘So give to the *Roman ruler the things that are his’, said Jesus. ‘And give to God the things that are his.’

v26 So the *Jewish leaders could not cause Jesus to say wrong things about the *Roman ruler. They were very surprised at his answer to their question. This caused them to stop speaking.

The *Sadducees ask Jesus a question

v27 Then some of the *Sadducees came to see Jesus. These men did not believe that any dead people will become alive again.

v28 They asked him a question. ‘Teacher’, they said, ‘Moses wrote this rule for us to obey. A man may die. If his wife has no children, the brother of her husband must marry her. We should call their children the children of the man that died. v29 But once there were 7 men that were brothers. One of the brothers married. Then he died but they had no children. v30 Another brother then married this woman, but he also died. v31 Then the third brother married the woman. The same thing happened to all 7 brothers. None of them had any children before they died. v32 After this, the woman also died. v33 People say this about those that have died. They say that one day they will live again. So, when that happens, whose wife will she be? After all, she had been wife to all 7 of them.’

v34 ‘Men and women that are alive on earth get married’, said Jesus to them. v35 ‘But dead people that live again do not marry. God has chosen some people to live again with him. He says that they are good. They do not marry v36 and they cannot die any more. This is because they live as the *angels live. They are children of God. He has made them alive again.

v37 It is true that dead people live again. Moses showed us this in the report about the burning bush. He told us that our God said this: “I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.”

v38 But God is not a God of dead people. He is God of living people. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are alive to him. Really, he sees all people as alive.’

v39 Some of the teachers of God’s rules agreed. ‘Teacher’, they said, ‘that was a very good answer.’ v40 They were afraid to ask him any more questions.

The *Messiah is someone that David calls Master

v41 Jesus said to them, ‘Why do people say this, “The *Messiah will be someone from the *family of David”? v42 After all, David himself said this in the book called *Psalms:

“Our God said to my Master:

Sit at the place of importance, at my right side.

v43 Remain there until I put your enemies under your feet.

You will rest your feet on them.”

v44 So David calls him Master. So how can he also be from the *family of David?’

Be careful not to do the same as those that teach the rules

v45 All the people were listening. Jesus then spoke to those that always followed him.

v46 ‘Be careful not to do the same as the teachers of God’s rules. They like to wear long clothes to show how important they are. They like people to speak to them in front of many people, as they would speak to an important person. They like to have the best seats at meetings. They like to sit in the most important places at special meals. v47 They cause women whose husbands have died to supply them with money. They use this for themselves. They pray in front of many people for a long time. This causes people to think that they are good. Because they do these things, God will *punish these people a lot. It will be worse for them than for people that have not done these things.’

Chapter 21

Jesus talks about people who give things to God

v1 Then Jesus looked at what was happening in the *Great House of God. There was a box for money there. Many rich people were putting their gifts of money into it.

v2 Then he saw a woman. Her husband had died. She was very poor. She put two very small coins of little value into the box. v3 ‘Let me tell you this’, said Jesus. ‘This poor woman has put more money into the box than everyone else. v4 The rich people put in money that they do not need. They have plenty more. This woman has less money than she needs. She needs money to buy bread to eat. But she put all of that money into the box.’

Jesus talks about things that will happen

v5 Some of those that followed Jesus were talking about the *Great House of God. They spoke about the many beautiful and valuable stones in the walls. They pointed out the many beautiful gifts to God that people had put on it. v6 ‘You can see all these beautiful things just now’, Jesus said. ‘But a day is coming when enemies will destroy it all. They will throw down every stone. Not one will remain on top of another.’

v7 ‘Teacher’, they asked, ‘so when will this happen? What will we see just before this happens?’

v8 ‘Be careful’, he replied. ‘Do not believe things that are not true. After all, many people will come and they will say, “I am Jesus.” They will say that the right time for God is soon. Do not follow those people.

v9 And when you hear about wars, do not be afraid. Also, do not be afraid when people are fighting against their governments. These things must happen first. But the end will not happen immediately.’

v10 ‘Yes’, he was saying, ‘people from one country will fight people from another country. And kings will send their people to fight other kings and their people. v11 The ground will move so much that people will be afraid. In many different places, plants for food will not grow; so, many people will go hungry. Illnesses will go from one person to another; so, many people will die. Many things will also happen in the sky that will frighten people. v12 But before all those things happen, these things will happen: People that *hate me will take hold of you. They will do bad things to you because you are obeying me. They will take you to their meeting places. They will bring you in front of kings and rulers. And they will ask them to put you in prison or to kill you. v13 This will be the moment to tell them the Good News about me. v14 So prepare your minds. Do not think about how to answer the questions of kings and rulers. v15 After all, I will give you the right words to speak so that nobody can argue with you. They will just be quiet. v16 Even your parents and other people in your family will bring you in front of kings and rulers. They will kill some of you. v17 Everybody will *hate you, because you are obeying me. v18 But your life will be safe with me. You will not lose even one hair from your head. v19 Yes, you will really live, if you never stop obeying me.

v20 One day you will see Jerusalem with armies all round it. Then you will know that enemies will soon destroy Jerusalem. v21 People in Judea must then run to the hills and hide. People that are inside the city must leave it. People that are outside the city must not go back into it. v22 This is when God will *punish *Israel’s people. Then all the things will happen that his servants wrote about. v23 That time will be a very bad time for women that have a baby inside them! It will be very bad for those women that have little babies! Yes, very bad things will happen to all the people of this country. God will be very angry with them. v24 At that time, enemies will kill many people with sharp knives. They will take some people and they will cause them to leave their country. They will live in many other countries and they will not be *free to return to this country. People that are not *Jews will destroy Jerusalem. They will rule here until it is time for them to stop.’

v25 ‘You will see strange things happen to the sun and moon and stars. On earth, the things that happen will make people in many countries very afraid. The sea will make a lot of noise and there will be big storms at sea. v26 This will cause trouble. And it will frighten people because they do not understand these things. The powerful things in the sky will move from their usual places. Then people will be afraid about what will happen next in the world. They will be so afraid that they will become very, very weak. v27 It is then that they will see the *Son of Man. I will come in a cloud with a lot of power. I will *look very important and very beautiful. v28 When these things begin to happen, stand up. And look up. God will soon save you.’

v29 Jesus then explained to them what this time would be like. ‘Think about the *fig tree or any other tree. v30 You see new leaves on the tree. Then you know that summer will come soon. Nobody needs to tell you that. v31 It will be the same when you see all these things happening. You will then know that God will soon begin to rule.

v32 Let me tell you this. Some of the people alive will not die until all this has happened. v33 The sky and the earth will go away. But my message will remain true. What I have said will happen.

v34 But be careful. And watch how you live. Do not eat or drink too much. Do not waste your time like that. Do not waste time by having troubles in your mind about your life. If you do, that day will surprise you. It will come when you are not looking. v35 And it will surprise everyone who lives on earth. v36 So watch all the time! Continue to pray for power to get out of all these things! So then you will stand in front of me. And you will not be afraid of me.’ v37 Jesus was teaching every day in the *Great House of God. Each night he went out of the city and he stayed on the *Mount of *Olives. v38 He returned to the *Great House of God each morning. All the people were going there early to hear him.

Chapter 22

Judas agrees to catch Jesus

v1 The day was coming soon when the *Jews would eat a special meal of bread without *yeast. This time is called *Passover.

v2 The leaders of the *priests and the teachers of God’s rules wanted to kill Jesus. They were thinking about how they could do this. It was difficult because they were afraid of the people. They wanted to kill him secretly.

v3 Then the *devil began to live inside Judas Iscariot. He was one of the 12 men that Jesus had chosen. v4 Judas went away and he talked to the leaders of the *priests. The police that worked at the *Great House of God were also there. They talked about how Judas could give Jesus to them secretly. v5 They were very happy and they promised to give him money for this. v6 So Judas said that he would do it. He then began to watch for the right moment to catch Jesus. He wanted to do it when the crowd was not round Jesus.

Jesus eats his last meal with those that he had chosen

v7 The day came for the meal of bread without *yeast. The people had to kill the young sheep for the *Passover meal on this day. v8 So Jesus sent Peter and John. ‘Go and prepare the *Passover meal’, he said. ‘Then we can all come and eat it.’

v9 ‘Where would you like us to prepare the meal?’ they asked him.

v10 ‘Listen’, he replied, ‘When you start to go into the city, a man will meet you. He will be carrying a jar of water. Follow him until he goes into a house. v11 You must then say to the master of that house, “Our Teacher sends this message to you:

‘Where is the room for visitors? I will eat the *Passover meal there with those that always follow me.’ ”

v12 The man will show you a large room upstairs. It will have all that you need in it. Prepare the *Passover meal there for us all.’

v13 So Peter and John went into the city. They found everything that Jesus had told them about. And they prepared the *Passover meal.

v14 When it was time to eat it, Jesus arrived. He sat down. The men that he had chosen sat down with him. v15 ‘I have wanted very much to eat this *Passover meal with you’, Jesus said to them. ‘It has to happen before I die. v16 Yes, I will not eat another *Passover meal after this one. I will not eat it again until God begins to rule.’

v17 Then he took a cup and he thanked God for the *wine. ‘Take this cup’, he said to them. ‘Each of you drink some *wine. v18 Let me tell you this. From now on, I will not drink *wine until God begins to rule.’

v19 Then he took a loaf of bread and he thanked God for it. He broke the bread into small bits and he gave it to each of them. ‘This is my body. I am offering it up to God for each of you. When you do this from now on, remember me.’

v20 Jesus did the same after the meal. He took a cup of *wine and he gave it to them. ‘This is about the new promise. It is between God and his people. I will let people kill me and pour out my blood. Then this promise can start to happen.’

v21 ‘But look! The hand of the person that will give me to the rulers is on the table with me. v22 I shall die, as God wants me to. That is true. But it will be very bad for the man that causes it to happen.’

v23 ‘Who is the man that would do this thing?’ they asked each other.

Jesus tells who is most important

v24 Then they began to argue among themselves. They were arguing about which of them was the most important. v25 ‘Kings of countries have great authority over their people’, Jesus said to them. ‘Kings want people to say good things about them. And kings want people to say that they are their friends. v26 You must be different. The most important person among you must become the same as the least important person. The person that is master must become the same as the servant. v27 After all, which person is the most important? Is it the person that sits at the table? Or is it the servant that puts out the meal? Yes, it is the person that sits at the table. But I am here to be your servant.

v28 You have never left me. You have been by my side when I had difficult times. v29 And now, I say that you will rule with me. My Father has said that I will rule with him. So, I also say to you that you will rule with me. v30 You will be at my table where I rule. You will eat and drink with me. You will sit on rulers’ chairs. You will *judge the people of the 12 *families of *Israel.’

Jesus tells Peter what will happen

v31 ‘Simon, Simon, be careful to listen to me! The *devil has asked to have you all. He wants to cause all of you to stop obeying me. He will *shake you as a farmer *shakes seeds.’

v32 ‘But I have prayed for you, Simon, that you will continue to believe in me. And you, when you have turned back to me, you must help your *brothers to be strong again.’

v33 ‘Master’, said Simon, ‘I am even ready to go to prison with you. I am ready to die with you!’

v34 ‘Let me tell you this, Peter’, Jesus replied. ‘Three times tonight, you will say that you do not know me. You will say it before the *cockerel makes a noise in the morning.’

v35 Jesus then asked the men that he had chosen a question. ‘When I sent you out without a purse, a bag or shoes, did you need anything?’ ‘No’, they replied, ‘nothing.’

v36 ‘Now it is different’, he said. ‘If you have a purse or bag, take it with you. If you do not have a long sharp knife, sell your coat. Use the money to buy a knife. v37 Let me tell you why. In the book of God, people wrote down everything that will happen to me. It says, “People will include me with other bad men.” And this must happen to me soon.’

v38 ‘Master’, they said, ‘Look, we have two long sharp knives here.’

‘It is enough’, he replied.

Jesus prays on the hill called the Mount of *Olives

v39 Jesus left the city. And he went to the hill called the Mount of *Olives. This is what he usually did. Those that always followed him went with him.

v40 He arrived at the place where he wanted to go. Then he said to them. ‘Ask God to keep you from wanting to do wrong things.’

v41 He went away from them about as far as you can throw a stone. He bent his knees to the ground and he prayed. v42 ‘Father’, he said, ‘if you want, you can take away this time of pain from me. But do not let me do what I want. I want to do what you want.’

v43 An *angel then came to him from God. The *angel made him stronger. v44 Jesus began to have troubles in his mind. He prayed again even more strongly. The *sweat on his head became like large amounts of blood that fell to the ground.

v45 He then stopped praying and he stood up again. He returned to the 11 men. And he found that they were sleeping. They were very tired because they were so sad. v46 ‘You should not be sleeping’, he said. ‘Get up and pray! Ask God to keep you from wanting to do wrong things.’

The soldiers catch Jesus

v47 While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd of people and soldiers came towards him. Judas led the crowd. He was one of the 12 men that Jesus had chosen. He came near to Jesus to kiss him. v48 ‘Surely you will not kiss me, Judas’, said Jesus, ‘to show the soldiers which person to catch!’

v49 Then those that followed Jesus saw what was happening. ‘Should we use our long sharp knives, Master?’ they asked him.

v50 One of them hit the servant of the leader of the *priests. He cut off his right ear. v51 ‘Enough!’ said Jesus, ‘Stop doing this!’ He then touched the man and made his ear well again.

v52 Then Jesus spoke to the people that had come to catch him. They were the leaders of the *priests, and the leaders of the police in the *Great House of God. Other important *Jewish rulers were also there.

‘You seem to have come out here with sharp knives and heavy sticks. You seem to have come to catch me as you would catch a dangerous robber. v53 I was with you every day in the *Great House of God. You did not try to get hold of me then. Yes, this really is the time and the place for you to work. Now it is dark, and the *devil rules in the dark.’

Peter says that he does not know Jesus

v54 Then they took hold of Jesus. They took him away and they brought him to the house of the leader of the *priests. Peter was following, but he did not get near them. v55 People lit a fire outside the house and they sat round it. Peter went and he sat among them. v56 A servant girl then saw Peter in the light from the fire. She looked carefully at him. ‘This man was also one that followed Jesus’, she said.

v57 ‘Woman’, Peter replied, ‘I do not know him.’

v58 After a short time, a man looked at him. ‘You also are in their group’, he said.

‘Man’, Peter replied, ‘I am not one of them.’

v59 After about an hour, someone else spoke. ‘I am sure that this man was also with Jesus. He also is from Galilee.’

v60 ‘Man’, said Peter, ‘I do not know what you are talking about.’

While Peter was still speaking, a *cockerel made a noise. v61 Then the Master turned round and he looked at Peter. Peter remembered what the Master had said to him: ‘Three times you will say tonight that you do not know me. You will say it three times before the *cockerel makes a noise in the morning.’

v62 Peter went away and he cried a lot.

The soldiers *laugh at Jesus and they hit him

v63 The men that were holding Jesus were *laughing at him. They were hitting him.

v64 They tied a cloth round his head so that he could not see. ‘You say that you get messages from God!’ they said. ‘Tell us, who is hitting you now?’ v65 And they were saying many other bad things to him.

The leaders of the *Jews ask Jesus questions

v66 When it was day, the leaders of the *Jews met together. The leaders of the *priests were at the meeting. The teachers of God’s rules were also there. Then other men brought Jesus into the meeting. v67 ‘Are you the *Messiah?’ they asked. ‘If you are, tell us.’

‘If I do tell you’, Jesus replied, ‘you will not believe me. v68 I could ask you, “Who do you think that I am?” But you will not answer me, if I do that. v69 But from now on, I will be sitting in the most important place. I will be sitting at the right side of God. He is all powerful.’

v70 ‘So, are you the *Son of God?’ they all said.

‘You say that I am. And you are correct’, he replied.

v71 ‘We do not need anyone else to tell us what this man says. We ourselves have heard what he has said about himself’, they said.

Chapter 23

Pilate asks Jesus questions

v1 All the people at the meeting stood up, and they took Jesus to stand in front of Pilate.

v2 Then they all started to tell him that Jesus had done bad things. ‘We found this man when he was telling our people wrong things’, they said. ‘He said that we must not give money to the *Roman government. He also said that he himself is the *Messiah, a king.’

v3 ‘Are you the king of the *Jews?’ Pilate asked Jesus.

‘The words are yours’, he replied. ‘But you are correct.’

v4 Pilate then spoke to the leaders of the *priests and to all that were there. ‘I cannot find anything that this man has done wrong.’

v5 But they continued to speak strongly to him. ‘He makes the people angry and ready to fight. He has taught these things everywhere in Judea. He started in Galilee and now he has come to Jerusalem.’

v6 Pilate heard them say ‘Galilee’. So, he asked if Jesus came from Galilee. v7 ‘Yes’, they replied, ‘he is from the country that Herod rules.’ Herod was in Jerusalem at that time. So, Pilate sent Jesus to stand in front of him.

Herod asks Jesus questions

v8 Herod was very happy to see Jesus. He had heard about him and he had wanted to meet him for a long time. He was hoping that he would see Jesus do some powerful work. v9 He asked him many questions, but Jesus did not answer any of them. v10 The rulers of the *Jews stood there all the time. They were shouting out that Jesus had done many bad things. v11 Then Herod and his soldiers started to *laugh at Jesus. They were saying things to make him feel bad. They put a beautiful coat on him. It was one that a ruler wears. Then they sent him back to Pilate. v12 Herod and Pilate became friends on that same day. Until then, they had not liked each other.

Pilate and the leaders of the *Jews argue about Jesus

v13 Pilate then said that all the leaders of the *priests and leaders of the *Jews must come back to him. v14 ‘You brought this man in front of me’, he said to them. ‘You said that he was causing the people to be against their rulers. Listen! I have asked him some questions in front of you. But I did not find that he has done anything wrong. v15 Herod also did not find that he had done anything wrong. After all, he has sent him back to me. So, you can see that this man has not done anything bad. There is no reason for me to say, “Kill him.” v16 So I will *order a soldier to *whip him. Then I will let him go home.’

v17 [Pilate had to let one person come out of the prison at *Passover time.]

v18 So the crowd shouted together, ‘Take this man away and kill him. We want Barabbas to come out of prison.’

v19 Barabbas had told the *Jews that they should fight against the *Roman rulers. He had also killed somebody in the fight. So, the rulers had put him in prison. v20 Pilate still wanted to let Jesus go. So, he again spoke to the crowd. v21 But they started to shout, ‘Kill him on a *cross, kill him on a cross.’

v22 Pilate asked them the same question for the third time. ‘Why do you want me to kill him on a *cross? What wrong things has he done? You want me to say that he should die. I have not found anything wrong that would cause me to say that. So, I will *order my soldiers to *whip him. Then I will let him go.’

v23 But they continued to shout at him. ‘Kill him on a *cross. Kill him on a cross.’ They shouted very much. So, they got what they wanted. v24 Pilate said, ‘Fix him on a *cross, as they want.’ v25 They had asked Pilate to let Barabbas out of the prison. He was the man that had caused *Jews to be against the *Roman rulers. He had also killed somebody while he was fighting the rulers. He was the man that Pilate let go *free. As for Jesus, Pilate *ordered his soldiers to take him away. And he *ordered them to do what the crowd wanted.

v26 So they started to take Jesus to the place where they would kill him. On the way, they took hold of a man called Simon. This man was from the town called Cyrene. He was coming in from outside the city. The soldiers took the *cross that Jesus was carrying on his shoulders. They said to Simon, ‘Carry this for Jesus.’ So, Simon carried the *cross and he walked behind Jesus.

Jesus tells what will happen to Jerusalem

v27 A very large crowd of people were following Jesus. There were many women among them. They were crying with loud voices. They were hitting their own bodies because they were very sad. v28 So Jesus turned round and he spoke to them. ‘You women that live in Jerusalem, do not cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children. v29 Listen! Days will come when people will say, “Happy are those women that could not have babies. Happy are those women that never had babies to feed.” v30 Then people will begin to say, “It would be better if we were dead.” They will ask the mountains to fall on top of them. They will ask the hills to cover them up.

v31 I am like a living tree, but men are doing this to me. Much worse things will happen! Those events will be like a fire that burns dry wood!’

The soldiers fix Jesus to a *cross

v32 The soldiers led two other men out of the prison. These men had done some bad things. The soldiers would kill them when they killed Jesus. v33 They brought them to the place that is called ‘The *Skull’. There they fixed Jesus to a *cross. They also fixed the two bad men to crosses. One of these men was on the right side of Jesus. The other was on the left side of Jesus.

v34 ‘Father’, Jesus was saying, ‘they do not know what they are doing. So please *forgive them.’

The soldiers then picked up the clothes that he had worn. Each soldier would have a part. So, they played a game among themselves, to know who won each piece. v35 The people stood there. They were watching, but the rulers of the people were *laughing at Jesus. ‘He saved other people, they say. He should save his own life! So then we will know that he is the *Messiah. We will know that God has chosen him.’

v36 The soldiers also *laughed at him. They came up to him and they offered him cheap alcohol to drink. v37 ‘If you are the King of the *Jews’, they said, ‘save your own life.’

v38 There was also a notice at the top of the *cross. ‘This is the King of the *Jews’, it said.

v39 One of the men on a *cross at the side of Jesus started to speak badly to him.

‘If you are the *Messiah’, he shouted, ‘save your own life and our lives too.’

v40 But the other bad man told him that he should be quiet. ‘You should be more afraid of God. After all, all three of us will die. v41 Both of us have done very bad things. So, it is right that we die. But this man has not done anything wrong.’ v42 Then the man spoke to Jesus. ‘Remember me, Jesus’, he said, ‘when you become king.’

v43 ‘I promise you’, Jesus replied, ‘today you will be with me in *Paradise.’

Jesus dies

v44 It was now about midday, but the sun stopped shining. So, the whole country was in the dark for three hours. v45 Then the curtain in the special room inside the *Great House of God tore into two parts. v46 And Jesus shouted loudly, ‘Father, I give my *spirit to you.’ After he shouted this, he died.

v47 There was a captain there. He was watching the soldiers while they were doing their job. He saw what had happened. ‘How great and powerful God is’, he said. ‘I am sure that this man had not done anything wrong.’

v48 A very big crowd had come together to watch the men die. They saw what had happened. Then they began to go home. They were very sad, so they were hitting their own bodies with their hands. v49 The friends of Jesus were standing a long way away. The women that had followed him from Galilee were also there. All these people also saw what happened to him.

Joseph buries Jesus

v50 A man called Joseph was also there. He was one of a special group of important *Jewish leaders. He was a good man that wanted to do right things.

v51 Joseph had not agreed with them that Jesus should die. He was from the *Jewish town called Arimathea. He was waiting for God to begin to rule his people.

v52 So he went to see Pilate. He asked to have the dead body of Jesus. Pilate agreed to this. v53 Joseph then went to the place where Jesus died. He took the dead body down from the *cross. He covered it in a long piece of good cloth. He put the body into a large hole in the rock. He had caused someone dig this hole in the rock. It was a place to bury a dead body. It was the first time that anyone had used it.

v54 This all happened on the day when people prepared meals for the *Jewish day for rest. It was nearly time for the day for rest to begin.

Jesus becomes alive again

v55 So the women that had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph. They saw the place where the hole in the rock was. They also saw Joseph put Jesus’ body into the empty hole. v56 Then they returned to the house where they were staying in Jerusalem. There they prepared seeds with a strong smell and expensive *oil that had a beautiful smell. Then they stopped work because their day for rest was starting. They were obeying the rules in the book of God.

Chapter 24

v1 Very early on Sunday morning, they went to the place where Joseph had buried Jesus. They took with them the *oil and seeds that they had prepared. v2 They arrived there. And they found that someone had rolled the stone away from in front of the hole. v3 Then they went inside the hole in the rock, but they did not find the body of the *Lord Jesus there. v4 They did not understand this at all. But, while they were thinking about it, two men in bright clothes appeared. v5 So the women became very afraid and they bent down towards the ground.

‘You should not be looking here for someone that is alive’, they said to the women. ‘This is a place to bury dead people. v6 Jesus is not here. He has become alive again. Remember what he said to you. He said it while he was still in Galilee. v7 He said, “It is necessary that someone should give me to bad men. They will kill me on a *cross. Three days later I will become alive again.” ’

v8 Then the women remembered what Jesus had said. v9 They left the empty hole. They went to the 11 men that he had chosen. They then told them what had happened. They also told all the other people that had followed him. v10 It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna that told the news about Jesus. Mary, the mother of James, and other women were with them. They also told the news to the 11 men. v11 But they did not believe what the women said. They thought that it was just a silly story.

v12 But Peter got up and he ran to the hole in the rock. He bent down and he looked inside. He saw only the cloth that they had put round Jesus’ body. There was nothing else. So he went home again. He was thinking about what might have happened.

Jesus shows himself to two people that always followed Jesus

v13 Later on that same day, two of those that had followed Jesus were going to a village. The village was called Emmaus. This village was about 7 miles from Jerusalem. v14 They were talking to each other about all the things that had happened. v15 While they were talking about everything, Jesus himself came near to them. He started to walk along with them. v16 They saw him, but for some reason they did not recognise him. v17 ‘What are you talking about while you walk along the road?’ he asked them.

They stood still and they seemed sad. v18 Then one of them called Cleopas answered him. ‘Many things have happened in Jerusalem in the last few days’, he said. ‘Are you the only visitor here that does not know about it?’

v19 ‘What things have happened?’ he asked.

‘The things that happened to Jesus that was from Nazareth. The *Holy Spirit gave him messages to speak. He did many very great things and he spoke powerful messages. God showed that his message was true. All the people believed him. v20 Then the leaders of the *priests and our rulers caught him. They gave him to the *Roman ruler. They told the ruler that Jesus had done wrong things. They said that he should die. So, they killed him by fixing him to a *cross. v21 But we had hoped that God would use him to save *Israel.

Yes, there are other things too. Today is the third day since he died. v22 After all this, some women in our group surprised us today. Early this morning, they were at the place where someone had buried him. v23 They did not find his body there. And they returned to us with a report. “Some *angels appeared to us”, they said. “They have told us that Jesus is alive.” v24 So some people from our group went to the place where someone had buried him. They found everything the same as the women had said. But they did not see Jesus.’

v25 Jesus then spoke to them. ‘Oh, how silly you are! You do not understand much. You are so slow to believe everything that God spoke by his servants. v26 You should have known that the *Messiah had to die. Only then would he start to show how great and powerful he really is.’ v27 He then began to explain what Moses had taught. Then he talked about the other men that had received messages from the *Holy Spirit. He explained to them everything that the other men had written about him.

v28 They came near to the village that they were going to. It seemed that Jesus would continue his journey. v29 But they stopped him from going on. ‘Please stay in our home with us’, they said. ‘It is getting late, and it will soon be night.’

So, Jesus went into their house to stay with them. v30 He sat down to eat with them. Then he took the bread and he thanked God for it. He broke it up and then he gave it to them. v31 Then, their eyes became clear and they recognised him. Then immediately they could no longer see him. v32 They spoke to each other. ‘It was like a fire that was burning in us. We felt it while we were walking along the road. We also felt it when he was talking to us about God’s book.’

v33 They immediately got up and they returned to Jerusalem. There they found the 11 men that Jesus had chosen. Other people were together with them. v34 All the people gave them the news. ‘It is true! The Master is alive again. He has appeared to Simon!’

v35 Then the two that had seen Jesus spoke to the whole group. They told them what had happened to them on the road. They also told how they recognised Jesus. They recognised him when he broke the bread.

Jesus appears to the group

v36 While they were still speaking, Jesus himself stood among them. ‘Do not have troubles in your mind’, he said to them.

v37 But the whole group was very surprised and afraid. They thought that they were seeing a *spirit. v38 ‘You should not be so afraid’, he said to them. ‘You seem to be not sure in your minds about what you can see. v39 But look at my hands and my feet. It is I, myself. Touch me. So you will know that I am not a *spirit. A *spirit does not have a body with skin and bones as I do. You can see that I have.’

v40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. v41 This was such good news that they could not believe it. They were very happy.

‘Do you have anything that I could eat?’ he asked. v42 So they gave him a piece of fish that they had cooked. v43 And while they were watching, he took it. And he ate it.

v44 ‘I told you about these things while I was still with you’, he then said. ‘Moses wrote about me in his book of rules. Other servants of God received messages about me. They then wrote in books what they heard. The book called *Psalms also tells about me. Everything that they wrote had to happen. And it has become true.’

v45 Then he helped them to understand the messages in God’s book. v46 ‘This is what it says. The *Messiah had to die. Then, after three days, he had to become alive again. v47 Now you must start to tell everyone the good news about me. Begin in Jerusalem and go to the people in every country of the world. Tell them that they should turn away from wrong things. Tell them that they should turn to God. When they do this, God will *forgive them. He will *forgive all the bad things that they have done. v48 You must tell people about everything that you have seen. And tell people about everything that you have heard. v49 Now listen! I will send down to you the gift that God my Father has promised you. So, you must stay in the city until this happens. Then the power of God will cover you.’

Jesus goes up to where God lives above

v50 Then he led the group out of the city. They all went to a place near Bethany. He held up his hands over them all. He asked God to be good and kind to them. v51 While he was praying for them, he went up away from them. God lifted him up to his home above. v52 They all bent down on their knees. ‘How great and powerful you are’, they all said to Jesus. ‘How great is your power. You are very beautiful and important.’ Then they returned to Jerusalem and they were all very happy. v53 They spent all their time in the *Great House of God. They were thanking God. And they were telling him how good he is.

Word List

AD ~ after the date when Jesus was born.

angel ~ a servant from God that brings his messages.

apostles ~ 12 men that Jesus chose to tell people about him.

baptise/baptism ~ Christians baptise a person that turns away from doing wrong things. He then turns to God. God promises to *forgive the person that now wants to obey him. John baptised people. Some people think that he poured water over them. Other people think that they went right under the water.

Baptist ~ a man who *baptises people.

barrel ~ round thing in which you can keep oil or water.

BC ~ before Jesus was born.

blind ~ person that cannot see.

brier ~ a kind of bush; it has many long sharp things called thorns.

brothers ~ men or boys whose mother is also your mother; it can mean other people that obey Jesus; or it can mean other people who are in the *family of God.

care (take care of) ~ be careful with.

cart ~ thing with *wheels that people use to carry things.

chains ~ many metal rings that join to make something like a *rope. People use it to stop a thing or person leaving.

circumcise ~ to cut off the skin from the end of the sex part of a man or boy.

clean ~ (here) when something is right to use because God is happy about it.

cockerel ~ male of a bird called a hen.

cross ~ a piece of wood that someone has fastened across another piece. People put Jesus on a cross to kill him.

desert ~ a very dry place with very little water. People do not usually live there.

devil ~ ruler of all the bad *spirits, often called Satan.

donkey ~ an animal like a small horse.

evil ~ very bad. There is nothing good in it.

family ~ family included father, mother and children; it might also include grandfathers and those who had been born before them. The 12 families of *Israel included everyone who belonged to *Israel.

fathers ~ people years ago that your parents came from.

fever ~ if you have a fever, you are ill and very hot.

fig ~ a fruit that is good to eat.

fishermen ~ men that catch fish.

foam ~ water with lots of air in it, on the top of the water.

forgive, forgiven ~ to choose not to remember bad things against someone; God chooses not to remember the wrong things that someone has done.

free ~ nobody has tied you up; you are not in prison.

grapes ~ a fruit that people eat; or they make it into a drink that has alcohol in it.

Great House of God ~ a building in Jerusalem where people met to *worship God.

hate ~ not to like at all; to want to hurt someone.

hell ~ place of pain. The *devil and all that refuse to obey God will go there.

holy ~ like God; different and better than all other things; all good with nothing bad in it.

Holy One ~ *Messiah, Jesus.

Holy Spirit ~ one person of the three persons who are God. We cannot see him but he is there.

incense ~ something that makes a sweet smell when it is burning: people burnt it in the *Great House of God.

Israel ~ all the people born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and their children. God chose Israel to be his special people. The word can also mean the land that God gave to these people.

Jew ~ a person who is born from Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children.

Jewish ~ a word that describes a *Jew or anything that is a *Jew’s.

judge ~ a person with authority to say if another person is right or wrong.

judge ~ to say what is right or wrong, good or bad.

lamp ~ something that contains burning oil. It gives light.

laugh at ~ laugh against someone to cause him to feel bad.

legion ~ a group of *Roman soldiers. There were 6000 soldiers in a legion.

leprosy ~ illness of the skin and bones. The person with this illness could not live with other people, but lived outside the town.

Levite ~ a man from the *family of Levi. Levi was one of the sons of Jacob. We can read about this *family in Exodus and Leviticus, and in 1 Chronicles 23:28-32. Levites worked in the *Great House of God, but they were not *priests.

lightning ~ light that you see in the sky during a storm.

liquid ~ like water.

look ~ how one can see a person or a thing; how a person or thing seems to be.

Lord ~ a name for God or for Jesus.

love God ~ obey God; let him rule in your life.

Messiah ~ the man that God had promised to send; he would save his people.

Mount ~ small mountain.

needle ~ a thin sharp piece of metal. It has a small hole at one end.

net ~ thin *rope that you tie together; you use it to catch fish.

oil ~ not car oil, but from a fruit. People use oil to cook or for medicine; or they burn it to give light. People use special oil for a nice smell.

Old Testament ~ first part of God’s book, which the writers wrote before Jesus was born.

olive ~ a tree with small fruits (or the fruits themselves) that people used to make oil. They burned the oil to give them light. They used it in other ways too.

order ~ to say what another person must do.

ox/oxen ~ large animal like a cow.

Paradise ~ people who believe in Jesus go to Paradise. They go there when they die.

Passover ~ an important holiday for the *Jews. Each year they remember the day when God saved them. He saved them from being slaves in Egypt. Each family eat a special meal together during *Passover. All the *Jews tried to get to Jerusalem for this special holiday.

Pharisees ~ a group of *Jews. Many of them thought that they were obeying all God’s rules. But they were also obeying many rules that men had made. Those Pharisees did not like the things that Jesus taught. They did not like him because he did not obey all their rules.

pipe ~ you blow into it to make music.

priest ~ a man that gave gifts and burned animals as a *sacrifice to God for the *Jews; a man that God chose to do these things for him.

proverb ~ something that people say about life.

psalm, Psalms ~ songs about God that tell how good and great he is; and they tell what he has done; one of the books of the *Old Testament.

punish ~ hurt someone because they have done wrong things.

purple ~ a colour that kings and important people used; like dark red.

ripe ~ fruit or seeds that are ready to eat.

Roman ~ a person or thing from Rome. Rome was a powerful city; it had a strong army.

roots ~ part of plant in the ground.

rope ~ long thin piece of material.

rub ~ move a hand from side to side on a thing.

sacrifice ~ to give something valuable; or, to die for someone, or for God.

Sadducees ~ a group of *Jews. They did not believe that a dead person could become alive again. They only used the first 5 books of the *Old Testament.

salvation ~ make free from *evil and its results.

shake ~ move things to remove the parts that you do not want.

silver ~ valuable metal.

skull ~ bone in head that gives it its shape.

Son of David ~ name for Jesus. Jesus was in the *family of David.

Son of God ~ name for Jesus.

Son of Man ~ a name that Jesus called himself. See Daniel 8:17.

sore ~ place without skin on the body.

special ~ different, better than other people, very great.

spirit (bad) ~ they are alive but we cannot see them. Bad spirits (also called evil spirits or demons) live in the air round us. The *devil is their leader.

spirit (human) ~ the part of a human person that is alive, that we cannot see. Our spirit can speak to God and God can speak to our spirit.

spit ~ send water out of the mouth.

sweat ~ water that comes out of the skin.

tears ~ water that comes from the eyes when someone is sad.

tell ~ say what another person must do.

thorn ~ a part of a plant; it is long and sharp.

tongue ~ large red part (of the body) in the mouth.

trust ~ to believe that someone will do the right thing.

vine ~ a plant that has fruit called *grapes. It is a plant that climbs.

vulture ~ large bird that eats dead animals.

way ~ a path to follow, or words to obey.

wheat ~ plant; people make bread with the seeds.

wheels ~ round things that help things like cars to move.

whip ~ thing made out of very long and very thin pieces of material with something sharp tied at the end. People hit a person with it to *punish them.

widow ~ a woman that had a husband that died.

wine ~ a drink that has alcohol in it; people make it from small, sweet fruit called grapes. You can use it as medicine.

wise ~ a wise person understands and does the right thing.

worship ~ to show God that we love him very much.

yeast ~ people put it into flour and water to make bread. It grows in the bread. It causes the bread to rise before you bake it. Jesus used the word to show how people copy each other.

zealot ~ one of a group of people who fought against the *Roman rulers in Israel.

Book List

William Barclay ~ The Gospel of St Luke ~ Daily Study Bible

G B Caird ~ St Luke ~ Pelican Gospel Commentary

Leon Morris ~ Luke ~ Tyndale Bible Commentaries

J Reiling and J L Swellengrebel ~ A translator’s handbook on the Gospel of Luke ~ United Bible Societies

Bibles ~ NIV, RSV, GNV, CEV

==========================================================

Book 42	Luke

King James Version

---

001:001	Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
001:002	Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
001:003	It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
001:004	That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
001:005	THERE was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
001:006	And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
001:007	And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
001:008	And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,
001:009	According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
001:010	And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
001:011	And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
001:012	And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
001:013	But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
001:014	And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
001:015	For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
001:016	And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
001:017	And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
001:018	And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
001:019	And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
001:020	And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
001:021	And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
001:022	And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
001:023	And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
001:024	And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
001:025	Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
001:026	And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
001:027	To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
001:028	And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
001:029	And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
001:030	And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
001:031	And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
001:032	He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
001:033	And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
001:034	Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
001:035	And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
001:036	And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
001:037	For with God nothing shall be impossible.
001:038	And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
001:039	And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;
001:040	And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.
001:041	And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:
001:042	And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
001:043	And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
001:044	For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.
001:045	And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.
001:046	And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,
001:047	And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
001:048	For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
001:049	For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.
001:050	And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.
001:051	He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
001:052	He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
001:053	He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
001:054	He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;
001:055	As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.
001:056	And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.
001:057	Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
001:058	And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
001:059	And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
001:060	And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
001:061	And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
001:062	And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
001:063	And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
001:064	And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.
001:065	And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
001:066	And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
001:067	And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
001:068	Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
001:069	And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
001:070	As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
001:071	That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
001:072	To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
001:073	The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
001:074	That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
001:075	In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
001:076	And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
001:077	To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
001:078	Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
001:079	To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
001:080	And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.

---

002:001	And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
002:002	(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
002:003	And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
002:004	And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
002:005	To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
002:006	And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
002:007	And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
002:008	And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
002:009	And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
002:010	And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
002:011	For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
002:012	And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
002:013	And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
002:014	Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
002:015	And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
002:016	And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
002:017	And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
002:018	And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
002:019	But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
002:020	And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
002:021	And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
002:022	And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;
002:023	(As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)
002:024	And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.
002:025	And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
002:026	And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
002:027	And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
002:028	Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
002:029	Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
002:030	For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
002:031	Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
002:032	A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
002:033	And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
002:034	And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
002:035	(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
002:036	And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
002:037	And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
002:038	And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
002:039	And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
002:040	And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
002:041	Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover.
002:042	And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.
002:043	And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
002:044	But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
002:045	And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
002:046	And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
002:047	And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
002:048	And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
002:049	And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
002:050	And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
002:051	And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
002:052	And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

---

003:001	Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
003:002	Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
003:003	And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
003:004	As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
003:005	Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;
003:006	And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
003:007	Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
003:008	Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
003:009	And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
003:010	And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
003:011	He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.
003:012	Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?
003:013	And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
003:014	And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
003:015	And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
003:016	John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
003:017	Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.
003:018	And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.
003:019	But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
003:020	Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.
003:021	Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
003:022	And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
003:023	And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
003:024	Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph,
003:025	Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge,
003:026	Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda,
003:027	Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri,
003:028	Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er,
003:029	Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi,
003:030	Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim,
003:031	Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,
003:032	Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson,
003:033	Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda,
003:034	Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor,
003:035	Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala,
003:036	Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech,
003:037	Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan,
003:038	Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

---

004:001	And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
004:002	Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
004:003	And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
004:004	And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
004:005	And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
004:006	And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
004:007	If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
004:008	And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
004:009	And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
004:010	For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
004:011	And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
004:012	And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
004:013	And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.
004:014	And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
004:015	And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
004:016	And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
004:017	And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
004:018	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,
004:019	To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
004:020	And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
004:021	And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
004:022	And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?
004:023	And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
004:024	And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
004:025	But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
004:026	But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
004:027	And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
004:028	And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
004:029	And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.
004:030	But he passing through the midst of them went his way,
004:031	And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
004:032	And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
004:033	And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
004:034	Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
004:035	And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.
004:036	And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
004:037	And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.
004:038	And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.
004:039	And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
004:040	Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
004:041	And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.
004:042	And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.
004:043	And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
004:044	And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

---

005:001	And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
005:002	And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
005:003	And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
005:004	Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
005:005	And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
005:006	And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
005:007	And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
005:008	When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
005:009	For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
005:010	And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
005:011	And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
005:012	And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
005:013	And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
005:014	And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
005:015	But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
005:016	And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
005:017	And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
005:018	And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
005:019	And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
005:020	And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
005:021	And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
005:022	But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
005:023	Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
005:024	But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
005:025	And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
005:026	And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
005:027	And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
005:028	And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
005:029	And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.
005:030	But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
005:031	And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
005:032	I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
005:033	And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?
005:034	And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
005:035	But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
005:036	And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.
005:037	And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
005:038	But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
005:039	No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

---

006:001	And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.
006:002	And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?
006:003	And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;
006:004	How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?
006:005	And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.
006:006	And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.
006:007	And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.
006:008	But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.
006:009	Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
006:010	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.
006:011	And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.
006:012	And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
006:013	And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
006:014	Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
006:015	Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,
006:016	And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.
006:017	And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;
006:018	And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.
006:019	And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.
006:020	And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
006:021	Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
006:022	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.
006:023	Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
006:024	But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
006:025	Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
006:026	Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
006:027	But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
006:028	Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
006:029	And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
006:030	Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
006:031	And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
006:032	For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
006:033	And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
006:034	And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
006:035	But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
006:036	Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
006:037	Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
006:038	Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
006:039	And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
006:040	The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
006:041	And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
006:042	Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.
006:043	For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
006:044	For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
006:045	A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
006:046	And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
006:047	Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
006:048	He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
006:049	But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

---

007:001	Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
007:002	And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
007:003	And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.
007:004	And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:
007:005	For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.
007:006	Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:
007:007	Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
007:008	For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
007:009	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.
007:010	And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
007:011	And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.
007:012	Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
007:013	And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
007:014	And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.
007:015	And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
007:016	And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.
007:017	And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.
007:018	And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.
007:019	And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
007:020	When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
007:021	And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
007:022	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.
007:023	And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
007:024	And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
007:025	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.
007:026	But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
007:027	This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
007:028	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.
007:029	And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.
007:030	But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
007:031	And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?
007:032	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.
007:033	For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
007:034	The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
007:035	But wisdom is justified of all her children.
007:036	And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.
007:037	And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
007:038	And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
007:039	Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
007:040	And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
007:041	There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
007:042	And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
007:043	Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
007:044	And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
007:045	Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
007:046	My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
007:047	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.
007:048	And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
007:049	And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
007:050	And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

---

008:001	And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
008:002	And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
008:003	And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
008:004	And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
008:005	A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
008:006	And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
008:007	And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
008:008	And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
008:009	And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
008:010	And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
008:011	Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
008:012	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.
008:013	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.
008:014	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.
008:015	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.
008:016	No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.
008:017	For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
008:018	Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
008:019	Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.
008:020	And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.
008:021	And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
008:022	Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.
008:023	But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
008:024	And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
008:025	And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.
008:026	And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.
008:027	And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
008:028	When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.
008:029	(For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
008:030	And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
008:031	And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.
008:032	And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.
008:033	Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.
008:034	When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.
008:035	Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
008:036	They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.
008:037	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.
008:038	Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,
008:039	Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.
008:040	And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.
008:041	And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:
008:042	For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.
008:043	And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
008:044	Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
008:045	And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
008:046	And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
008:047	And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
008:048	And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
008:049	While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.
008:050	But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
008:051	And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
008:052	And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
008:053	And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
008:054	And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
008:055	And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
008:056	And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

---

009:001	Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
009:002	And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
009:003	And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
009:004	And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.
009:005	And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.
009:006	And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.
009:007	Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;
009:008	And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.
009:009	And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.
009:010	And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.
009:011	And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.
009:012	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.
009:013	But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.
009:014	For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.
009:015	And they did so, and made them all sit down.
009:016	Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude.
009:017	And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.
009:018	And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?
009:019	They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.
009:020	He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.
009:021	And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;
009:022	Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.
009:023	And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
009:024	For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
009:025	For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?
009:026	For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.
009:027	But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.
009:028	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.
009:029	And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
009:030	And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
009:031	Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
009:032	But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
009:033	And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
009:034	While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
009:035	And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
009:036	And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.
009:037	And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.
009:038	And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.
009:039	And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.
009:040	And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.
009:041	And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.
009:042	And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
009:043	And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,
009:044	Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
009:045	But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
009:046	Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
009:047	And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
009:048	And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.
009:049	And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
009:050	And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
009:051	And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
009:052	And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
009:053	And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
009:054	And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
009:055	But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
009:056	For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
009:057	And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest.
009:058	And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
009:059	And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
009:060	Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
009:061	And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
009:062	And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

---

010:001	After these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
010:002	Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
010:003	Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
010:004	Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
010:005	And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
010:006	And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
010:007	And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
010:008	And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:
010:009	And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
010:010	But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,
010:011	Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
010:012	But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.
010:013	Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
010:014	But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.
010:015	And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
010:016	He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
010:017	And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
010:018	And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
010:019	Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
010:020	Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
010:021	In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
010:022	All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
010:023	And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:
010:024	For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
010:025	And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
010:026	He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
010:027	And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
010:028	And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
010:029	But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
010:030	And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
010:031	And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
010:032	And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
010:033	But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
010:034	And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
010:035	And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
010:036	Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
010:037	And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
010:038	Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
010:039	And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
010:040	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.
010:041	And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
010:042	But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

---

011:001	And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
011:002	And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
011:003	Give us day by day our daily bread.
011:004	And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
011:005	And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
011:006	For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
011:007	And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
011:008	I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
011:009	And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
011:010	For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
011:011	If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
011:012	Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
011:013	If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
011:014	And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.
011:015	But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.
011:016	And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.
011:017	But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
011:018	If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
011:019	And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
011:020	But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
011:021	When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
011:022	But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
011:023	He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
011:024	When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
011:025	And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
011:026	Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
011:027	And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.
011:028	But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
011:029	And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.
011:030	For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.
011:031	The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
011:032	The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
011:033	No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.
011:034	The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness.
011:035	Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness.
011:036	If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.
011:037	And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.
011:038	And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.
011:039	And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.
011:040	Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
011:041	But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
011:042	But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
011:043	Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.
011:044	Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.
011:045	Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.
011:046	And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
011:047	Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
011:048	Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.
011:049	Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
011:050	That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
011:051	From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
011:052	Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
011:053	And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:
011:054	Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.

---

012:001	In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
012:002	For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
012:003	Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
012:004	And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
012:005	But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
012:006	Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
012:007	But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
012:008	Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
012:009	But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
012:010	And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
012:011	And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
012:012	For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
012:013	And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
012:014	And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
012:015	And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
012:016	And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
012:017	And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
012:018	And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
012:019	And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
012:020	But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
012:021	So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
012:022	And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
012:023	The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
012:024	Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
012:025	And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
012:026	If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
012:027	Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
012:028	If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
012:029	And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
012:030	For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
012:031	But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
012:032	Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
012:033	Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
012:034	For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
012:035	Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
012:036	And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
012:037	Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
012:038	And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
012:039	And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
012:040	Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
012:041	Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
012:042	And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
012:043	Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
012:044	Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
012:045	But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
012:046	The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
012:047	And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
012:048	But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
012:049	I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
012:050	But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!
012:051	Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
012:052	For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
012:053	The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
012:054	And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
012:055	And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.
012:056	Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
012:057	Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
012:058	When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.
012:059	I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

---

013:001	There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.
013:002	And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
013:003	I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
013:004	Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
013:005	I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
013:006	He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
013:007	Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
013:008	And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
013:009	And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
013:010	And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath.
013:011	And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.
013:012	And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.
013:013	And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
013:014	And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.
013:015	The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
013:016	And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
013:017	And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
013:018	Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?
013:019	It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.
013:020	And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?
013:021	It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
013:022	And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
013:023	Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
013:024	Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
013:025	When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
013:026	Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
013:027	But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
013:028	There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
013:029	And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
013:030	And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
013:031	The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.
013:032	And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
013:033	Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
013:034	O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
013:035	Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

---

014:001	And it came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day, that they watched him.
014:002	And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.
014:003	And Jesus answering spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
014:004	And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;
014:005	And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?
014:006	And they could not answer him again to these things.
014:007	And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them.
014:008	When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
014:009	And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.
014:010	But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
014:011	For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
014:012	Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.
014:013	But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
014:014	And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
014:015	And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
014:016	Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
014:017	And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
014:018	And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
014:019	And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
014:020	And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
014:021	So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
014:022	And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
014:023	And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
014:024	For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
014:025	And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
014:026	If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
014:027	And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
014:028	For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
014:029	Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
014:030	Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
014:031	Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
014:032	Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
014:033	So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
014:034	Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
014:035	It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

---

015:001	Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
015:002	And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
015:003	And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
015:004	What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
015:005	And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
015:006	And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
015:007	I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
015:008	Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
015:009	And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
015:010	Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
015:011	And he said, A certain man had two sons:
015:012	And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
015:013	And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
015:014	And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
015:015	And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
015:016	And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
015:017	And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
015:018	I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
015:019	And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
015:020	And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
015:021	And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
015:022	But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
015:023	And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
015:024	For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
015:025	Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
015:026	And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
015:027	And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
015:028	And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
015:029	And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
015:030	But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
015:031	And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
015:032	It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

---

016:001	And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.
016:002	And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
016:003	Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.
016:004	I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
016:005	So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?
016:006	And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
016:007	Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
016:008	And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
016:009	And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
016:010	He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
016:011	If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
016:012	And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
016:013	No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
016:014	And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
016:015	And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
016:016	The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
016:017	And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
016:018	Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
016:019	There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
016:020	And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
016:021	And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
016:022	And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
016:023	And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
016:024	And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
016:025	But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
016:026	And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
016:027	Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
016:028	For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
016:029	Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
016:030	And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
016:031	And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

---

017:001	Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!
017:002	It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
017:003	Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
017:004	And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
017:005	And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
017:006	And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
017:007	But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
017:008	And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
017:009	Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
017:010	So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
017:011	And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
017:012	And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
017:013	And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
017:014	And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
017:015	And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
017:016	And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
017:017	And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
017:018	There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
017:019	And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
017:020	And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
017:021	Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
017:022	And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.
017:023	And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.
017:024	For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.
017:025	But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
017:026	And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.
017:027	They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
017:028	Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;
017:029	But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.
017:030	Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.
017:031	In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
017:032	Remember Lot's wife.
017:033	Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
017:034	I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
017:035	Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
017:036	Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
017:037	And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

---

018:001	And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
018:002	Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
018:003	And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
018:004	And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
018:005	Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
018:006	And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
018:007	And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
018:008	I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
018:009	And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
018:010	Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
018:011	The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
018:012	I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
018:013	And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
018:014	I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
018:015	And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
018:016	But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
018:017	Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
018:018	And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
018:019	And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
018:020	Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
018:021	And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
018:022	Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
018:023	And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
018:024	And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
018:025	For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
018:026	And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?
018:027	And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
018:028	Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.
018:029	And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,
018:030	Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
018:031	Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.
018:032	For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on:
018:033	And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
018:034	And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
018:035	And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
018:036	And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
018:037	And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
018:038	And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
018:039	And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
018:040	And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
018:041	Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
018:042	And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
018:043	And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

---

019:001	And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
019:002	And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
019:003	And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
019:004	And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
019:005	And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
019:006	And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
019:007	And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.
019:008	And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
019:009	And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
019:010	For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
019:011	And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.
019:012	He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
019:013	And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
019:014	But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.
019:015	And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
019:016	Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
019:017	And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
019:018	And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
019:019	And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
019:020	And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
019:021	For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
019:022	And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
019:023	Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
019:024	And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
019:025	(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
019:026	For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.
019:027	But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
019:028	And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem.
019:029	And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples,
019:030	Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither.
019:031	And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.
019:032	And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them.
019:033	And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt?
019:034	And they said, The Lord hath need of him.
019:035	And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.
019:036	And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way.
019:037	And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;
019:038	Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
019:039	And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
019:040	And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
019:041	And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,
019:042	Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.
019:043	For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
019:044	And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.
019:045	And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;
019:046	Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.
019:047	And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him,
019:048	And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

---

020:001	And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,
020:002	And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?
020:003	And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:
020:004	The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men?
020:005	And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?
020:006	But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.
020:007	And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.
020:008	And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
020:009	Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.
020:010	And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.
020:011	And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.
020:012	And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.
020:013	Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.
020:014	But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.
020:015	So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?
020:016	He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
020:017	And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?
020:018	Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
020:019	And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.
020:020	And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.
020:021	And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:
020:022	Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
020:023	But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
020:024	Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.
020:025	And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.
020:026	And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
020:027	Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,
020:028	Saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
020:029	There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children.
020:030	And the second took her to wife, and he died childless.
020:031	And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died.
020:032	Last of all the woman died also.
020:033	Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife.
020:034	And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
020:035	But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
020:036	Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
020:037	Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
020:038	For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
020:039	Then certain of the scribes answering said, Master, thou hast well said.
020:040	And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.
020:041	And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's son?
020:042	And David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
020:043	Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
020:044	David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?
020:045	Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,
020:046	Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;
020:047	Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

---

021:001	And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
021:002	And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
021:003	And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
021:004	For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
021:005	And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
021:006	As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
021:007	And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
021:008	And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
021:009	But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
021:010	Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
021:011	And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
021:012	But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
021:013	And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
021:014	Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
021:015	For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
021:016	And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
021:017	And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
021:018	But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
021:019	In your patience possess ye your souls.
021:020	And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
021:021	Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
021:022	For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
021:023	But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
021:024	And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
021:025	And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
021:026	Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
021:027	And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
021:028	And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
021:029	And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
021:030	When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
021:031	So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
021:032	Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
021:033	Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
021:034	And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
021:035	For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
021:036	Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
021:037	And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.
021:038	And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

---

022:001	Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
022:002	And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.
022:003	Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
022:004	And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
022:005	And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.
022:006	And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
022:007	Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed.
022:008	And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.
022:009	And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare?
022:010	And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in.
022:011	And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
022:012	And he shall shew you a large upper room furnished: there make ready.
022:013	And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
022:014	And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
022:015	And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
022:016	For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
022:017	And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
022:018	For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
022:019	And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
022:020	Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
022:021	But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table.
022:022	And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
022:023	And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing.
022:024	And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
022:025	And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
022:026	But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
022:027	For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.
022:028	Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations.
022:029	And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;
022:030	That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
022:031	And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
022:032	But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
022:033	And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
022:034	And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
022:035	And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
022:036	Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.
022:037	For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
022:038	And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
022:039	And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him.
022:040	And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation.
022:041	And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
022:042	Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
022:043	And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
022:044	And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
022:045	And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,
022:046	And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.
022:047	And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.
022:048	But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
022:049	When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?
022:050	And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
022:051	And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.
022:052	Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?
022:053	When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
022:054	Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off.
022:055	And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
022:056	But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
022:057	And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
022:058	And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
022:059	And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.
022:060	And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
022:061	And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
022:062	And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
022:063	And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.
022:064	And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?
022:065	And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.
022:066	And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,
022:067	Art thou the Christ? tell us. And he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:
022:068	And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.
022:069	Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.
022:070	Then said they all, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.
022:071	And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.

---

023:001	And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.
023:002	And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
023:003	And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.
023:004	Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.
023:005	And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.
023:006	When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.
023:007	And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.
023:008	And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.
023:009	Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.
023:010	And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.
023:011	And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.
023:012	And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.
023:013	And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,
023:014	Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:
023:015	No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.
023:016	I will therefore chastise him, and release him.
023:017	(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)
023:018	And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:
023:019	(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)
023:020	Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.
023:021	But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.
023:022	And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.
023:023	And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.
023:024	And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.
023:025	And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
023:026	And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.
023:027	And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.
023:028	But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.
023:029	For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.
023:030	Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.
023:031	For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?
023:032	And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.
023:033	And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
023:034	Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
023:035	And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
023:036	And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
023:037	And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
023:038	And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
023:039	And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
023:040	But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
023:041	And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
023:042	And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
023:043	And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
023:044	And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
023:045	And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
023:046	And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
023:047	Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
023:048	And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.
023:049	And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
023:050	And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:
023:051	(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.
023:052	This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
023:053	And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
023:054	And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.
023:055	And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.
023:056	And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

---

024:001	Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
024:002	And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
024:003	And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
024:004	And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
024:005	And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
024:006	He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
024:007	Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
024:008	And they remembered his words,
024:009	And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
024:010	It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
024:011	And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
024:012	Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
024:013	And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
024:014	And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
024:015	And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
024:016	But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
024:017	And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
024:018	And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
024:019	And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
024:020	And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
024:021	But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
024:022	Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
024:023	And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
024:024	And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
024:025	Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
024:026	Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
024:027	And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
024:028	And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
024:029	But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
024:030	And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
024:031	And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
024:032	And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
024:033	And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
024:034	Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
024:035	And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.
024:036	And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
024:037	But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
024:038	And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
024:039	Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
024:040	And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
024:041	And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
024:042	And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
024:043	And he took it, and did eat before them.
024:044	And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
024:045	Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
024:046	And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
024:047	And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
024:048	And ye are witnesses of these things.
024:049	And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
024:050	And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
024:051	And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
024:052	And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
024:053	And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

 

==========================================================

To obtain audio CD's of the entire "Thru the Bible Radio" contact:

THRU THE BIBLE RADIO NETWORK
Taking the whole Word to the whole world for over 60 years!
U.S. Address: Box 7100, Pasadena, California 91109-7100
Phone: (800) 65-BIBLE Fax: (626) 449-4430
Website: www.ttb.org

Note: Chapter topic headings from "The Holman Illustrated Study Bible"; Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A. ISBN: 978-1-58640-275-4.

 

 

Provided by Grace Baptist Church, Madisonville, KY 42431