Division: Books of the Law

Verse 1: Introduction Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,

Verse 2: just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

Verse 3: Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

Verse 4: so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Verse 5: The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.

Verse 6: Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly.

Verse 7: But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years.

Verse 8: Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

Verse 9: he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

Verse 10: And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

Verse 11: Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

Verse 12: When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.

Verse 13: But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.

Verse 14: He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,

Verse 15: for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth.

Verse 16: Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God.

Verse 17: And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Verse 18: Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

Verse 19: The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.

Verse 20: And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.”

Verse 21: Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple.

Verse 22: When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

Verse 23: When his time of service was completed, he returned home.

Verse 24: After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.

Verse 25: “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

Verse 26: The Birth of Jesus Foretold In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,

Verse 27: to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

Verse 28: The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Verse 29: Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

Verse 30: But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.

Verse 31: You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.

Verse 32: He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,

Verse 33: and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Verse 34: “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

Verse 35: The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

Verse 36: Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.

Verse 37: For nothing is impossible with God.”

Verse 38: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Verse 39: Mary Visits Elizabeth At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,

Verse 40: where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.

Verse 41: When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Verse 42: In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!

Verse 43: But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

Verse 44: As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

Verse 45: Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

Verse 46: Mary’s Song And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord

Verse 47: and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

Verse 48: for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,

Verse 49: for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.

Verse 50: His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

Verse 51: He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

Verse 52: He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

Verse 53: He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

Verse 54: He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful

Verse 55: to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.”

Verse 56: Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Verse 57: The Birth of John the Baptist When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.

Verse 58: Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

Verse 59: On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah,

Verse 60: but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”

Verse 61: They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

Verse 62: Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child.

Verse 63: He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”

Verse 64: Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God.

Verse 65: The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things.

Verse 66: Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

Verse 67: Zechariah’s Song His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

Verse 68: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.

Verse 69: He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David

Verse 70: (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),

Verse 71: salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us—

Verse 72: to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,

Verse 73: the oath he swore to our father Abraham:

Verse 74: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear

Verse 75: in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

Verse 76: And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,

Verse 77: to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,

Verse 78: because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven

Verse 79: to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

Verse 80: And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.

Verse 1: The Birth of Jesus In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.

Verse 2: (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)

Verse 3: And everyone went to his own town to register.

Verse 4: So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.

Verse 5: He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

Verse 6: While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,

Verse 7: and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Verse 8: The Shepherds and the Angels And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

Verse 9: An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

Verse 10: But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

Verse 11: Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

Verse 12: This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Verse 13: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

Verse 14: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Verse 15: When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Verse 16: So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

Verse 17: When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,

Verse 18: and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Verse 19: But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

Verse 20: The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Verse 21: Jesus Presented in the Temple On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.

Verse 22: When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord

Verse 23: (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”),

Verse 24: and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

Verse 25: Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

Verse 26: It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

Verse 27: Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,

Verse 28: Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

Verse 29: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.

Verse 30: For my eyes have seen your salvation,

Verse 31: which you have prepared in the sight of all people,

Verse 32: a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

Verse 33: The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him.

Verse 34: Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

Verse 35: so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

Verse 36: There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,

Verse 37: and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

Verse 38: Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Verse 39: When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.

Verse 40: And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

Verse 41: The Boy Jesus at the Temple Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover.

Verse 42: When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom.

Verse 43: After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.

Verse 44: Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.

Verse 45: When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him.

Verse 46: After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

Verse 47: Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

Verse 48: When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

Verse 49: “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”

Verse 50: But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Verse 51: Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.

Verse 52: And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Verse 1: John the Baptist Prepares the Way In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—

Verse 2: during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.

Verse 3: He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Verse 4: As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.

Verse 5: Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.

Verse 6: And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’”

Verse 7: John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Verse 8: Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

Verse 9: The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Verse 10: “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.

Verse 11: John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.”

Verse 12: Tax collectors also came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

Verse 13: “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.

Verse 14: Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

Verse 15: The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.

Verse 16: John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

Verse 17: His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

Verse 18: And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them.

Verse 19: But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done,

Verse 20: Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.

Verse 21: The Baptism and Genealogy of Jesus When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened

Verse 22: and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Verse 23: Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,

Verse 24: the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,

Verse 25: the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,

Verse 26: the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,

Verse 27: the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,

Verse 28: the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,

Verse 29: the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,

Verse 30: the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,

Verse 31: the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,

Verse 32: the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,

Verse 33: the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,

Verse 34: the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

Verse 35: the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,

Verse 36: the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,

Verse 37: the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan,

Verse 38: the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Verse 17: The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

Verse 1: The Temptation of Jesus Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert,

Verse 2: where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

Verse 3: The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

Verse 4: Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.’”

Verse 5: The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.

Verse 6: And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.

Verse 7: So if you worship me, it will all be yours.”

Verse 8: Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”

Verse 9: The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here.

Verse 10: For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;

Verse 11: they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

Verse 12: Jesus answered, “It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Verse 13: When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.

Verse 14: Jesus Rejected at Nazareth Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.

Verse 15: He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

Verse 16: He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.

Verse 18: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,

Verse 19: to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Verse 20: Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him,

Verse 21: and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Verse 22: All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.

Verse 23: Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’”

Verse 24: “I tell you the truth,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown.

Verse 25: I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land.

Verse 26: Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.

Verse 27: And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

Verse 28: All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.

Verse 29: They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff.

Verse 30: But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

Verse 31: Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people.

Verse 32: They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority.

Verse 33: In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice,

Verse 34: “Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

Verse 35: “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.

Verse 36: All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!”

Verse 37: And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.

Verse 38: Jesus Heals Many Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her.

Verse 39: So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.

Verse 40: When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.

Verse 41: Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.

Verse 42: At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them.

Verse 43: But he said, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”

Verse 44: And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Verse 1: The Calling of the First Disciples One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God,

Verse 2: he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.

Verse 3: He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

Verse 4: When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

Verse 5: Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Verse 6: When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.

Verse 7: So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

Verse 8: When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

Verse 9: For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken,

Verse 10: and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.”

Verse 11: So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Verse 12: The Man With Leprosy While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Verse 13: Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

Verse 14: Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

Verse 15: Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.

Verse 16: But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Verse 17: Jesus Heals a Paralytic One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick.

Verse 18: Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus.

Verse 19: When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

Verse 20: When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

Verse 21: The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Verse 22: Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?

Verse 23: Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

Verse 24: But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”

Verse 25: Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God.

Verse 26: Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

Verse 27: The Calling of Levi After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him,

Verse 28: and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.

Verse 29: Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.

Verse 30: But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?”

Verse 31: Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

Verse 32: I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Verse 33: Jesus Questioned About Fasting They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.”

Verse 34: Jesus answered, “Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?

Verse 35: But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.”

Verse 36: He told them this parable: “No one tears a patch from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old.

Verse 37: And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.

Verse 38: No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.

Verse 39: And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’”

Verse 1: Lord of the Sabbath One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels.

Verse 2: Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

Verse 3: Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?

Verse 4: He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”

Verse 5: Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Verse 6: On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled.

Verse 7: The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath.

Verse 8: But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.

Verse 9: Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

Verse 10: He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored.

Verse 11: But they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Verse 12: The Twelve Apostles One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

Verse 13: When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:

Verse 14: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,

Verse 15: Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot,

Verse 16: Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Verse 17: Blessings and Woes He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon,

Verse 18: who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured,

Verse 19: and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.

Verse 20: Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

Verse 21: Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

Verse 22: Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

Verse 23: “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets.

Verse 24: “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.

Verse 25: Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

Verse 26: Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

Verse 27: Love for Enemies “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

Verse 28: bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Verse 29: If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic.

Verse 30: Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.

Verse 31: Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Verse 32: “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them.

Verse 33: And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that.

Verse 34: And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full.

Verse 35: But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Verse 36: Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Verse 37: Judging Others “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Verse 38: Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Verse 39: He also told them this parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?

Verse 40: A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

Verse 41: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

Verse 42: How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Verse 43: A Tree and Its Fruit “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.

Verse 44: Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.

Verse 45: The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

Verse 46: The Wise and Foolish Builders “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?

Verse 47: I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice.

Verse 48: He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.

Verse 49: But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

Verse 1: The Faith of the Centurion When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.

Verse 2: There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die.

Verse 3: The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.

Verse 4: When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this,

Verse 5: because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”

Verse 6: So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.

Verse 7: That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.

Verse 8: For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

Verse 9: When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.”

Verse 10: Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Verse 11: Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him.

Verse 12: As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.

Verse 13: When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

Verse 14: Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”

Verse 15: The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

Verse 16: They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.”

Verse 17: This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

Verse 18: Jesus and John the Baptist John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them,

Verse 19: he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”

Verse 20: When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’”

Verse 21: At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.

Verse 22: So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

Verse 23: Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

Verse 24: After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?

Verse 25: If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces.

Verse 26: But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

Verse 27: This is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’

Verse 28: I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

Verse 29: (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John.

Verse 30: But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

Verse 31: “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like?

Verse 32: They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.’

Verse 33: For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’

Verse 34: The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.”’

Verse 35: But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”

Verse 36: Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

Verse 37: When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume,

Verse 38: and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

Verse 39: When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

Verse 40: Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said.

Verse 41: “Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

Verse 42: Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Verse 43: Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Verse 44: Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

Verse 45: You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet.

Verse 46: You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet.

Verse 47: Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

Verse 48: Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Verse 49: The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Verse 50: Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Verse 1: The Parable of the Sower After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him,

Verse 2: and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;

Verse 3: Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

Verse 4: While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable:

Verse 5: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up.

Verse 6: Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.

Verse 7: Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.

Verse 8: Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Verse 9: His disciples asked him what this parable meant.

Verse 10: He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’

Verse 11: “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.

Verse 12: Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

Verse 13: Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.

Verse 14: The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.

Verse 15: But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Verse 16: A Lamp on a Stand “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.

Verse 17: For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.

Verse 18: Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him.”

Verse 19: Jesus’ Mother and Brothers Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd.

Verse 20: Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”

Verse 21: He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”

Verse 22: Jesus Calms the Storm One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out.

Verse 23: As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

Verse 24: The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.

Verse 25: “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

Verse 26: The Healing of a Demon-possessed Man They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee.

Verse 27: When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs.

Verse 28: When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!”

Verse 29: For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

Verse 30: Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him.

Verse 31: And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.

Verse 32: A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission.

Verse 33: When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

Verse 34: When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside,

Verse 35: and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

Verse 36: Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured.

Verse 37: Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.

Verse 38: The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,

Verse 39: “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

Verse 40: A Dead Girl and a Sick Woman Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him.

Verse 41: Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house

Verse 42: because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.

Verse 43: And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her.

Verse 44: She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

Verse 45: “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”

Verse 46: But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

Verse 47: Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.

Verse 48: Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Verse 49: While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher any more.”

Verse 50: Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

Verse 51: When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother.

Verse 52: Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.”

Verse 53: They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.

Verse 54: But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!”

Verse 55: Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.

Verse 56: Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Verse 1: Jesus Sends Out the Twelve When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,

Verse 2: and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

Verse 3: He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic.

Verse 4: Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town.

Verse 5: If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them.”

Verse 6: So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.

Verse 7: Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed, because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead,

Verse 8: others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life.

Verse 9: But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him.

Verse 10: Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they withdrew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida,

Verse 11: but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.

Verse 12: Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”

Verse 13: He replied, “You give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.”

Verse 14: (About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”

Verse 15: The disciples did so, and everybody sat down.

Verse 16: Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to set before the people.

Verse 17: They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

Verse 18: Peter’s Confession of Christ Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”

Verse 19: They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.”

Verse 20: “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

Verse 21: Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.

Verse 22: And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

Verse 23: Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Verse 24: For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

Verse 25: What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?

Verse 26: If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Verse 27: I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

Verse 28: The Transfiguration About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.

Verse 29: As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.

Verse 30: Two men, Moses and Elijah,

Verse 31: appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.

Verse 32: Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.

Verse 33: As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

Verse 34: While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.

Verse 35: A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

Verse 36: When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.

Verse 37: The Healing of a Boy With an Evil Spirit The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.

Verse 38: A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.

Verse 39: A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him.

Verse 40: I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.”

Verse 41: “O unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

Verse 42: Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father.

Verse 43: And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples,

Verse 44: “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.”

Verse 45: But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.

Verse 46: Who Will Be the Greatest? An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.

Verse 47: Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him.

Verse 48: Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For he who is least among you all—he is the greatest.”

Verse 49: “Master,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.”

Verse 50: “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”

Verse 51: Samaritan Opposition As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

Verse 52: And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him;

Verse 53: but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.

Verse 54: When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”

Verse 55: But Jesus turned and rebuked them,

Verse 56: and they went to another village.

Verse 57: The Cost of Following Jesus As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”

Verse 58: Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

Verse 59: He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

Verse 60: Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Verse 61: Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.”

Verse 62: Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Verse 1: Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-two After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.

Verse 2: He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

Verse 3: Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

Verse 4: Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

Verse 5: “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’

Verse 6: If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you.

Verse 7: Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

Verse 8: “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you.

Verse 9: Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’

Verse 10: But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say,

Verse 11: ‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’

Verse 12: I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

Verse 13: “Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

Verse 14: But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

Verse 15: And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.

Verse 16: “He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Verse 17: The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

Verse 18: He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

Verse 19: I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.

Verse 20: However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Verse 21: At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

Verse 22: “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Verse 23: Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.

Verse 24: For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

Verse 25: The Parable of the Good Samaritan On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Verse 26: “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

Verse 27: He answered: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Verse 28: “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

Verse 29: But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Verse 30: In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.

Verse 31: A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.

Verse 32: So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

Verse 33: But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.

Verse 34: He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.

Verse 35: The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

Verse 36: “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

Verse 37: The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Verse 38: At the Home of Martha and Mary As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.

Verse 39: She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.

Verse 40: But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

Verse 41: “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,

Verse 42: but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Verse 38: But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised.

Verse 1: Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

Verse 2: He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.

Verse 3: Give us each day our daily bread.

Verse 4: Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”

Verse 5: Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,

Verse 6: because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’

Verse 7: “Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’

Verse 8: I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

Verse 9: “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Verse 10: For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Verse 11: “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?

Verse 12: Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

Verse 13: If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Verse 14: Jesus and Beelzebub Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed.

Verse 15: But some of them said, “By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.”

Verse 16: Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.

Verse 17: Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall.

Verse 18: If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub.

Verse 19: Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.

Verse 20: But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.

Verse 21: “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe.

Verse 22: But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils.

Verse 23: “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.

Verse 24: “When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’

Verse 25: When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.

Verse 26: Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.”

Verse 27: As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.”

Verse 28: He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

Verse 29: The Sign of Jonah As the crowds increased, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.

Verse 30: For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation.

Verse 31: The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here.

Verse 32: The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.

Verse 33: The Lamp of the Body “No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light.

Verse 34: Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness.

Verse 35: See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.

Verse 36: Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you.”

Verse 37: Six Woes When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table.

Verse 39: Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

Verse 40: You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also?

Verse 41: But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

Verse 42: “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.

Verse 43: “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.

Verse 44: “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it.”

Verse 45: One of the experts in the law answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us also.”

Verse 46: Jesus replied, “And you experts in the law, woe to you, because you load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them.

Verse 47: “Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your forefathers who killed them.

Verse 48: So you testify that you approve of what your forefathers did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.

Verse 49: Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’

Verse 50: Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world,

Verse 51: from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible for it all.

Verse 52: “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”

Verse 53: When Jesus left there, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions,

Verse 54: waiting to catch him in something he might say.

Verse 25: Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Verse 1: Warnings and Encouragements Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Verse 2: There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.

Verse 3: What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

Verse 4: “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.

Verse 5: But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

Verse 6: Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.

Verse 7: Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Verse 8: “I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.

Verse 9: But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.

Verse 10: And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

Verse 11: “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say,

Verse 12: for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”

Verse 13: The Parable of the Rich Fool Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

Verse 14: Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?”

Verse 15: Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Verse 16: And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop.

Verse 17: He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

Verse 18: “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

Verse 19: And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

Verse 20: “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

Verse 21: “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

Verse 22: Do Not Worry Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.

Verse 23: Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

Verse 24: Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!

Verse 26: Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

Verse 27: “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

Verse 28: If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!

Verse 29: And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.

Verse 30: For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.

Verse 31: But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Verse 32: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

Verse 33: Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

Verse 34: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Verse 35: Watchfulness “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning,

Verse 36: like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.

Verse 37: It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.

Verse 38: It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.

Verse 39: But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

Verse 40: You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Verse 41: Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

Verse 42: The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?

Verse 43: It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.

Verse 44: I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

Verse 45: But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk.

Verse 46: The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

Verse 47: “That servant who knows his master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows.

Verse 48: But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Verse 49: Not Peace but Division “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

Verse 50: But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed!

Verse 51: Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.

Verse 52: From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three.

Verse 53: They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Verse 54: Interpreting the Times He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does.

Verse 55: And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is.

Verse 56: Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?

Verse 57: “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?

Verse 58: As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled to him on the way, or he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

Verse 59: I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”

Verse 1: Repent or Perish Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

Verse 2: Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?

Verse 3: I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

Verse 4: Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?

Verse 5: I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Verse 6: Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.

Verse 7: So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

Verse 8: “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.

Verse 9: If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”

Verse 10: A Crippled Woman Healed on the Sabbath On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues,

Verse 11: and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all.

Verse 12: When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.”

Verse 13: Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

Verse 14: Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue ruler said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

Verse 15: The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water?

Verse 16: Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

Verse 17: When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

Verse 18: The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to?

Verse 19: It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.”

Verse 20: Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to?

Verse 21: It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

Verse 22: The Narrow Door Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.

Verse 23: Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them,

Verse 24: “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.

Verse 25: Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’

Verse 26: “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’

Verse 27: “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’

Verse 28: “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out.

Verse 29: People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.

Verse 30: Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”

Verse 31: Jesus’ Sorrow for Jerusalem At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”

Verse 32: He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’

Verse 33: In any case, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!

Verse 34: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

Verse 35: Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Verse 1: Jesus at a Pharisee’s House One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.

Verse 2: There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy.

Verse 3: Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?”

Verse 4: But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him away.

Verse 5: Then he asked them, “If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?”

Verse 6: And they had nothing to say.

Verse 7: When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable:

Verse 8: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.

Verse 9: If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.

Verse 10: But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests.

Verse 11: For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Verse 12: Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.

Verse 13: But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,

Verse 14: and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Verse 15: The Parable of the Great Banquet When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

Verse 16: Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.

Verse 17: At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

Verse 18: “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’

Verse 19: “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’

Verse 20: “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

Verse 21: “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’

Verse 22: “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

Verse 23: “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.

Verse 24: I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

Verse 25: The Cost of Being a Disciple Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said:

Verse 26: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple.

Verse 27: And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

Verse 28: “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?

Verse 29: For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him,

Verse 30: saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’

Verse 31: “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?

Verse 32: If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.

Verse 33: In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

Verse 34: “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?

Verse 35: It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Verse 1: The Parable of the Lost Sheep Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him.

Verse 2: But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Verse 3: Then Jesus told them this parable:

Verse 4: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

Verse 5: And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders

Verse 6: and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’

Verse 7: I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Verse 8: The Parable of the Lost Coin “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?

Verse 9: And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’

Verse 10: In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Verse 11: The Parable of the Lost Son Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.

Verse 12: The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

Verse 13: “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.

Verse 14: After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.

Verse 15: So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.

Verse 16: He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

Verse 17: “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!

Verse 18: I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

Verse 19: I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’

Verse 20: So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

Verse 21: “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

Verse 22: “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

Verse 23: Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.

Verse 24: For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

Verse 25: “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing.

Verse 26: So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on.

Verse 27: ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

Verse 28: “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him.

Verse 29: But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.

Verse 30: But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

Verse 31: “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.

Verse 32: But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Verse 1: The Parable of the Shrewd Manager Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.

Verse 2: So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’

Verse 3: “The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg—

Verse 4: I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

Verse 5: “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

Verse 6: “‘Eight hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.’

Verse 7: “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ “‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

Verse 8: “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.

Verse 9: I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

Verse 10: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

Verse 11: So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?

Verse 12: And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

Verse 13: “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

Verse 14: The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.

Verse 15: He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.

Verse 16: Additional Teachings “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

Verse 17: It is easier for heaven and earth to disappear than for the least stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.

Verse 18: “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Verse 19: The Rich Man and Lazarus “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.

Verse 20: At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores

Verse 21: and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

Verse 22: “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.

Verse 23: In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.

Verse 24: So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

Verse 25: “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.

Verse 26: And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

Verse 27: “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,

Verse 28: for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

Verse 29: “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

Verse 30: “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

Verse 31: “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Verse 1: Sin, Faith, Duty Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come.

Verse 2: It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.

Verse 3: So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him.

Verse 4: If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

Verse 5: The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

Verse 6: He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

Verse 7: “Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’?

Verse 8: Would he not rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’?

Verse 9: Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?

Verse 10: So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

Verse 11: Ten Healed of Leprosy Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.

Verse 12: As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance

Verse 13: and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

Verse 14: When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

Verse 15: One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.

Verse 16: He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Verse 17: Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?

Verse 18: Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Verse 19: Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Verse 20: The Coming of the Kingdom of God Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation,

Verse 21: nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”

Verse 22: Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.

Verse 23: Men will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them.

Verse 24: For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other.

Verse 25: But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

Verse 26: “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man.

Verse 27: People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

Verse 28: “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building.

Verse 29: But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

Verse 30: “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed.

Verse 31: On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything.

Verse 32: Remember Lot’s wife!

Verse 33: Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

Verse 34: I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.

Verse 35: Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.”

Verse 37: “Where, Lord?” they asked. He replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”

Verse 1: The Parable of the Persistent Widow Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Verse 2: He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men.

Verse 3: And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’

Verse 4: “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men,

Verse 5: yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’”

Verse 6: And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.

Verse 7: And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?

Verse 8: I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Verse 9: The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:

Verse 10: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

Verse 11: The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.

Verse 12: I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

Verse 13: “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

Verse 14: “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Verse 15: The Little Children and Jesus People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.

Verse 16: But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Verse 17: I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Verse 18: The Rich Ruler A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Verse 19: “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.

Verse 20: You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’”

Verse 21: “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.

Verse 22: When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Verse 23: When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.

Verse 24: Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

Verse 25: Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Verse 26: Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”

Verse 27: Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”

Verse 28: Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”

Verse 29: “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God

Verse 30: will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.”

Verse 31: Jesus Again Predicts His Death Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

Verse 32: He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him.

Verse 33: On the third day he will rise again.”

Verse 34: The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

Verse 35: A Blind Beggar Receives His Sight As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.

Verse 36: When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.

Verse 37: They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

Verse 38: He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Verse 39: Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Verse 40: Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him,

Verse 41: “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

Verse 42: Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”

Verse 43: Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

Verse 2: A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy.

Verse 1: Zacchaeus the Tax Collector Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.

Verse 3: He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd.

Verse 4: So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

Verse 5: When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”

Verse 6: So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

Verse 7: All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’”

Verse 8: But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

Verse 9: Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.

Verse 10: For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

Verse 11: The Parable of the Ten Minas While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once.

Verse 12: He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return.

Verse 13: So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’

Verse 14: “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’

Verse 15: “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

Verse 16: “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’

Verse 17: “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

Verse 18: “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’

Verse 19: “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’

Verse 20: “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth.

Verse 21: I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’

Verse 22: “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow?

Verse 23: Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’

Verse 24: “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

Verse 25: “‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’

Verse 26: “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away.

Verse 27: But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’”

Verse 28: The Triumphal Entry After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

Verse 29: As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them,

Verse 30: “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.

Verse 31: If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

Verse 32: Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.

Verse 33: As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”

Verse 34: They replied, “The Lord needs it.”

Verse 35: They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.

Verse 36: As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

Verse 37: When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

Verse 38: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

Verse 39: Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

Verse 40: “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Verse 41: As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it

Verse 42: and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.

Verse 43: The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.

Verse 44: They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

Verse 45: Jesus at the Temple Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling.

Verse 46: “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

Verse 47: Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him.

Verse 48: Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

Verse 1: The Authority of Jesus Questioned One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him.

Verse 2: “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?”

Verse 3: He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me,

Verse 4: John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?”

Verse 5: They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’

Verse 6: But if we say, ‘From men,’ all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”

Verse 7: So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.”

Verse 8: Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Verse 9: The Parable of the Tenants He went on to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time.

Verse 10: At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

Verse 11: He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed.

Verse 12: He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.

Verse 13: “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’

Verse 14: “But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. ‘This is the heir,’ they said. ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’

Verse 15: So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. “What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?

Verse 16: He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” When the people heard this, they said, “May this never be!”

Verse 17: Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone’?

Verse 18: Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”

Verse 19: The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.

Verse 20: Paying Taxes to Caesar Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor.

Verse 21: So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.

Verse 22: Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

Verse 23: He saw through their duplicity and said to them,

Verse 24: “Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?”

Verse 25: “Caesar’s,” they replied. He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Verse 26: They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent.

Verse 27: The Resurrection and Marriage Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question.

Verse 28: “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother.

Verse 29: Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless.

Verse 30: The second

Verse 31: and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children.

Verse 32: Finally, the woman died too.

Verse 33: Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?”

Verse 34: Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage.

Verse 35: But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage,

Verse 36: and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.

Verse 37: But in the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’

Verse 38: He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

Verse 39: Some of the teachers of the law responded, “Well said, teacher!”

Verse 40: And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Verse 41: Whose Son Is the Christ? Then Jesus said to them, “How is it that they say the Christ is the Son of David?

Verse 42: David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand

Verse 43: until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’

Verse 44: David calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”

Verse 45: While all the people were listening, Jesus said to his disciples,

Verse 46: “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.

Verse 47: They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.”

Verse 1: The Widow’s Offering As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury.

Verse 2: He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.

Verse 3: “I tell you the truth,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.

Verse 4: All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Verse 5: Signs of the End of the Age Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said,

Verse 6: “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”

Verse 7: “Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?”

Verse 8: He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.

Verse 9: When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

Verse 10: Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

Verse 11: There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

Verse 12: “But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.

Verse 13: This will result in your being witnesses to them.

Verse 14: But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.

Verse 15: For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

Verse 16: You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.

Verse 17: All men will hate you because of me.

Verse 18: But not a hair of your head will perish.

Verse 19: By standing firm you will gain life.

Verse 20: “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.

Verse 21: Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.

Verse 22: For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written.

Verse 23: How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people.

Verse 24: They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Verse 25: “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.

Verse 26: Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.

Verse 27: At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Verse 28: When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Verse 29: He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.

Verse 30: When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.

Verse 31: Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.

Verse 32: “I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

Verse 33: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

Verse 34: “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.

Verse 35: For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth.

Verse 36: Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

Verse 37: Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives,

Verse 38: and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.

Verse 1: Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching,

Verse 2: and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some way to get rid of Jesus, for they were afraid of the people.

Verse 3: Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.

Verse 4: And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.

Verse 5: They were delighted and agreed to give him money.

Verse 6: He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them when no crowd was present.

Verse 7: The Last Supper Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.

Verse 8: Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

Verse 9: “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

Verse 10: He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters,

Verse 11: and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’

Verse 12: He will show you a large upper room, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

Verse 13: They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

Verse 14: When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table.

Verse 15: And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

Verse 16: For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

Verse 17: After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you.

Verse 18: For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

Verse 19: And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

Verse 20: In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Verse 21: But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.

Verse 22: The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed, but woe to that man who betrays him.”

Verse 23: They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

Verse 24: Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.

Verse 25: Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors.

Verse 26: But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.

Verse 27: For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

Verse 28: You are those who have stood by me in my trials.

Verse 29: And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me,

Verse 30: so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Verse 31: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.

Verse 32: But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Verse 33: But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

Verse 34: Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

Verse 35: Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered.

Verse 36: He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.

Verse 37: It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

Verse 38: The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.” “That is enough,” he replied.

Verse 39: Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.

Verse 40: On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”

Verse 41: He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,

Verse 42: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

Verse 43: An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

Verse 44: And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Verse 45: When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.

Verse 46: “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

Verse 47: Jesus Arrested While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him,

Verse 48: but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

Verse 49: When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?”

Verse 50: And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

Verse 51: But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

Verse 52: Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs?

Verse 53: Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”

Verse 54: Peter Disowns Jesus Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance.

Verse 55: But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them.

Verse 56: A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

Verse 57: But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

Verse 58: A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

Verse 59: About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

Verse 60: Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.

Verse 61: The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”

Verse 62: And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Verse 63: The Guards Mock Jesus The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him.

Verse 64: They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?”

Verse 65: And they said many other insulting things to him.

Verse 66: Jesus Before Pilate and Herod At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them.

Verse 67: “If you are the Christ,” they said, “tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me,

Verse 68: and if I asked you, you would not answer.

Verse 69: But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”

Verse 70: They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You are right in saying I am.”

Verse 71: Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”

Verse 21: But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

Verse 1: Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate.

Verse 2: And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king.”

Verse 3: So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.

Verse 4: Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

Verse 5: But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.”

Verse 6: On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean.

Verse 7: When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

Verse 8: When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle.

Verse 9: He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.

Verse 10: The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him.

Verse 11: Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.

Verse 12: That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.

Verse 13: Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people,

Verse 14: and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.

Verse 15: Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death.

Verse 16: Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.”

Verse 18: With one voice they cried out, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”

Verse 19: (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

Verse 20: Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again.

Verse 22: For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”

Verse 23: But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.

Verse 24: So Pilate decided to grant their demand.

Verse 25: He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

Verse 26: The Crucifixion As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.

Verse 27: A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.

Verse 28: Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.

Verse 29: For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’

Verse 30: Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’

Verse 31: For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”

Verse 32: Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.

Verse 33: When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.

Verse 34: Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Verse 35: The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”

Verse 36: The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar

Verse 37: and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

Verse 38: There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.

Verse 39: One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”

Verse 40: But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?

Verse 41: We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

Verse 42: Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Verse 43: Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Verse 44: Jesus’ Death It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour,

Verse 45: for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.

Verse 46: Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Verse 47: The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

Verse 48: When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.

Verse 49: But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

Verse 50: Jesus’ Burial Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man,

Verse 51: who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God.

Verse 52: Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body.

Verse 53: Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid.

Verse 54: It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

Verse 55: The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it.

Verse 56: Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Verse 1: The Resurrection On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.

Verse 2: They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,

Verse 3: but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Verse 4: While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.

Verse 5: In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?

Verse 6: He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:

Verse 7: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”

Verse 8: Then they remembered his words.

Verse 9: When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.

Verse 10: It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.

Verse 11: But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

Verse 12: Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

Verse 13: On the Road to Emmaus Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.

Verse 14: They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.

Verse 15: As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;

Verse 16: but they were kept from recognizing him.

Verse 17: He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast.

Verse 18: One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

Verse 19: “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.

Verse 20: The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;

Verse 21: but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.

Verse 22: In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning

Verse 23: but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.

Verse 24: Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

Verse 25: He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

Verse 26: Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”

Verse 27: And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Verse 28: As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther.

Verse 29: But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

Verse 30: When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.

Verse 31: Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

Verse 32: They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

Verse 33: They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together

Verse 34: and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”

Verse 35: Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Verse 36: Jesus Appears to the Disciples While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

Verse 37: They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.

Verse 38: He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?

Verse 39: Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

Verse 40: When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.

Verse 41: And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”

Verse 42: They gave him a piece of broiled fish,

Verse 43: and he took it and ate it in their presence.

Verse 44: He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”

Verse 45: Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

Verse 46: He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,

Verse 47: and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Verse 48: You are witnesses of these things.

Verse 49: I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Verse 50: The Ascension When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.

Verse 51: While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.

Verse 52: Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.

Verse 53: And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.