Chapter 9

His father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel; for He has visited and redeemed His people, He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant, David; as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; to perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember His holy covenant; the oath which He swore to our father, Abraham, that He would grant us, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, to serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness, all the days of our life.

And thou, child, shall be called the prophet of the Highest, for thou shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways; to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high has visited us to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet in the way of peace.

The child grew and became strong in spirit. He was in the desert until the day of his showing to Israel.

2 A decree went out from Caesar Augustus. According to the decree every man was to go to his own city to be taxed. Because he was of the house and lineage of David, Joseph went up from Nazareth in Galilee, to the city of Bethlehem in Judaea to be taxed. With him was Mary, his espoused wife, who was great with child. While they were there, the time came for her to be delivered. She brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

In the same country shepherds were in the field keeping watch over their flock by night. Lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone about them. They became afraid. And the angel said to them, Fear not. Behold, I bring you good tidings which shall be great joy to all people. A Savior, Christ the Lord, is born this day in the city of David. Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Then there also appeared a heavenly host praising God. They said, Glory to God in the highest and, on earth, peace and good will toward men.

The shepherds said, Let us go to Bethlehem and see what has come to pass which the Lord has made known to us. They went with haste and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

When they saw, they made it known abroad what was told them concerning this child. Those who heard, wondered at what they were told. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told to them.

When eight days were completed for the circumcising of the child, His name was called Jesus, which was so named by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. When the days of the purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought Jesus to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, as it is written in the law: Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord. And, also according to law of the Lord, they offered the sacrifice: a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

There was a man in Jerusalem, named Simeon. He was a just and devout man, waiting for the consolation of Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and revealed to him that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

He came by the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus, Simeon took Him up in his arms, blessed God, and said, Lord, now let thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for my eyes have seen thy salvation which thou has prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people, Israel.

Joseph and Mary marvelled at the things which were spoken of Him. Simeon blessed them, and said to His mother, Mary, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which will be spoken against. A sword shall pierce thy soul that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Then a prophetess also spoke of Him. Anna was the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser. She was an aged widow who, for fourscore and four years, did not leave the temple and served God with fasting and prayer night and day. She gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to those in Jerusalem who awaited redemption.

When they had performed all that was required according to the law of the Lord, they returned to their own city of Nazareth in Galilee. The child grew, became strong in spirit, and was filled with wisdom and the grace of God.

Every year His parents went to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover. When He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. When they had fulfilled the days, they returned, but the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and His mother did not know of it. Supposing Him to have been in the caravan, at the end of the first day's journey, they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances. When they did not find Him, they turned back toward Jerusalem to find Him.

After three days, they found Him in the temple. He was sitting in the midst of the doctors, listening to them and asking them questions. Those who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.

When His parents saw Him, they were amazed. His mother said to Him, Son, why has thou done this to us? Thy father and I have been very worried. He said, How is it that ye sought me? Do you not know that I must be about my Father's business? But they did not understand what He said to them. Then He went with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them; but His mother kept all this in her heart. Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man.

3 It was the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea; Herod was tetrarch of Galilee; and his brother, Philip, was tetrarch of Ituraea and the region of Trachonitis; and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene. Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests.

The word of God came to John the son of Zacharias when he was in the wilderness. He went into all the country around Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. This was according to what is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet: The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

John said to the multitude that came to be baptized by him, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance. Stop saying to yourselves, We have our father, Abraham: for I tell you, God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree which does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.

The people asked him, What shall we do? He answered, He that has two coats, let him give it to him that has none. He that has food, let him do likewise. The publicans who came to him to be baptized also asked, Master, what shall we do? He said to them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. The soldiers, likewise, asked, What shall we do? He said, Do violence to no man, do not accuse anyone falsely; and be content with your wages.

People lived in expectation and wondered whether he was the Christ. John answered by saying to them all, I baptize you with water; but one mightier than I comes, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with a fire whose fan is in His hand. He will thoroughly purge His floor. He will gather the wheat into His garner; but He will burn the chaff with fire unquenchable.

Herod, the tetrarch, had been reproved by John on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife and for all the evils which Herod had done. Herod held this against him. Then, when Herod heard what John was saying, he had John imprisoned.

When Jesus, also being baptized, was praying, the heaven opened and the Holy Spirit, in a bodily shape like a dove, descended upon Him. A voice came from heaven which said, Thou art my beloved Son. In thee I am well pleased.

Jesus was about thirty years of age, the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, which was the son of Joseph, son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, which was the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda.

Joda was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zerubbabel, which was the son of Shealtiel, which was the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, which was the son of Er, the son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, son of Levi.

Levi was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Judah, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonam, which was the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, which was the son of Menna, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David, the son of Jesse, son of Obed, which was the son of Boaz, which was the son of Sala.

Sala was the son of Nahshon, son of Amminadab, which was the son of Admin, the son of Arni, which was the son of Hezron, the son of Pherez, son of Judah, the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac.

Isaac was the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, son of Nahor, which was the son of Serug, the son of Reu, son of Peleg, which was the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, son of Noah.

Noah was the son of Lamech, which was the son of Mathuselah, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan, which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

4 Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. For forty days He was tempted by the devil. During this time He ate nothing and, when His fasting ended, He was hungry.

The devil said to him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone to be made bread. Jesus answered, It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

The devil, then, took Him up into a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. The devil said to Him, I give thee the power and glory of all this that is mine and to whomever I give it. If thou will worship me, all shall be thine. Jesus said to him, Get thee behind me, Satan. It is written: Thou shall worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shall thou serve.

The devil brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on a pinnacle of the temple and said, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from here. It is written: He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee, and, in their hands, they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said, Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God.

When the devil had ended all the temptation, He departed from Him for a season. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. His fame spread throughout all the region. He taught in the synagogues and was glorified by all.

Jesus went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He went into the synagogue on the sabbath day and stood up to read. He was given the book of the prophet Isaiah. When He opened the book, He found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, recover sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are bruised, and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

He closed the book, returned it, and sat down. The eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fastened on Him. Jesus said to them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

All bore Him witness and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded from His mouth. They said, Is this not Joseph's son? He said to them, Ye will surely say to me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself. Whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

And He said, No prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elias sent, except to Sarepta, a city of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. Many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, except Naaman the Syrian.

When they heard these things, all who were in the synagogue were filled with wrath. They rose up and pushed Him out of the city. They drove Him to the top of the hill upon which their city was built so they might cast Him down headlong. But, passing through the midst of them, He went His way.

Jesus went on to Capernaum in Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. They were astonished at His doctrine for His word was powerful. There was a man in the synagogue who had a spirit of an unclean devil which cried out with a loud voice, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know who thou art; the Holy One of God.

Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. When the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him. The people were amazed and said, What words are these! With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits and they come out. His fame went out into every corner of that country.

Jesus went out of the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Simon's wife's mother had a serious fever and they besought Him to help her. Jesus stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she arose and ministered to them.

Now when the sun was setting, many who were sick with divers diseases were brought to Him. He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. Devils came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ, the Son of God. Jesus rebuked and silenced them because they knew that He was Christ.

When it was day, He left and went into a desert place. The people looked for Him. When they found Him, they tried to prevent Him from departing from them. But Jesus said to them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also. This is why I was sent. And He preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

5 As the people pressed upon Him to hear the word of God, He stood by the lake of Gennesaret. He saw two ships standing by the lake. The fishermen were gone out of them and were washing their nets. He entered one of the ships, which was Simon's, and requested that he thrust out a little from the land. Then He sat down and taught the people from the ship.

When He finished speaking, He said to Simon, Launch out into the deep and let down your nets. Simon said to Him, Master, we have toiled all night and have taken nothing. Nevertheless, at thy word, I will let down the net.

When he and his crew had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fish and their net broke. They beckoned to their partners, who were in another ship, to come and help them. They came and filled both the ships so full that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees and said, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon, and all those who were with them, were astonished at the great number of fish. Jesus said to Simon, Fear not. From now on, thou shall catch men. When they landed the fishing boats, they left everything and followed Him.

It came to pass, when He was in a certain city, a man, full of leprosy, on seeing Jesus, fell before Him and said, Lord, if thou will, thou can make me clean. Jesus stretched out His hand, touched him, and said, I will. Be thou clean. Immediately the leprosy left the man. Jesus then directed him to tell no one about this. He said, Go and show thyself to the priest. Offer for thy cleansing, according to Moses command, for a testimony to them.

Nonetheless, His fame was spread even more abroad. Great multitudes gathered to hear and be healed of their infirmities by Him. Jesus withdrew Himself into the wilderness to pray.

One day He was teaching and the power of the Lord to heal was upon Him. There were gathered people that had come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem. Pharisees and doctors of the law sat among them.

Men approached carrying a bed with a man who had a palsy. They looked for a way to bring him in and lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop and lowered him down on his couch through the tiling and into the midst of where Jesus stood. When Jesus saw their faith, He said, Son, thy sins are forgiven thee.

The scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? When Jesus perceived their thoughts, He said to them, Why question in your hearts whether it is easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or, to say, Rise up and walk? That ye may know that the Son of man has power on earth to forgive sins, (He said to the sick man), Arise. Take up thy couch and go to your home. Immediately he rose up before them, took up that upon which he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. They were all amazed and glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things today.

After these things, He went forth and saw a publican named Levi who was sitting at the receipt of custom. He said to him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed Him. Levi made Him a great feast in his own house. There was a large company of publicans and others that sat down with them.

The scribes and Pharisees murmured against His disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? Jesus answered and said to them, Those who are whole do not need a physician; but they that are sick do. I came not to call the righteous, but to call sinners to repentance.

Then they said to Him, Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but your disciples eat and drink? Jesus said to them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them. Then they shall fast.

He spoke also a parable to them. No man puts a piece of a new garment on an old one; if he does, the new makes a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new does not match the old. And no man puts new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. No man, having drunk old wine, straightway desires new, because he says, The old is better.

6 It came to pass that on the second sabbath after the first, Jesus passed through corn fields; and His disciples plucked ears of corn to eat, rubbing them in their hands. Certain of the Pharisees said to them, Why do ye do that which is not lawful on the sabbath days?

Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read what David did, when he and those who were with him were hungry? How he went into the house of God, took the showbread to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him; which is not lawful to eat and is only for the priests? Jesus said to them, The Son of man is also Lord of the sabbath.

It came to pass on another sabbath, He entered the synagogue and taught. There was a man whose right hand was withered. The scribes and Pharisees watched whether He would heal on the sabbath day so they might find an accusation against Him.

Jesus knew their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, Rise up. Stand forth in the midst. The man arose and stood forth. Then Jesus said to them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? To save life, or to destroy it? Then looking around at them, He said to the man, Stretch forth thy hand. As the man did so, his hand was restored whole as the other. They were filled with anger and discussed what they might do to Jesus.

It came to pass in those days, Jesus went up into a mountain to pray. He continued all night in prayer to God. When it was day, He called to Him His disciples and, of them, He chose twelve whom He also named apostles:

Simon (whom He also named Peter); Andrew, his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James, the son of Alphaeus; and Simon called Zelotes; Judas, the brother of James; and Judas Iscariot, who also was the traitor.

Jesus came down with the company of His disciples and stood in the plain. There was now gathered a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him, and to be healed of their diseases and unclean spirits. The whole multitude sought to touch Him because virtue flowed out of Him and healed them all.

Jesus lifted His eyes to His disciples and said, Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when others hate you, separate you from their company, reproach you, and denounce your name as evil for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! Your reward in heaven is great. Their fathers treated the prophets the same way.

But woe to you who are rich! You have already received your consolation. Woe to you who are full! Later you be hungry. Woe to you who now laugh! You will mourn and weep. Woe to you, when everyone speaks well of you, because the ancestors treated the false prophets in the same way.

I say to you who hear, Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless them that curse you. Pray for those who use you and treat you badly. To one who strikes you on the one cheek, offer also the other. To one who takes away your cloak let him take away your coat also. Give to everyone who asks. From one who takes your goods do not ask for them back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

If ye love only those who love you, what thanks have ye? Sinners also love those who love them. If ye do good only to those who do good to you, what thanks have ye? Sinners do even the same also. And if ye lend only to those from whom ye expect to receive back, what thanks have ye? Sinners also lend to sinners to receive as much again.

But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return and your reward shall be great. Ye shall be the children of the Highest for He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful as your Father also is merciful.

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged. Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned. Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over shall men give into your bosom. With the same measure that ye mete it shall be measured to you again.