Chapter 48

But I tell you of a truth, Many widows were in Israhell in the days of Helyas, when heaven was shut three years and six months, when great famishment was throughout all the land, And unto none of them was Helyas sent, save into Sarepta besides Sydon unto a woman that was a widow. And many lepers were in Israhel in the time of Heliseus the prophet, and yet none of them was healed, saving Naaman of Siria.

And as many as were in the synagogue when they heard that, were filled with wrath and rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him even unto the edge of the hill, whereon their city was built, to cast him down headlong. But he went his way even thorow the midst of them: and came into Capernaum a city of Galile, and there taught them on the saboth days. And they were astonied at his doctrine: for his preaching was with power.

And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a foul spirit within him, and cried with a loud voice, saying: let me alone, what hast thou to do with us, thou Iesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee what thou art, thou art the holy man of God. And Iesus rebuked him, saying: hold thy peace, and come out of him. And the devil threw him in the midst of them and came out of him, and hurt him not. And fear came on them all, And they spake among themselves, saying: what manner a thing is this? For with authority and power he commandeth the foul spirits and they come out? And the fame of him spread abroad thorow out all places of the country round about.

And he rose up and came out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's motherinlaw was taken with a great fever, And they made intercession to him for her. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever: and it left her. And immediately she rose and ministered unto them.

When the son was down, all they that had sick, taken with divers diseases, brought them unto him: and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. And devils also came out of many of them, crying and saying: thou art Christ the son of God. And he rebuked them, and suffered them not to speak, for they knew that he was Christ.

As soon as it was day, he departed and went away into a desert place, and the people sought him and came to him, and kept him that he should not depart from them. And he said unto them: I must to other cities also preach the word of God, for therefore am I sent. And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

The .v. Chapter.

It came to pass as the people pressed upon him, to hear the word of God, that he stood by the lake of Genazareth: and saw two ships stand by the lakeside, for the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. Iesus entered into one of the ships, which pertained to Simon, and prayed him, that he would carry him a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people out of the ship.

When he had left speaking, he said unto Simon: Carry us into the deep, and let slip thy net to make a draught. And Simon answered, and said to him: Master we have laboured all night, and have taken nothing. Yet now at thy word I will loose forth the net. And when they had so done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes. And the net brake: and they made signs to their fellows which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and they filled both the ships, that they sunk again.

When Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Iesus' knees saying: lord go from me, for I am a sinful man. For he was utterly astonied, and all that were with him at the draught of fish which they took: and so was also Iames and Ihon the sons of Zebedei, which were partakers with Simon. And Iesus said unto Simon: fear not, from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And they brought the ships to land, and forsook all, and followed him.

And it fortuned as he was in a certain city, and behold there was a man full of leprosy: and when he had spied Iesus, he fell on his face and besought him saying: lord if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he stretched forth his hand, and touched him saying: I will, be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. And he warned him, that he should tell no man: but that he should go and shew himself to the priest, and offer for his cleansing according as Moses commandment was, for a witness unto them.

But his name spread the more abroad, and the people came together to hear, and to be healed of him, of infirmities. And he kept himself apart in the wildernesses, and gave himself to prayer.

And it happened on a certain day, that he taught, and there sat the pharisees, and doctors of law, which were come out of all the towns of Galile, Iewry, and Ierusalem, and the power of the lord was to heal them. And behold, men brought a man lying in his bed, which was taken with a palsy, and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in, because of the press, they went up on the top of the house, and let him down thorow the tiling, bed and all in the midst before Iesus. When he saw their faith he said unto him: man thy sins are forgiven thee. And the scribes, and the pharisees, began to think saying: What fellow is this: which speaketh blasphemy? Who can forgive sins, but God only?

When Iesus perceived their thoughts, he answered and said unto them: What think ye in your hearts? Whether is easier to say, thy sins are forgiven thee, or to say: Rise and walk? That ye may know that the son of man hath power to forgive sins on earth, he said unto the sick of the palsy: I say to thee, arise, take up thy bed and go home to thy house. And immediately he rose up before them all, and took up his bed whereon he lay, and departed to his own house praising God. And they were ail amazed, and they lauded God, and were filled with fear, saying: We have seen strange things today.

And after that he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him: follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. And that same Levi made him a great feast at home in his own house. And there was a great company of publicans, and of other that sat at meat with him. And the scribes and pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying: Why eat ye and drink ye, with publicans and sinners? Iesus answered and said unto them: They that are whole, need not of the physician: but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous to repentance: but the sinners.

They said unto him: Why do the disciples of Ihon fast often and pray: and the disciples of the pharisees also: and thine eat and drink? To whom he said: Can ye make the Children of the wedding fast, as long as the bridegroom is present with them? The days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, then shall they fast in those days.

He spake unto them in a similitude: No man putteth a piece of a new garment, into an old vesture: for if he do, then breaketh he the new and the piece that was taken out of the new, agreeth not with the old. Also no man poureth new wine into old vessels, if he do, the new wine breaketh the vessels, and runneth out itself, and the vessels perish: But new wine must be poured into new vessels, and both are preserved. Also no man that drinketh old wine, straightway can away with new, for he sayeth: the old is pleasanter.

The .vj. Chapter.

It happened on an after Sabbath, they went thorow the corn field, and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and ate them, and rubbed them in their hands. Certain of the pharisees said unto them: Why do ye that which is not lawful to be done on the saboth days? Iesus answered them and said: Have ye not read what David did, when he himself was an hungered, and they which were with him: how he went into the house of God, and took and ate the loaves of hallowed bread, and gave also to them which were with him: which was not lawful to eat, but for the priests only. And he said unto them: The son of man is lord even of the saboth day.

And it fortuned in another saboth also, that he entered into the synagogue and taught. And there was a man, whose right hand was dried up. The scribes, and pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the saboth day or not, that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand: Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. He arose, and stepped forth. Then said Iesus unto them: I will ask you a question: Whether is it lawful on the saboth days to do good, or to do evil? to save life or for to destroy it? And he beheld them all in compass, and said unto the man: Stretch forth thy hand. He did so, and his hand was restored, and made as whole as the other. And they were filled full of madness, and communed one with another, what they might do to Iesu.

It fortuned in those days, he went out into a mountain for to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And as soon as it was day, he called his disciples, and of them he chose twelve, which also he called his apostles. Simon, whom also he named Peter: and Andrew his brother, Iames and Ihon, Philip and Bartlemew, Matthew and Thomas, Iames the son of Alpheus and Simon called Zelotes, and Iudas Iames' son, and Iudas Iscariot, which same was the traitor.

And he came down with them and stood in the plain field with the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all parts of Iury and Ierusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases, and they also that were vexed with foul spirits, and they were healed. And all the people pressed to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

And he lifted up his eyes upon the disciples, and said: Blessed are ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger: for ye shall be satisfied. Blessed are ye that weep: for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye when men hate you, and thrust you out of their company, and rail on you, and abhor your name, as an evil thing, for the son of man's sake. Rejoice ye then, and be glad: for behold your reward is great in heaven. After this manner their fathers entreated the prophets.

But woe be to you that are rich: for ye have therein your consolation. Woe be to you that are full: for ye shall hunger. Woe be to you that now laugh: for ye shall wail, and weep. Woe be to you when all men praise you: for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

But I say unto you which hear: Love your enemies. Do good to them which hate you. Bless them that curse you. And pray for them which wrongfully trouble you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also the other. And him that taketh away thy gown, forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man that asketh of thee. And if any man that take away thy goods, ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you: so do ye to them likewise.

If ye love them which love you: what thank are ye worthy of? seeing that the very sinners love their lovers. And if ye do for them which do for you: what thank are ye worthy of? For the very sinners do even the same. If ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive: what thank shall ye have: for the very sinners, lend to sinners, to receive as much again. Love ye your enemies, do good, and lend, looking for nothing again: and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the highest: for he is kind unto the unkind, and to the evil.

Be ye therefore merciful, as your father 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 unto you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosoms. For with what measure ye mete, with the same shall men mete to you again.

And he put forth a similitude unto them: Can the blind lead the blind? Do they not both then fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master. Every man shall be perfect, even as his master is. Why seest thou a mote in thy brother's eye, and considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Other how canst thou say to thy brother: Brother let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye: when thou perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Hypocrite, cast out the beam out of thine own eye first, and then shalt thou see perfectly, to pull out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

It is not a good tree that bringeth forth evil fruit: Neither is that an evil tree, that bringeth forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his fruit. Neither of thorns gather men figs, nor of bushes gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good. And the evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is evil. For of the abundance of the heart, the mought speaketh.

Why call ye me Master, Master: and do not as I bid you? whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doth the same, I will shew you to whom he is like. He is like a man which built an house: which digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock. When the waters arose, the flood beat upon that house, and could not move it. For it was grounded upon a rock. But he that heareth and doth not, is like a man, that without foundation built an house upon the earth, against which, the flood beat: and it fell by and by. And the fall of that house was great.

The .vij. Chapter.

When he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And the servant of a certain Centurion was sick, and ready to die, whom he made much of. And when he heard of Iesu, he sent unto him the seniors of the jewes, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And they came to Iesus and besought him instantly, saying: He is worthy that thou shouldest do this for him. For he loveth our nation, and hath built us a synagogue. And Iesus went with them.

And when he was not far from the house, the Centurion sent to him his friends, saying unto him: lord trouble not thyself, for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter into my house. Wherefore I thought not myself worthy to come unto thee: but say the word and my servant shall be whole. For I likewise am a man under power, and have under me soldiers, and I say unto one, go: and he goeth. And to another, come: and he cometh. And to my servant, do this: and he doeth it. When Iesus heard this, he marvelled at him, and turned him about and said to the people that followed him: I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israhel, certainly. And they that were sent, turned back home again, and found the servant that was sick whole.

And it fortuned after that, he went into a city called Naym, and his disciples went with him, and a great number of people. When he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, which was the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and much people of the city was with her. And the lord saw her, and had compassion on her, and said unto her: weep not. And went and touched the coffin, and they that bare him stood still. And he said: Young man, I say unto thee, arise. And the dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. And there came a fear on them all. And they glorified God saying: a great prophet is risen among us, and God hath visited his people. And this rumor of him went forth throughout all Iewry, and thorowout all the regions which lie round about.

And unto Ihon shewed his disciples of all these things. And Ihon called unto him two of his disciples, and sent them to Iesus saying: Art thou he that shall come: or shall we look for another? When the men were come unto him, they said: Ihon baptist sent us unto thee saying: Art thou he that shall come: or shall we wait for another? At that same time, he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, And of evil spirits, and unto many that were blind, he gave sight. And he answered, and said unto them: Go your ways and shew Ihon, what things ye have heard and seen: how that the blind see, the halt go, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead arise: To the poor is the gospell preached, and happy is he that falleth not, by reason of me.

When the messengers of Ihon were departed, he began to speak unto the people of Ihon: What went ye out for to see into the desert? went ye to see a reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts. But what went ye forth to see? A prophet? Yea I say to you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written: Behold I send my messenger before thy face, to prepare thy way before thee. I say unto you: a greater prophet than Ihon, among women's children, is there none. Nevertheless one that is less in the kingdom of God, is greater than he.

And all the people that heard, and the publicans justified God, which were baptised in the baptism of Ihon. But the Pharises and scribes despised the counsel of God, against themselves, and were not baptised of him.

And the lord said: Whereunto shall I liken the men of this generation, and what thing are they like? They are like unto children sitting in the market place, and crying one to another, and saying: We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced: We have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. For Ihon baptist came unto you neither eating bread, nor drinking wine, and ye say: he hath the devil. The son of man is come and eateth and drinketh, and ye say: behold a man which is a glutton, and a drinker of wine, the friend of publicans and sinners. And wisdom justified of all her children.

And one of the pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And behold a woman in that city, which was a sinner, as soon as she knew that Iesus sat at meat in the pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster box of ointment, and she stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet, with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with ointment.

When the Pharise which bade him to his house, saw that, he spake within himself: saying: If this man were a prophet, he would surely have known who and what manner woman this is which toucheth him, for she is a sinner. And Iesus answered, and said unto him: Simon I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he said: Master say on. There was a certain lender, which had two debtors, the one ought five hundred pence, and the other fifty. When they had nothing to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them tell me, will love him most? Simon answered, and said: I suppose that he to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him: Thou hast truly judged.

And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon: Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house, and thou gavest me no water to my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but she, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. Mine head with oil thou didst not anoint: but she hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee: many sins are forgiven her, because she loved much. To whom less is forgiven, the same doeth less love.

And he said unto her thy sins are forgiven thee. And they that sat at meat with him, began to say within themselves: Who is this which forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman: Thy faith hath saved thee, Go in peace.

The .viij. Chapter.

And it fortuned after that, he himself went throughout cities and towns, preaching, and shewing the kingdom of God, and the twelve with him. And also certain women, which were healed of evil spirits, and infirmities: Mary called Magdalen, out of whom went seven devils, and Ioanna the wife of Chusa, Herod's steward, And Susanna, And many other: which ministered unto him of their substance.

When much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of the cities, he spake by a similitude: A sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and it was trodden under feet, and the fowls of the air devoured it up. And some fell on stone, and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moistness. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And some fell on good ground, and sprang up and bare fruit, an hundred fold. And as he said these things, he cried: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

And his disciples asked him, saying: what manner similitude this should be. And he said: unto you is it given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God: but to other in similitudes, that when they see, they should not see, and when they hear they should not understand.

The similitude is this. The seed is the word of God. Those that are beside the way, are they that hear, and afterward cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the stones, are they which when they hear the word receive it with joy. And these have no roots, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation go away. That which fell among thorns, are they which hear, and go forth, and are choked with cares and riches, and voluptuous living, and bring forth no fruit. That in the good ground, are they which with a good and pure heart, hear the word, and keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

No man lighteth a candle, and covereth it under a vessel, neither putteth it under the table: but setteth it on a candlestick, that they that enter in, may see light. No thing is in secret, that shall not come abroad: Neither any thing hid, that shall not be known, and come to light. Take heed therefore how ye hear. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given: And whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken, even that same which he supposeth that he hath.

Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for press. And they told him saying: Thy mother and thy brethren, stand without, and would see thee. He answered, and said unto them: my mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

It chanced on a certain day that he went into a ship, and his disciples also, and he said unto them: Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. And as they sailed, he fell asleep, and there arose a storm of wind in the lake, and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they went to him and awoke him, saying: Master, Master, we are lost. He arose and rebuked the wind, and the tempest of water, and they ceased, and it waxed calm. And he said unto them: where is your faith? They feared and wondered, saying one to another: what fellow is this? for he commandeth both the winds and water, and they obey him? And they sailed unto the region of the Gaderens, which is over against Galile.

As he went out of the ship to land, there met him a certain man out of the city, which had a devil long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house: but among graves. When he saw Iesus, he cried, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said: What have I to do with thee Iesus the son of the God most highest? I beseech thee torment me not. Then he commanded the foul spirit to come out of the man. For often times he caught him, and he was bound with chains, and kept with fetters: and he brake the bonds, and was carried of the fiend, into wilderness.