8 And it came to pass afterward that He went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him,

² and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

³ and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who ministered unto Him from their substance.

⁴ And when many people had gathered together and had come to Him out of every city, He spoke by a parable:

⁵ “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

⁶ And some fell upon a rock, and as soon as it had sprung up, it withered away because it lacked moisture.

⁷ And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.

⁸ And other fell on good ground, and sprang up and bore fruit a hundredfold.” And when He had said these things, He cried, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear!”

⁹ And His disciples asked Him, saying, “What might this parable mean?”

¹⁰ And He said, “Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God; but to others in parables, that ‘seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.’

¹¹ Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God.

¹² Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil and taketh away the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

¹³ The seed on the rock are they that, when they hear, receive the Word with joy, but they have no root: they for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

¹⁴ And that which fell among thorns are they that, when they have heard, go forth and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

¹⁵ But that on the good ground are they that, in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it and bring forth fruit with patience.

¹⁶ “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel or putteth it under a bed, but setteth it on a candlestick, that they that enter in may see the light.

¹⁷ For nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid that shall not be known and come abroad.

¹⁸ Take heed therefore how ye hear, for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.”

¹⁹ Then came to Him His mother and His brethren, and could not come near Him because of the crowd.

²⁰ And it was told to Him by certain ones, who said, “Thy mother and thy brethren stand outside, desiring to see thee.”

²¹ And He answered and said unto them, “My mother and My brethren are these who hear the Word of God, and do it.”

²² Now it came to pass on a certain day, that He went into a boat with His disciples. And He said unto them, “Let us go over unto the other side of the lake.” And they launched forth.

²³ But as they sailed, He fell asleep. And there came down a storm of wind on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in jeopardy.

²⁴ And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we perish!” Then He arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water; and they ceased, and there was a calm.

²⁵ And He said unto them, “Where is your faith?” And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, “What manner of man is this? For He commandeth even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!”

²⁶ And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee.

²⁷ And when He went forth to land, there met Him from the city a certain man who had had devils a long time, and wore no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

²⁸ When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of God Most High? I beseech Thee, torment me not!”

²⁹ (For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him, and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he broke the bands and was driven by the devil into the wilderness.)

³⁰ And Jesus asked him, saying, “What is thy name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many devils had entered into him.

³¹ And they besought Him that He would not command them to go out into the deep.

³² And there was there a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain. And they besought Him that He would suffer them to enter into them. And He suffered them.

³³ Then went the devils out of the man and entered into the swine, and the herd ran violently down a steep slope into the lake and were choked.

³⁴ When those who fed them saw what was done, they fled and went and told it in the city and in the country.

³⁵ Then they went out to see what was done. And they came to Jesus, and found the man out of whom the devils had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind. And they were afraid.

³⁶ Those also who had seen it told them by what means he that had been possessed by the devils was healed.

³⁷ Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes and round about besought Him to depart from them, for they were taken with great fear. And He went up into the boat, and returned back again.

³⁸ Now the man out of whom the devils had departed besought Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying,

³⁹ “Return to thine own house, and show what great things God hath done unto thee.” And he went his way, and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done unto him.

⁴⁰ And it came to pass that when Jesus had returned, the people gladly received Him, for they were all waiting for Him.

⁴¹ And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and besought Him that He would come into his house,

⁴² for he had one daughter only, about twelve years of age, and she lay dying. But as He went, the people thronged Him.

⁴³ And a woman having an issue of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her living upon physicians but could not be healed by any,

⁴⁴ came behind Him and touched the border of His garment; and immediately her issue of blood was stanched.

⁴⁵ And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those who were with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng Thee and press Thee, and sayest Thou, ‘Who touched Me?’”

⁴⁶ And Jesus said, “Somebody hath touched Me, for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me.”

⁴⁷ And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before Him, she declared unto Him before all the people for what cause she had touched Him, and how she was healed immediately.

⁴⁸ And He said unto her, “Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. Go in peace.”

⁴⁹ While He yet spoke, there came one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Thy daughter is dead. Trouble not the Master.”

⁵⁰ But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Fear not; believe only, and she shall be made whole.”

⁵¹ And when He came into the house, He suffered no man to go in save Peter and James and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.

⁵² And all wept and bewailed her, but He said, “Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.”

⁵³ And they laughed Him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

⁵⁴ And He put them all out, and took her by the hand and called, saying, “Maid, arise.”

⁵⁵ And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway, and He commanded to give her meat.

⁵⁶ And her parents were astonished, but He charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

² even as they were delivered unto us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word,

³ it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

⁴ that thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed.

⁵ There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly course of Abijah; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

⁶ And they were both righteous before God, walking blameless in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.

⁷ And they had no child because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

⁸ And it came to pass that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,

⁹ according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

¹⁰ And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the time of incense.

¹¹ And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

¹² And when Zacharias saw him he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

¹³ But the angel said unto him, “Fear not, Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

¹⁴ And thou shalt have joy and gladness, and many shall rejoice at his birth.

¹⁵ For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother’s womb.

¹⁶ And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

¹⁷ And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

¹⁸ And Zacharias said unto the angel, “Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.”

¹⁹ And the angel answering said unto him, “I am Gabriel who stands in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee and to show thee these glad tidings.

²⁰ And behold, thou shalt be dumb and not able to speak until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words which shall be fulfilled in their season.”

²¹ And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he tarried so long in the temple.

²² And when he came out, he could not speak unto them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple; for he beckoned unto them and remained speechless.

²³ And it came to pass that as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

²⁴ And after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

²⁵ “Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein He looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.”

²⁶ And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

²⁷ to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.

²⁸ And the angel came in unto her and said, “Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women.”

²⁹ And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying and cast about in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

³⁰ And the angel said unto her, “Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God.

³¹ And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name Jesus.

³² He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David,

³³ and He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His Kingdom there shall be no end.”

³⁴ Then said Mary unto the angel, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?”

³⁵ And the angel answered and said unto her, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that Holy Being who shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

³⁶ And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth: she hath also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

³⁷ For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

³⁸ And Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” And the angel departed from her.

³⁹ And Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,

⁴⁰ and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elizabeth.

⁴¹ And it came to pass, when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.

⁴² And she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

⁴³ And why is it granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

⁴⁴ For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

⁴⁵ And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

⁴⁶ And Mary said, “My soul doth magnify the Lord,

⁴⁷ and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.

⁴⁸ For He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden; for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For He that is mighty hath done to me great things, and holy is His name.

⁵⁰ And His mercy is on them that fear Him, from generation to generation.

⁵¹ He hath shown strength with His arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

⁵² He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

⁵³ He hath filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He hath sent empty away.

⁵⁴ He hath helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy,

⁵⁵ as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed for ever.”

⁵⁶ And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

⁵⁷ Now Elizabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered, and she brought forth a son.

⁵⁸ And her neighbors and her kindred heard how the Lord had shown great mercy upon her, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ And it came to pass that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

⁶⁰ But his mother answered and said, “Not so, but he shall be called John.”

⁶¹ And they said unto her, “There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.”

⁶² And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

⁶³ And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” And they marveled all.

⁶⁴ And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spoke and praised God.

⁶⁵ And fear came on all who dwelt round about them; and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judea.

⁶⁶ And all those who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What manner of child shall this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.

⁶⁷ And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost and prophesied, saying,

⁶⁸ “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He hath visited and redeemed His people,

⁶⁹ and hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David.

⁷⁰ As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began,

⁷¹ that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all that hate us,

⁷² to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,

⁷³ the oath which He swore to our father Abraham:

⁷⁴ that He would grant unto us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear,

⁷⁵ in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life.

⁷⁶ And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest; for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

⁷⁷ to give knowledge of salvation unto His people by the remission of their sins,

⁷⁸ through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us,

⁷⁹ to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

⁸⁰ And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts until the day of his appearing unto Israel.

2 And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

² (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

³ And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, unto the City of David which is called Bethlehem (because he was of the house and lineage of David)

⁵ to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, who was great with child.

⁶ And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹ And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!”

¹⁵ And it came to pass, when the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”

¹⁶ And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.

¹⁷ And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

¹⁸ And all those who heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

¹⁹ But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.

²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

²¹ And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the Child, His name was called Jesus, who was so named by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

²² And when the days of her purification according to the Law of Moses were accomplished, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

²³ (as it is written in the law of the Lord: “Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),

²⁴ and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

²⁵ And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

²⁶ And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

²⁷ And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him after the custom of the law,

²⁸ then he took Him up in his arms, and blessed God and said,

²⁹ “Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word;

³⁰ for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation,

³¹ which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people,

³² a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.”

³³ And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him.

³⁴ And Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against

³⁵ (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

³⁶ And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. She was of great age and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,

³⁷ and she was a widow of about fourscore and four years. She departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

³⁸ And she, coming in that instant, gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

³⁹ And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee to their own city, Nazareth.

⁴⁰ And the Child grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.

⁴¹ Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.

⁴² And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the Feast.

⁴³ And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and His mother knew not of it.

⁴⁴ But they, supposing Him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances.

⁴⁵ And when they found Him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking Him.

⁴⁶ And it came to pass that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them and asking them questions.

⁴⁷ And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.

⁴⁸ And when they saw Him they were amazed, and His mother said unto Him, “Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us? Behold, Thy father and I have sought Thee sorrowing.”

⁴⁹ And He said unto them, “How is it that ye sought Me? Knew ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?”

⁵⁰ And they understood not the saying which He spoke unto them.

⁵¹ And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them. But His mother kept all these things in her heart.

⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

3 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,

² Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the Word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

³ And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,

⁴ as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.

⁵ 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;

⁶ and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

⁷ Then said he to the multitude who came forth to be baptized by him, “O generation of vipers! Who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

⁸ Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say unto you, that God is able from these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

⁹ And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees. Every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.”

¹⁰ And the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”

¹¹ He answered and said unto them, “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none. And he that hath meat, let him do likewise.”

¹² Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, “Master, what shall we do?”

¹³ And he said unto them, “Exact no more than that which is appointed you.”

¹⁴ And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, “And what shall we do?” And he said unto them, “Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”

¹⁵ And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts whether John was the Christ or not,

¹⁶ John answered, saying unto them all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I cometh, the straps of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.

¹⁷ His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor and will gather the wheat into His garner; but the chaff He will burn with fire unquenchable.”

¹⁸ And with many other exhortations preached he unto the people.

¹⁹ But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,

²⁰ added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

²¹ Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized. And while He prayed the heaven was opened,

²² and the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from Heaven, which said, “Thou Art My Beloved Son; In Thee I Am Well Pleased.”

²³ And Jesus Himself had become about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, who was the son of Heli,

²⁴ who was the son of Matthat, who was the son of Levi, who was the son of Melchi, who was the son of Janna, who was the son of Joseph,

²⁵ who was the son of Mattathias, who was the son of Amos, who was the son of Nahum, who was the son of Esli, who was the son of Naggai,

²⁶ who was the son of Maath, who was the son of Mattathias, who was the son of Semei, who was the son of Joseph, who was the son of Juda,

²⁷ who was the son of Joanna, who was the son of Rhesa, who was the son of Zerubbabel, who was the son of Shealtiel, who was the son of Neri,

²⁸ who was the son of Melchi, who was the son of Addi, who was the son of Cosam, who was the son of Elmodam, who was the son of Er,

²⁹ who was the son of Jose, who was the son of Eliezer, who was the son of Jorim, who was the son of Matthat, who was the son of Levi,

³⁰ who was the son of Simeon, who was the son of Judah, who was the son of Joseph, who was the son of Jonan, who was the son of Eliakim,

³¹ who was the son of Melea, who was the son of Menan, who was the son of Mattatha, who was the son of Nathan, who was the son of David,

³² who was the son of Jesse, who was the son of Obed, who was the son of Boaz, who was the son of Salmon, who was the son of Nahshon,

³³ who was the son of Amminadab, who was the son of Aram, who was the son of Hezron, who was the son of Perez, who was the son of Judah,

³⁴ who was the son of Jacob, who was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham, who was the son of Terah, who was the son of Nahor,

³⁵ who was the son of Serug, who was the son of Reu, who was the son of Peleg, who was the son of Eber, who was the son of Shelah,

³⁶ who was the son of Cainan, who was the son of Arphaxad, who was the son of Shem, who was the son of Noah, who was the son of Lamech,

³⁷ who was the son of Methuselah, who was the son of Enoch, who was the son of Jared, who was the son of Mahalaleel, who was the son of Cainan,

³⁸ who was the son of Enos, who was the son of Seth, who was the son of Adam, who was the son of God.