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Dedication to Theophilus

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,(A) I, too, decided, as one having a grasp of everything from the start,[a] to write a well-ordered account for you, most excellent Theophilus,(B) so that you may have a firm grasp of the words in which you have been instructed.

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.(C) Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord.(D) But they had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.

Once when he was serving as priest before God during his section’s turn of duty,(E) he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord to offer incense.(F) 10 Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside.(G) 11 Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified, and fear overwhelmed him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.(H) 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,(I) 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.(J) 16 He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.(K) 17 With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”(L) 18 Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know that this will happen? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.”(M) 19 The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.(N) 20 But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.”(O)

21 Meanwhile the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering at his delay in the sanctuary. 22 When he did come out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them and remained unable to speak. 23 When his time of service was ended, he returned to his home.

24 After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in seclusion. She said, 25 “This is what the Lord has done for me in this time, when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I have endured among my people.”(P)

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,(Q) 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.(R) 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”[b](S) 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.(T) 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.(U) 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”(V) 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”[c] 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[d] will be holy; he will be called Son of God.(W) 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”(X) 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.(Y) 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?(Z) 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be[e] a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.”

Mary’s Song of Praise

46 And Mary[f] said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,(AA)
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,(AB)
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant.
    Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed,(AC)
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name;(AD)
50 indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.(AE)
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.(AF)
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
    and lifted up the lowly;(AG)
53 he has filled the hungry with good things
    and sent the rich away empty.(AH)
54 He has come to the aid of his child Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,(AI)
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
    to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”(AJ)

56 And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

The Birth of John the Baptist

57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.(AK)

59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father.(AL) 60 But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.” 61 They said to her, “None of your relatives has this name.” 62 Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. 63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.(AM)

Zechariah’s Prophecy

67 Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:(AN)

68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
    for he has looked favorably on[g] his people and redeemed them.(AO)
69 He has raised up a mighty savior[h] for us
    in the house of his child David,(AP)
70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,(AQ)
71     that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
72 Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors
    and has remembered his holy covenant,(AR)
73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham,
to grant us 74     that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,(AS) 75 in holiness and righteousness
    in his presence all our days.(AT)
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High,
    for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,(AU)
77 to give his people knowledge of salvation
    by the forgiveness of their sins.(AV)
78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,
    the dawn from on high will break[i] upon[j] us,
79 to shine upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
    to guide our feet into the way of peace.”(AW)

80 The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.(AX)

The Birth of Jesus

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.(AY) He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place in the guest room.[k]

The Shepherds and the Angels

Now in that same region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:(AZ) 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,[l] the Lord.(BA) 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”(BB) 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,[m] praising God and saying,(BC)

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”[n](BD)

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them, 19 and Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.(BE) 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told them.(BF)

Jesus Is Named

21 When the eighth day came, it was time to circumcise the child,[o] and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.(BG)

Jesus Is Presented in the Temple

22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord(BH) 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”),(BI) 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him.(BJ) 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.[p](BK) 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon[q] came into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the law,(BL) 28 Simeon[r] took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
    according to your word,(BM)
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,(BN)
31     which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the gentiles
    and for glory to your people Israel.”(BO)

33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed(BP) 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul, too.”

36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,(BQ) 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day.(BR) 38 At that moment she came and began to praise God and to speak about the child[s] to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.(BS)

The Return to Nazareth

39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.(BT) 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.(BU)

The Boy Jesus in the Temple

41 Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover.(BV) 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. 43 When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents were unaware of this. 44 Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.(BW) 48 When his parents[t] saw him they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously looking for you.”(BX) 49 He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”[u](BY) 50 But they did not understand what he said to them.(BZ) 51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was obedient to them, and his mother treasured all these things in her heart.(CA)

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years[v] and in divine and human favor.(CB)

The Proclamation of John the Baptist

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene,(CC) during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.(CD) He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
    make his paths straight.(CE)
Every valley shall be filled,
    and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
    and the rough ways made smooth,
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”(CF)

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?(CG) Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.(CH) Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”(CI)

10 And the crowds asked him, “What, then, should we do?”(CJ) 11 In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise.”(CK) 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?”(CL) 13 He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.”(CM) 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”(CN)

15 As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,[w](CO) 16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with[x] the Holy Spirit and fire.(CP) 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”(CQ)

18 So with many other exhortations he proclaimed the good news to the people. 19 But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done,(CR) 20 added to them all by shutting up John in prison.

The Baptism of Jesus

21 Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened,(CS) 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved;[y] with you I am well pleased.”[z](CT)

The Ancestors of Jesus

23 Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his work. He was the son (as was thought) of Joseph son of Heli,(CU) 24 son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph, 25 son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai, 26 son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Josech, son of Joda, 27 son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri,(CV) 28 son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er, 29 son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi, 30 son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim, 31 son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David,(CW) 32 son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Sala,[aa] son of Nahshon,(CX) 33 son of Amminadab, son of Admin, son of Arni,[ab] son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah, 34 son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor,(CY) 35 son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Shelah, 36 son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech,(CZ) 37 son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan, 38 son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.(DA)

The Testing of Jesus

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,(DB) where for forty days he was tested by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over he was famished.(DC) The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’ ”(DD)

Then the devil[ac] led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil[ad] said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please.(DE) If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God,
    and serve only him.’ ”(DF)

Then the devil[ae] led him to Jerusalem and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written,

‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    to protect you,’(DG)

11 and

‘On their hands they will bear you up,
    so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

12 Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”(DH) 13 When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.(DI)

The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry

14 Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding region.(DJ) 15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.(DK)

The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth

16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read,(DL) 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
        to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
    and recovery of sight to the blind,
        to set free those who are oppressed,(DM)
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”(DN)

20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.(DO) 21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”(DP) 23 He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’ ”(DQ) 24 And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown.(DR) 25 But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months and there was a severe famine over all the land,(DS) 26 yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 There were also many with a skin disease in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”(DT) 28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff.(DU) 30 But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.(DV)

The Man with an Unclean Spirit

31 He went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbath.(DW) 32 They were astounded at his teaching because he spoke with authority.(DX) 33 In the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Leave us alone! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”(DY) 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” Then the demon, throwing the man down before them, came out of him without doing him any harm.(DZ) 36 They were all astounded and kept saying to one another, “What kind of word is this, that with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits and they come out?”(EA) 37 And news about him began to reach every place in the region.(EB)

Healings at Simon’s House

38 After leaving the synagogue he entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him about her. 39 Then he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she got up and began to serve them.(EC)

40 As the sun was setting, all those caring for any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them.(ED) 41 Moreover, demons also came out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Messiah.[af](EE)

Jesus Preaches in the Synagogues

42 At daybreak he departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowds began looking for him, and when they reached him they tried to keep him from leaving them.(EF) 43 But he said to them, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.” 44 So he continued proclaiming the message in the synagogues of Judea.[ag](EG)

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

Once while Jesus[ah] was standing beside the Lake of Gennesaret and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.(EH) When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”(EI) Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”(EJ) When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to burst. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’s knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” For he and all who were with him were astounded at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.”(EK) 11 When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.(EL)

Jesus Cleanses a Man with a Skin Disease

12 Once when he was in one of the cities, a man covered with a skin disease was there. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”(EM) 13 Then Jesus[ai] stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I am willing. Be made clean.” Immediately the skin disease left him. 14 And he ordered him to tell no one. “But go, show yourself to the priest, and, as Moses commanded, make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”(EN) 15 But now more than ever the word about Jesus[aj] spread abroad; many crowds were gathering to hear him and to be cured of their diseases.(EO) 16 Meanwhile, he would slip away to deserted places and pray.(EP)

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

17 One day while he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem were sitting nearby, and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.[ak](EQ) 18 Just then some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a stretcher. They were trying to bring him in and lay him before Jesus,[al] 19 but, finding no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down on the stretcher through the tiles into the middle of the crowd[am] in front of Jesus.(ER) 20 When he saw their faith, he said, “Friend,[an] your sins are forgiven you.”(ES) 21 Then the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, “Who is this who is speaking blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”(ET) 22 When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’? 24 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the one who was paralyzed—“I say to you, stand up and take your stretcher and go to your home.” 25 Immediately he stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went to his home, glorifying God. 26 Amazement seized all of them, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen incredible things today.”(EU)

Jesus Calls Levi

27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax-collection station, and he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And he got up, left everything, and followed him.(EV)

29 Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others reclining at the table with them.(EW) 30 The Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”(EX) 31 Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician but those who are sick; 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”(EY)

The Question about Fasting

33 Then they said to him, “John’s disciples, like the disciples of the Pharisees, frequently fast and pray, but your disciples eat and drink.”(EZ) 34 Jesus said to them, “You cannot make wedding attendants fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days.”(FA) 36 He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece from a new garment and sews it on an old garment; otherwise, not only will one tear the new garment, but the piece from the new will not match the old garment. 37 Similarly, no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins and will spill out, and the skins will be ruined. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins.[ao] 39 And no one after drinking old wine desires new wine but says, ‘The old is good.’ ”[ap]

The Question about the Sabbath

One Sabbath[aq] while Jesus[ar] was going through some grain fields, his disciples plucked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them.(FB) But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful[as] on the Sabbath?”(FC) Jesus answered, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?(FD) How he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and gave some to his companions?”(FE) Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

The Man with a Withered Hand

On another Sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.(FF) The scribes and the Pharisees were watching him to see whether he would cure on the Sabbath, so that they might find grounds to bring an accusation against him. But he knew what they were thinking, and he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come and stand in the middle.” He got up and stood there.(FG) Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 After looking around at all of them, he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored. 11 But they were filled with fury and began discussing with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Footnotes

  1. 1.3 Or for a long time
  2. 1.28 Other ancient authorities add Blessed are you among women
  3. 1.34 Gk I do not know a man
  4. 1.35 Other ancient authorities add of you
  5. 1.45 Or believed, for there will be
  6. 1.46 Other ancient authorities read Elizabeth
  7. 1.68 Or has visited
  8. 1.69 Gk a horn of salvation
  9. 1.78 Other ancient authorities read has broken
  10. 1.78 Gk will visit
  11. 2.7 Or their room
  12. 2.11 Or the Christ
  13. 2.13 Gk army
  14. 2.14 Other ancient authorities read peace, goodwill among people
  15. 2.21 Gk him
  16. 2.26 Or the Lord’s Christ
  17. 2.27 Gk In the Spirit, he
  18. 2.28 Gk he
  19. 2.38 Gk him
  20. 2.48 Gk they
  21. 2.49 Or be about my Father’s interests?
  22. 2.52 Or in stature
  23. 3.15 Or the Christ
  24. 3.16 Or in
  25. 3.22 Or my beloved Son
  26. 3.22 Other ancient authorities read You are my Son, today I have begotten you
  27. 3.32 Other ancient authorities read Salmon
  28. 3.33 Other ancient authorities read Amminadab, son of Aram; others vary widely
  29. 4.5 Gk he
  30. 4.6 Gk he
  31. 4.9 Gk he
  32. 4.41 Or the Christ
  33. 4.44 Other ancient authorities read Galilee
  34. 5.1 Gk he
  35. 5.13 Gk he
  36. 5.15 Gk him
  37. 5.17 Other ancient authorities read was present to heal them
  38. 5.18 Gk him
  39. 5.19 Gk into the midst
  40. 5.20 Gk Man
  41. 5.38 Other ancient authorities add and both are preserved
  42. 5.39 Other ancient authorities read better; others lack 5.39
  43. 6.1 Other ancient authorities read On the second first Sabbath
  44. 6.1 Gk he
  45. 6.2 Other ancient authorities add to do

Introduction(A)

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled[a] among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first(B) were eyewitnesses(C) and servants of the word.(D) With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account(E) for you, most excellent(F) Theophilus,(G) so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.(H)

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

In the time of Herod king of Judea(I) there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah;(J) his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.(K) But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,(L) he was chosen by lot,(M) according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.(N) 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.(O)

11 Then an angel(P) of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.(Q) 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.(R) 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid,(S) Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.(T) 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,(U) 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink,(V) and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit(W) even before he is born.(X) 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord,(Y) in the spirit and power of Elijah,(Z) to turn the hearts of the parents to their children(AA) and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”(AB)

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

19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel.(AE) I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak(AF) until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 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(AG) to them but remained unable to speak.

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace(AH) among the people.”

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel(AI) to Nazareth,(AJ) a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph,(AK) a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid,(AL) Mary; you have found favor with God.(AM) 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.(AN) 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.(AO) The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,(AP) 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom(AQ) will never end.”(AR)

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

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you,(AS) and the power of the Most High(AT) will overshadow you. So the holy one(AU) to be born will be called[b] the Son of God.(AV) 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child(AW) in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”(AX)

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea,(AY) 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.(AZ) 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women,(BA) and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord(BB) should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Mary’s Song(BC)

46 And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord(BD)
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,(BE)
48 for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.(BF)
From now on all generations will call me blessed,(BG)
49     for the Mighty One has done great things(BH) for me—
    holy is his name.(BI)
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.(BJ)
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;(BK)
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.(BL)
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.(BM)
53 He has filled the hungry with good things(BN)
    but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful(BO)
55 to Abraham and his descendants(BP) forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

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

The Birth of John the Baptist

57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise(BQ) the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”(BR)

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

62 Then they made signs(BS) to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.”(BT) 64 Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak,(BU) praising God. 65 All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea(BV) people were talking about all these things. 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.(BW)

Zechariah’s Song

67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit(BX) and prophesied:(BY)

68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,(BZ)
    because he has come to his people and redeemed them.(CA)
69 He has raised up a horn[c](CB) of salvation for us
    in the house of his servant David(CC)
70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),(CD)
71 salvation from our enemies
    and from the hand of all who hate us—
72 to show mercy to our ancestors(CE)
    and to remember his holy covenant,(CF)
73     the oath he swore to our father Abraham:(CG)
74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,
    and to enable us to serve him(CH) without fear(CI)
75     in holiness and righteousness(CJ) before him all our days.

76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet(CK) of the Most High;(CL)
    for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,(CM)
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation
    through the forgiveness of their sins,(CN)
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
    by which the rising sun(CO) will come to us from heaven
79 to shine on those living in darkness
    and in the shadow of death,(CP)
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”(CQ)

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit[d];(CR) and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

The Birth of Jesus

In those days Caesar Augustus(CS) issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.(CT) (This was the first census that took place while[e] Quirinius was governor of Syria.)(CU) And everyone went to their own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem(CV) the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him(CW) and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel(CX) of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.(CY) I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior(CZ) has been born to you; he is the Messiah,(DA) the Lord.(DB) 12 This will be a sign(DC) to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

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

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace(DD) to those on whom his favor rests.”

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.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.(DE) 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.(DF) 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God(DG) for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child,(DH) he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.(DI)

Jesus Presented in the Temple

22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses,(DJ) Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”[f]),(DK) 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.”[g](DL)

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout.(DM) He was waiting for the consolation of Israel,(DN) and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 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,(DO) 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,(DP)
    you may now dismiss[h] your servant in peace.(DQ)
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,(DR)
31     which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
    and the glory of your people Israel.”(DS)

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother:(DT) “This child is destined to cause the falling(DU) and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 There was also a prophet,(DV) Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[i](DW) She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.(DX) 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.(DY)

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.(DZ) 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.(EA)

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

41 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.(EB) 42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. 43 After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44 Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed(EC) at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother(ED) said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father(EE) and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”[j](EF) 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.(EG)

51 Then he went down to Nazareth with them(EH) and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.(EI) 52 And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.(EJ)

John the Baptist Prepares the Way(EK)(EL)

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate(EM) was governor of Judea, Herod(EN) tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,(EO) the word of God came to John(EP) son of Zechariah(EQ) in the wilderness. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.(ER) As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.
Every valley shall be filled in,
    every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
    the rough ways smooth.
And all people will see God’s salvation.’”[k](ES)

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers!(ET) Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?(EU) Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’(EV) For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 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.”(EW)

10 “What should we do then?”(EX) the crowd asked.

11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”(EY)

12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized.(EZ) “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,”(FA) he told them.

14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely(FB)—be content with your pay.”

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John(FC) might possibly be the Messiah.(FD) 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with[l] water.(FE) But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with[m] the Holy Spirit and fire.(FF) 17 His winnowing fork(FG) 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.”(FH) 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

19 But when John rebuked Herod(FI) the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.(FJ)

The Baptism and Genealogy of Jesus(FK)(FL)

21 When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying,(FM) heaven was opened 22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him(FN) in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son,(FO) whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”(FP)

23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry.(FQ) He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph,(FR)

the son of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat,

the son of Levi, the son of Melki,

the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,

25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos,

the son of Nahum, the son of Esli,

the son of Naggai, 26 the son of Maath,

the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein,

the son of Josek, the son of Joda,

27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa,

the son of Zerubbabel,(FS) the son of Shealtiel,

the son of Neri, 28 the son of Melki,

the son of Addi, the son of Cosam,

the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,

29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer,

the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat,

the son of Levi, 30 the son of Simeon,

the son of Judah, the son of Joseph,

the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,

31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna,

the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan,(FT)

the son of David, 32 the son of Jesse,

the son of Obed, the son of Boaz,

the son of Salmon,[n] the son of Nahshon,

33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram,[o]

the son of Hezron, the son of Perez,(FU)

the son of Judah, 34 the son of Jacob,

the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham,

the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,(FV)

35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu,

the son of Peleg, the son of Eber,

the son of Shelah, 36 the son of Cainan,

the son of Arphaxad,(FW) the son of Shem,

the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,(FX)

37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch,

the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel,

the son of Kenan,(FY) 38 the son of Enosh,

the son of Seth, the son of Adam,

the son of God.(FZ)

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness(GA)

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit,(GB) left the Jordan(GC) and was led by the Spirit(GD) into the wilderness, where for forty days(GE) he was tempted[p] by the devil.(GF) He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.

The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God,(GG) tell this stone to become bread.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’[q](GH)

The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.(GI) And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me,(GJ) and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.”

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’[r](GK)

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. 10 For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’[s](GL)

12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’[t](GM)

13 When the devil had finished all this tempting,(GN) he left him(GO) until an opportune time.

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

14 Jesus returned to Galilee(GP) in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.(GQ) 15 He was teaching in their synagogues,(GR) and everyone praised him.

16 He went to Nazareth,(GS) where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue,(GT) as was his custom. He stood up to read,(GU) 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,(GV)
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news(GW) to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[u](GX)

20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down.(GY) The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled(GZ) in your hearing.”

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.(HA)

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

24 “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown.(HD) 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.(HE) 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.(HF) 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy[v] in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”(HG)

28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town,(HH) and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.(HI)

Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit(HJ)

31 Then he went down to Capernaum,(HK) a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. 32 They were amazed at his teaching,(HL) because his words had authority.(HM)

33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34 “Go away! What do you want with us,(HN) Jesus of Nazareth?(HO) Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are(HP)—the Holy One of God!”(HQ)

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

36 All the people were amazed(HS) and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority(HT) and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” 37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.(HU)

Jesus Heals Many(HV)(HW)

38 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. 39 So he bent over her and rebuked(HX) the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.

40 At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one,(HY) he healed them.(HZ) 41 Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!”(IA) But he rebuked(IB) them and would not allow them to speak,(IC) because they knew he was the Messiah.

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. 43 But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God(ID) to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” 44 And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.(IE)

Jesus Calls His First Disciples(IF)

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,[w] the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God.(IG) He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 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.(IH)

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

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

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.(IL) 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.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”(IM) For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid;(IN) from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.(IO)

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy(IP)

12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy.[x](IQ) 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.”

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

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

15 Yet the news about him spread all the more,(IT) so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.(IU)

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man(IV)

17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law(IW) were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick.(IX) 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 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.

20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”(IY)

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?”(IZ)

22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man(JA) has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God.(JB) They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners(JC)

27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,”(JD) Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.(JE)

29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors(JF) and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect(JG) complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”(JH)

31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”(JI)

Jesus Questioned About Fasting(JJ)

33 They said to him, “John’s disciples(JK) often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.”

34 Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom(JL) fast while he is with them? 35 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them;(JM) in those days they will fast.”

36 He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old.

Footnotes

  1. Luke 1:1 Or been surely believed
  2. Luke 1:35 Or So the child to be born will be called holy,
  3. Luke 1:69 Horn here symbolizes a strong king.
  4. Luke 1:80 Or in the Spirit
  5. Luke 2:2 Or This census took place before
  6. Luke 2:23 Exodus 13:2,12
  7. Luke 2:24 Lev. 12:8
  8. Luke 2:29 Or promised, / now dismiss
  9. Luke 2:37 Or then had been a widow for eighty-four years.
  10. Luke 2:49 Or be about my Father’s business
  11. Luke 3:6 Isaiah 40:3-5
  12. Luke 3:16 Or in
  13. Luke 3:16 Or in
  14. Luke 3:32 Some early manuscripts Sala
  15. Luke 3:33 Some manuscripts Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni; other manuscripts vary widely.
  16. Luke 4:2 The Greek for tempted can also mean tested.
  17. Luke 4:4 Deut. 8:3
  18. Luke 4:8 Deut. 6:13
  19. Luke 4:11 Psalm 91:11,12
  20. Luke 4:12 Deut. 6:16
  21. Luke 4:19 Isaiah 61:1,2 (see Septuagint); Isaiah 58:6
  22. Luke 4:27 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  23. Luke 5:1 That is, the Sea of Galilee
  24. Luke 5:12 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.