Dedication to Theophilus

Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us,

it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus,

that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”

Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”

For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.

He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.

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

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

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

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

The Family Returns to Nazareth

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

Jesus Advances in Wisdom and Favor

Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.

So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,

And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today!”

Matthew the Tax Collector

After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.”

Build on the Rock

“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?

When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”

John the Baptist Sends Messengers to Jesus

Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.

Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.

But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

“Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

Herod said, “John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things?” So he sought to see Him.

saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.