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Introduction
Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
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Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
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The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.
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“The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
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“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
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“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
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In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
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But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
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They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”
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and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
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Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends.
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After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
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John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. 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 the Holy Spirit and fire.
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and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
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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.
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All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!”
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When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”
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Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.
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For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
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When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.”
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I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
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The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
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Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.
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“Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
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Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah
Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”
