Read the Gospels in 40 Days
1 Since many have attempted to set forth the story of those things of which we are fully persuaded
2 (exactly as they were delivered to us by those ministers of the Word who saw them themselves from the beginning),
3 it seemed good to me also - once I had carefully investigated all things from the beginning - to write to you of them from point to point, most noble Theophilus,
4 so that you might acknowledge the certainty of those things of which you have been instructed.
5 In the time of Herod, King of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zacharias, of the class of Abijah. And his wife was among the daughters of Aaron. And her name was Elizabeth.
6 Both were righteous before God and walked in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord, without reproof.
7 And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren. And both were well-advanced in age.
8 And it so happened that as he executed the priest’s office before God (as per his class),
9 the lot fell to him to burn incense when he went into the Temple of the Lord, according to the custom of the priest’s office.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were outside in prayer while the incense was burning.
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at 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 to him, “Fear not, Zacharias. For your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear you a son. And you shall call his name, John.
14 “And you shall 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 he shall turn many of the children of Israel to their Lord God.
17 “For 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 righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
18 Then Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is of a great age.”
19 And the angel answered, and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I am sent to speak to you, and to show you these good tidings.
20 “And behold, you shall be silent, and unable to speak, until the day that these things are done, because you did not believe my words which shall be fulfilled in their season.”
21 Now the people waited for Zacharias. And they marveled that he remained so long in the Temple.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak to them. Then, they perceived that he had seen a vision in the Temple. For he made signs to them and remained silent.
23 And it happened that when the days of his office were fulfilled, he departed to his own house.
24 And after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and hid herself for five months, saying,
25 “Thus has the Lord dealt with me, in the days on when he looked on me, to take from me my rebuke among man.”
26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the House of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And the angel went in to her, and said, “Hail, you who are freely beloved. The Lord is with you. You are blessed among women.”
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and thought what kind of greeting that should be.
30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not fear, Mary. For you have found favor with God.
31 “For lo, you shall conceive in your womb, and bear a Son, and shall call His Name, Jesus.
32 “He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God shall give to Him the throne of his father David.
33 “And He shall reign over the House of Jacob forever. And of His Kingdom shall be no end.”
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How shall this be, seeing I do not know man?”
35 And the angel answered, and said to her, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you. Therefore, also, that Holy Thing which shall be born by you, shall be called the Son of God.
36 “And behold, your cousin, Elizabeth. She has also conceived a son in her old age. And this is her sixth month, who was called barren.
37 “For with God shall nothing be impossible.”
38 Then Mary said, “Behold the servant of the Lord. May it be to me according to your word.” So, the angel departed from her.
39 And Mary arose in those days and quickly went into the hill country, to a city of Judah,
40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
41 And it happened that, as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby sprang in her belly. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.
42 And she cried with a loud voice, and said, “Blessed are you among women, because the fruit of your womb is blessed!
43 “And how can it be that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
44 “For lo, as soon as I heard the voice of your greeting in my ears, the baby in my belly sprang for joy!
45 “And blessed is she who believed. For those things shall be completed, which were told her from the Lord.
46 Then Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.
47 “And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
48 “For He has looked on the poor degree of His servant. For behold, from now on all ages shall call me blessed.
49 “Because He Who is mighty has done great things for me, and Holy is His Name.
50 “And His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him.
51 “He Who showed strength with His arm, He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
52 “He has put down the mighty from their seats and exalted those of low degree.
53 “He has filled the hungry with good things and sent away the rich empty.
54 “He has upheld Israel, His servant, to be mindful of His mercy,
55 “(as He has spoken to our fathers – that is, to Abraham and his seed) forever.”
56 And Mary stayed with her about three months. After which, she returned to her own house.
57 Now, Elizabeth’s time came for her to be delivered. And she brought forth a Son.
58 And her neighbors and cousins heard tell how the Lord had showed His great mercy upon her. And they rejoiced with her.
59 And it was so that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the baby. 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 to her, “There is no one in your family that is named with this name.”
62 Then they made signs to his father, asking how he would like him called.
63 So he asked for writing tablets, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” And they all marveled.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue. And he spoke and praised God.
65 Then fear came on all those who lived near them. And all these words were spread throughout all the hill country of Judea.
66 And all those who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What kind of child shall this be?” And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 Then his father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people!
69 “And He has raised up the Horn of Salvation unto us, in the House of His servant David,
70 “as He spoke by the mouth of His Holy Prophets. Who were, since the world began, saying,
71 ‘deliverance from our enemies, and from the hands of all that hate us.’
72 “So that He might show mercy towards our fathers, and remember His Holy Covenant -
73 “the oath, which He swore to our father, Abraham -
74 “that he would grant to us. So that we, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, should serve him without fear
75 “all the days of our life, in holiness and righteousness before him.
76 “And you, child, shall be called the Prophet of the Most High. For you shall go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
77 “to give knowledge of salvation to His people, by the remission of their sins
78 “through the tender mercy of our God (whereby the Dayspring from on high has visited us),
79 “to give light to those who sit in darkness (and in the shadow of death), and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit. And he was in the wilderness until the day came that he should show himself to Israel.
2 And it happened in those days that there came a decree from Augustus Caesar that all the world should be registered.
2 (This first registration was made when Quirinius was Governor of Syria.)
3 Therefore, all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee (out of a city called Nazareth) into Judea (to the city of David - which is called Bethlehem - because he was of the House and lineage of David)
5 to register with Mary (his betrothed), who was with child.
6 And so it was that while they were there, the days were completed that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her first begotten Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a feeding trough (because there was no room for them in the inn).
8 And there were in that same country, shepherds, abiding in the field, and 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 about them. And they were very afraid.
10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all the people.
11 “For to you is born this day in the City of David, a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord.
12 “And this shall be a sign to you - you shall find the Baby swaddled and laid in a feeding trough.”
13 And immediately, there was with the Angel a multitude of Heavenly soldiers, praising God, and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the High Heaven! Peace on Earth, and to man, according to His good pleasure!”
15 And it came to pass, when the angels had gone away from them into Heaven, the shepherds said one to another, “Let us go to Bethlehem, then, and see this thing which has happened, which the Lord has shown to us.”
16 So they came quickly, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the Baby laid in the feeding trough.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known the thing which was told to them about that Child.
18 And all who heard it, marveled at the things which were told to them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary preserved all those sayings and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen as it was spoken to them.
21 And when the eighth day had come (on which they circumcised the Child), His Name was then called “Jesus” - which was named by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days of her purification were completed (according to the Law of Moses), they brought Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord,
23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be called holy to the Lord.”)
24 and to give an oblation - as is commanded 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. This man was just and feared God and waited for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Ghost was upon him.
26 And it was declared to him from God by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before he had seen the Anointed of the Lord.
27 And he was led by the Spirit into the Temple. And when the parents brought in the Baby Jesus, to do for Him after the custom of the Law,
28 he then took Him in his arms and praised God, and said,
29 “Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word!
30 “For my eyes have seen Your Salvation
31 “(which You have prepared before the face of all people);
32 “a Light to be revealed to the Gentiles and the Glory of Your people, Israel!”
33 And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken about Him.
34 And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rising again of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be spoken against,
35 Yes, and a sword shall pierce through your soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be opened.”
36 And there was a prophetess - one Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher - who was of a great age (after she had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity).
37 And she had been widowed for about 84 years and had never left the Temple; but had served God with fasting and prayers night and day.
38 Then, coming upon them at that same instant, she likewise confessed the Lord, and spoke of Him to all who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
39 And when they had performed all things according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
40 And the Child grew, and became strong in Spirit, and was filled with wisdom. And the grace of God was with Him.
41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.
42 And when He was twelve years old, and they had come up to Jerusalem (after the custom of the feast),
43 and had finished the days and were returning, the child Jesus remained in Jerusalem. And neither Joseph nor his mother, Mary, knew.
44 But they, supposing that He had been in their company, went a day’s journey and sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances.
45 And when they did not find Him, they turned back to Jerusalem and sought Him.
46 And it happened that after three days they found Him in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, hearing them and asking them questions.
47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.
48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed. And His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You dealt with us like this? Behold, Your father and I have sought You with very heavy hearts.”
49 Then He said to them, “How is it that you sought Me? Did you not know that I must go about My Father’s business?”
50 But they did not understand the Word that He spoke to them.
51 Then He went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. And His mother kept all these sayings 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 country of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the Tetrarch of Abilene
2 (when Annas and Caiaphas were the High Priests) - the Word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness.
3 And he came into all the regions around Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,
4 as it is written in the Book of the sayings of Isaiah the Prophet, which says, “The voice of him who cries in the wilderness is, ‘Prepare 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 crooked things shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth.
6 ‘And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”
7 Then he said to the people who had come out to be baptized by him, “O generations of vipers! Who has forewarned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 “Therefore, bring forth fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our Father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children of Abraham from these stones!
9 “Now also is the axe laid to the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree which does not bring forth good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire!”
10 Then the people asked him, saying, “What shall we do then?”
11 And he answered, and said to them, “The one having two coats, let him give to the one who has none. And the one who has food, let him do likewise.”
12 Then there came tax collectors to be baptized also, and said to him, “Master, what shall we do?”
13 And he said to them, “Require no more than that which is appointed to you.”
14 The soldiers likewise asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Extort no one, nor accuse anyone falsely. And be content with your wages.”
15 As the people waited expectantly, and everyone wondered in their hearts whether John was the Christ,
16 John answered, and said to them all, “Indeed, I baptize you with water! But One stronger than me comes, Whose sandals I am not worthy to unloose! He will baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire!
17 “His fan is in His hand, and He will make clean his floor, and will gather the wheat into His barn. But the chaff He will burn up with fire that never shall be quenched!”
18 Then, exhorting with many other things, he preached to the people.
19 But when Herod the Tetrarch was rebuked by him (for Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done),
20 he added this above all: that he shut up John in prison.
21 Now it happened that as all the people were baptized, and as Jesus was baptized and prayed, the heaven was opened.
22 And the Holy Ghost came down in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him. And there was a voice from Heaven, saying, “You are My beloved Son. In You I am well pleased.”
23 And Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age - being, as men supposed, the Son of Joseph, who was the son of Heli,
24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph,
25 the son of Mattathiah, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,
26 the son of Maath, the son of Mattathiah, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah,
27 the son of Joannas, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,
28 the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er,
29 the son of Jose, 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 Jonan, the son of Eliakim,
31 The son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David,
32 the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, 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,
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, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,
38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
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