Read the Gospels in 40 Days
4 1 Of Christ’s temptation, and fasting. 16 He teacheth in Nazareth to the great admiration of all. 24 A Prophet that teacheth in his own country is condemned. 33 One possessed of the devil is cured. 38 Peter’s mother-in-law is healed, 40 and divers sick persons are restored to health. 41 The devils acknowledge Christ.
1 And [a]Jesus full of the holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by that Spirit into the wilderness,
2 (A)And was there forty days tempted of the devil, and in those days he did eat nothing, but when they were ended, he afterward was hungry.
3 [b]Then the devil said unto him, If thou be the son of God, command this stone, that it be made bread.
4 But Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, (B)That man shall not live by bread only, but by every word of God.
5 Then the devil took him up into an high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, in the twinkling of an eye.
6 And the devil said unto him, All this [c]power will I give thee, and the glory of those kingdoms: for that is [d]delivered to me: and to whomsoever I will, I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, they shall be all [e]thine.
8 But Jesus answered him, and said, Hence from me, Satan: for it is written, (C)Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him alone thou shalt serve.
9 Then he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the Temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence,
10 For it is written, (D)That he will give his Angels charge over thee to keep thee:
11 And with their hands they shall lift thee up, lest at anytime thou shouldest dash thy foot against a stone.
12 And Jesus answered, and said unto him, It is said, (E)Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a little season.
14 ¶ And Jesus returned by the power of the spirit into Galilee: and there went a fame of him throughout all the region round about:
15 For he taught in their Synagogues, and was honored of all men.
16 (F)[f]And he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up, and (as his custom was) went into the Synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the Prophet Isaiah: and when he had [g]opened the book, he found the place, where it was written,
18 (G)The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me, that I should preach the Gospel to the poor: he hath sent me, that I should heal the brokenhearted, that I should preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, that I should set at liberty them that are bruised:
19 And that I should preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and gave it again to the minister, and sat down: and the eyes of all that were in the Synagogue were fastened on him.
21 Then he began to say unto them, This day is the Scripture fulfilled in your ears.
22 [h]And all [i]bare him witness, and [j]wondered at the [k]gracious words, which proceeded out of his mouth, and said, Is not this Joseph’s son?
23 Then he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this Proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do it here likewise in thine own country.
24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, (H)No Prophet is accepted in his own country.
25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of (I)Elijah, when heaven was shut three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the [l]land:
26 But unto none of them was Elijah sent, save into Zarephath, a city of Sidon, unto a certain widow.
27 Also many lepers were in Israel, in the time of (J)Elisha the Prophet: yet none of them was made clean, saving Naaman the Syrian.
28 [m]Then all that were in the Synagogue, when they heard it, were filled with wrath,
29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the edge of the hill, whereon their city was built, to cast him down headlong.
30 But he passed through the midst of them, and went his way,
31 ¶ (K)And came down into Capernaum a city of Galilee, and there taught them on the Sabbath days.
32 (L)And they were astonied at his doctrine: for his word was with authority.
33 (M)And in the Synagogue there was a man which had a spirit of an unclean devil, which cried with a loud voice,
34 [n]Saying, Oh, what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know who thou art, even the Holy one of God.
35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. Then the devil throwing him in the midst of them, came out of him, and hurt him nothing at all.
36 So fear came on them all, and they spake among themselves, saying, What thing is this: for with authority and power he commandeth the foul spirits, and they come out?
37 And the fame of him spread abroad throughout all the places of the country round about.
38 ¶ (N)[o]And he rose up, and came out of the Synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever, and they required him for her.
39 Then he stood over her, and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she arose, and ministered unto them.
40 Now at the Sun setting, all they that had sick folks of divers diseases, brought them unto him, and he laid his hands on everyone of them, and healed them.
41 (O)[p]And devils also came out of many, crying, and saying, Thou art that Christ that Son of God: but he rebuked them, and suffered them not to say that they knew him to be that Christ.
42 [q]And when it was day, he departed, and went forth into a desert place, and the people sought him, and came to him, and kept him that he should not depart from them.
43 But he said unto them, Surely I must also preach the kingdom of God to other cities: for therefore am I sent.
44 And he preached in the Synagogues of Galilee.
5 1 Christ teacheth out of the ship. 6 Of the draught of fish. 12 The Leper. 16 Christ prayeth in the desert. 18 One sick of the palsy. 27 Levi the Publican. 34 The fastings and afflictions of the Apostles after Christ’s ascension. 36,37,38 Fainthearted and weak disciples are likened to old bottles and worn garments.
1 Then (P)[r]it came to pass, as the people [s]pressed upon him to hear the word of God, that he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
2 And saw two ships stand by the lakeside, but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and required him that he would thrust off a little from the land: and he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
4 ¶ Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets to make a draught.
5 Then Simon answered, and said unto him, [t]Master, we have travailed sore all night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
6 And when they had so done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes, so that their net brake.
7 And they beckoned to their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them, who came then, and filled both the ships, that they did sink.
8 Now when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus knees, saying, Lord, go from me: for I am a sinful man.
9 For he was utterly astonied, and all that were with him, for the draught of fishes which they took.
10 And so was also James and John the sons of Zebedee, which were companions with Simon. Then Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not: from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
11 And when they had brought the ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
12 ¶ (Q)[u]Now it came to pass, as he was in a certain city, behold, there was a man full of leprosy, and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
13 So he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will, be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
14 And he commanded him that he should tell it no man: but Go, saith he, and show thyself to the Priest, and offer for thy cleansing, as (R)Moses hath commanded, for a witness unto them.
15 [v]But so much more went there a fame abroad of him, and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed of him of their infirmities.
16 But he kept himself apart in the wilderness, and prayed.
17 ¶ [w]And it came to pass, on a certain day, as he was teaching, that the Pharisees and doctors of the Law sat by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord [x]was in him, to heal them.
18 (S)Then behold, men brought a man lying in a bed, which was taken with a palsy, and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in, because of the press, they went up on the house, and let him down through the tiling, bed and all, in the midst before Jesus.
20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
21 Then the Scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this that speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God only?
22 But when Jesus perceived their reasoning he answered, and said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
23 Whether is easier to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee, or to say, Rise and walk?
24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority to forgive sins in earth, (he said unto the sick of the palsy) I say to thee, Arise: take up thy bed, and go into thine house.
25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up his bed whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, praising God.
26 And they were all amazed, and praised God, and were filled with fear, saying, Doubtless we have seen strange things today.
27 ¶ (T)[y]And after that, he went forth and saw a Publican named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me.
28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
29 Then Levi made him a great feast in his own house, where there was a great company of Publicans, and of others that sat at table with them.
30 But they that were Scribes and Pharisees among them, murmured against his disciples, saying, Why eat ye and drink ye with Publicans and sinners?
31 Then Jesus answered, and said unto them, They that are whole, need not the Physician, but they that are sick.
32 (U)I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
33 (V)(W)[z]Then they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and pray, and the disciples of the Pharisees also, but thine eat and drink?
34 [aa]And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the wedding chamber to fast, as long as the bridegroom is with them?
35 But the days will come, even when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them: then shall they fast in those days.
36 Again he spake also unto them a parable, No man putteth a piece of a new garment into an old vesture: for then the new renteth it, and the piece taken out of the new, agreeth not with the old.
37 Also no man poureth new wine into old vessels: for then the new wine will break the vessels, and it will run out, and the vessels will perish:
38 But new wine must be poured into new vessels: so both are preserved.
39 Also no man that drinketh old wine, straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is more profitable.
6 1 The disciples pull the ears of corn on the Sabbath. 6 Of him that had a withered hand. 13 The election of the Apostles. 20 The blessings and curses. 27 We must love our enemies. 46 With what fruit the word of God is to be heard.
1 And (X)[ab]it came to pass on a second solemn Sabbath, that he went through the corn fields, and his disciples [ac]plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, and rubbed them in their hands.
2 And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath days?
3 Then Jesus answered them, and said, (Y)Have ye not read this, that David did when he himself was an hungered, and they which were with him,
4 How he went into the house of God, and took, and ate the showbread, and gave also to them which were with him, which was not lawful to eat, but for the (Z)Priests only?
5 And he said unto them, The Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath day.
6 ¶ (AA)[ad]It came to pass also on another Sabbath, that he entered into the Synagogue, and taught, and there was a man, whose right hand was dried up.
7 And the Scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the Sabbath day, that they might find an accusation against him.
8 But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Arise, and stand up in the midst. And he arose, and stood up.
9 Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you a question, Whether is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to [ae]destroy?
10 And he beheld them all in compass, and said unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he did so, and his hand was restored again, as whole as the other.
11 Then they were filled full of madness, and communed one with another, what they might do to Jesus.
12 ¶ And it came to pass in those days, that he went into a mountain to pray, and [af]spent the night in prayer to God.
13 And when it was day, (AB)he called his disciples, and of them he chose twelve which also he called Apostles:
14 (Simon whom he named also Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
15 Matthew and Thomas: James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zealous,
16 Judas James’ brother, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.)
17 Then he came down with them, and stood in a plain place with the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judea, and Jerusalem, and from the [ag]sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases:
18 And they that were vexed with foul spirits, and they were healed.
19 And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all:
20 ¶ (AC)[ah]And he lifted up his eyes upon his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
21 (AD)Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be satisfied: (AE)blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
22 (AF)Blessed are ye when men hate you, and when [ai]they separate you, and revile you, and put out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
23 Rejoice ye in that day, and [aj]be glad: for behold, your reward is great in heaven: for after this manner their fathers did to the Prophets:
24 (AG)But woe be to you that are rich: for ye have [ak]received your consolation.
25 (AH)Woe be to you that are full: for ye shall hunger. Woe be to you that now laugh: for ye shall wail and weep.
26 Woe be to you when all men speak well of you: for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
27 ¶ (AI)[al]But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies: do well to them which hate you.
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which hurt you.
29 (AJ)And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also the other, (AK)and him that taketh away thy cloak, forbid not to take thy coat also.
30 Give to every man that asketh of thee: and of him that taketh away the things that be thine, ask them not again.
31 (AL)And as ye would that men should do to you, so do ye to them likewise.
32 (AM)For if ye love them which love you, [am]what thank shall ye have? for even the sinners love those that love them.
33 And if ye do good for them which do good for you, what thank shall ye have? for even the sinners do the same.
34 (AN)And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank shall ye have? for even the sinners lend to sinners, to receive the like.
35 Wherefore love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, [an]looking for nothing again, and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of (AO)the most High: for he is kind unto the unkind, and to the evil.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
37 ¶ (AP)[ao]Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: [ap]forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you: (AQ)a good measure, [aq]pressed down, shaken together and running over shall men give into your bosom: for with what measure ye mete, with the same shall men mete to you again.
39 [ar]And he spake a parable unto them, (AR)Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
40 (AS)The disciple is not above the master: but whosoever will be a perfect disciple, shall be as his master.
41 ¶ (AT)[as]And why seest thou a mote in thy brother’s eye, and considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou seest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Hypocrite, cast out the beam out of thine own eye first, and then shalt thou see perfectly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.
43 ¶ (AU)[at]For it is not a good tree that bringeth forth evil fruit: neither an evil tree, that bringeth forth good fruit.
44 (AV)For every tree is known by his own fruit: (AW)for neither of thorns gather men figs, nor of bushes gather they grapes.
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
46 ¶ (AX)But why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things that I speak?
47 [au]Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my words, and doeth the same, I will show you to whom he is like:
48 He is like a man which built an house, and dug deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the waters arose, the flood beat upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was grounded upon a rock.
49 But he that heareth and doeth not, is like a man that built an house upon the earth without foundation, against which the flood did beat, and it fell by and by: and the fall of that house was great.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.