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Luke English Standard Version (ESV)

chapter 1

     Dedication to Theophilus

     1Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among

     us, 2just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them

     to us, 3it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly

     account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4that you may have certainty concerning the things you have

     been taught.

     Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

     5In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he

     had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6And they were both righteous before

     God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7But they had no child, because

     Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

     8Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9according to the custom of

     the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10And the whole

     multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11And there appeared to him an angel of

     the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him,

     and fear fell upon him. 13But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been

     heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14And you will have joy

     and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink

     wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16And he will turn

     many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 17and he will 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 just, to

     make ready for the Lord a people prepared."

     18And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in

     years." 19And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to

     speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the

     day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time."

     21And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22And

     when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the

     temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23And when his time of service was ended, he

     went to his home.

     24After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25"Thus

     the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people."

     Birth of Jesus Foretold

     26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin

     betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28And

     he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" 29But she was greatly troubled at

     the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30And the angel said to her, "Do not be

     afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a

     son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32He 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 father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever,

     and of his kingdom there will be no end."

     34And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"

     35And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will

     overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy--the Son of God. 36And behold, your

     relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called

     barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God." 38And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let

     it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

     Mary Visits Elizabeth

     39In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40and she entered

     the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby

     leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42and she exclaimed with a loud cry,

     "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43And why is this granted to me that

     the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears,

     the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of

     what was spoken to her from the Lord."

     The Magnificat

     46And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,

         47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

     48for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

        For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

     49for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

        and holy is his name.

     50And his mercy is for those who fear him

        from generation to generation.

     51He has shown strength with his arm;

        he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

     52he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

        and exalted those of humble estate;

     53he has filled the hungry with good things,

        and the rich he has sent empty away.

     54He has helped his servant Israel,

        in remembrance of his mercy,

     55as he spoke to our fathers,

        to Abraham and to his offspring forever."

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

     The Birth of John the Baptist

     57Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58And her neighbors and relatives heard

     that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59And on the eighth day they came

     to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60but his mother

     answered, "No; he shall be called John." 61And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this

     name." 62And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63And he asked for a

     writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered. 64And immediately his mouth was opened

     and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these

     things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66and all who heard them laid them up in their

     hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him.

     Zechariah's Prophecy

     67And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

     68"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,

        for he has visited and redeemed his people

     69and has raised up a horn of salvation for us

        in the house of his servant David,

     70as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,

     71that we should be saved from our enemies

        and from the hand of all who hate us;

     72to show the mercy promised to our fathers

        and to remember his holy covenant,

     73the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us

         74that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,

     might serve him without fear,

         75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

     76And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;

        for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

     77to give knowledge of salvation to his people

        in the forgiveness of their sins,

     78because of the tender mercy of our God,

        whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

     79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

        to guide our feet into the way of peace."

     80And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public

     appearance to Israel.

chapter 2

     The Birth of Jesus Christ

     1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was

     the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3And all went to be registered, each to his own

     town. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David,

     which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5to be registered with Mary,

     his betrothed, who was with child. 6And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7And she

     gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there

     was no place for them in the inn.

     The Shepherds and the Angels

     8And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And

     an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled

     with fear. 10And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will

     be for all the people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

     12And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."

     13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

     14"Glory to God in the highest,

        and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

     15When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to

     Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." 16And they went

     with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17And when they saw it, they made

     known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18And all who heard it wondered at what the

     shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20And the

     shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

     21And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel

     before he was conceived in the womb.

     Jesus Presented at the Temple

     22And 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 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every male who first opens

     the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") 24and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of

     the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." 25Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name

     was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit

     was upon him. 26And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he

     had seen the Lord's Christ. 27And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the

     child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28he took him up in his arms and blessed God

     and said,

     29"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,

        according to your word;

     30for my eyes have seen your salvation

         31that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

     32a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

        and for glory to your people Israel."

     33And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34And Simeon blessed them and said

     to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that

     is opposed 35(and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be

     revealed."

     36And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in

     years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37and then as a widow until

     she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

     38And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were

     waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

     The Return to Nazareth

     39And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to

     their own town of Nazareth. 40And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of

     God was upon him.

     The Boy Jesus in the Temple

     41Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42And when he was twelve

     years old, they went up according to custom. 43And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the

     boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44but supposing him to be in the group

     they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,

     45and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46After three days they

     found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47And all

     who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48And when his parents saw him, they

     were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I

     have been searching for you in great distress." 49And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you

     not know that I must be in my Father's house?" 50And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to

     them. 51And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother

     treasured up all these things in her heart.

     52And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

chapter 3

     John the Baptist Prepares the Way

     1In 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 the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias

     tetrarch of Abilene, 2during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the

     son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism

     of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the

     prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

     'Prepare the way of the Lord,

        make his paths straight.

     5Every valley shall be filled,

        and every mountain and hill shall be made low,

     and the crooked shall become straight,

        and the rough places shall become level ways,

     6and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"

     7He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you

     to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to

     yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children

     for Abraham. 9Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good

     fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

     10And the crowds asked him, "What then shall we do?" 11And he answered them, "Whoever has two tunics is

     to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise." 12Tax collectors also came to be

     baptized and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" 13And he said to them, "Collect no more than you are

     authorized to do." 14Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not extort

     money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages."

     15As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he

     might be the Christ, 16John answered them all, saying, "I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than

     I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and

     with fire. 17His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his

     barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

     18So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. 19But Herod the tetrarch, who had

     been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, 20added

     this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.

     21Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the

     heavens were opened, 22and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came

     from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."

     The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

     23Jesus, when he began his ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of

     Joseph, the son of Heli, 24the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son

     of Joseph, 25the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,

     26the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, 27the son

     of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, 28the son of Melchi,

     the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29the son of Joshua, the son of

     Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, 30the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son

     of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, 31the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha,

     the son of Nathan, the son of David, 32the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala,

     the son of Nahshon, 33the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son

     of Perez, the son of Judah, 34the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the

     son of Nahor, 35the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, 36the

     son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, 37the son of

     Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, 38the son of Enos,

     the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

chapter 4

     The Temptation of Jesus

     1And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness 2for

     forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he

     was hungry. 3The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." 4And

     Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone.'" 5And the devil took him up and showed

     him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, 6and said to him, "To you I will give all this authority

     and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. 7If you, then, will worship me, it

     will all be yours." 8And Jesus answered him, "It is written, "'You shall worship the Lord your God,

        and him only shall you serve.'"

     9And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son

     of God, throw yourself down from here, 10for it is written, "'He will command his angels concerning you,

        to guard you,'

     11and "'On their hands they will bear you up,

        lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"

     12And Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 13And when the

     devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.

     Jesus Begins His Ministry

     14And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the

     surrounding country. 15And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

     Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

     16And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the

     synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. 17And 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 proclaim good news to the poor.

     He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

        and recovering of sight to the blind,

            to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

     19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

     20And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the

     synagogue were fixed on him. 21And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your

     hearing." 22And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth.

     And they said, "Is not this Joseph's son?" 23And he said to them, "Doubtless you will quote to me this

     proverb, 'Physician, heal yourself.' What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as

     well." 24And he said, "Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25 But in truth, I tell

     you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and

     six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to

     Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the

     time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian." 28When they heard

     these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29And they rose up and drove him out of the town

     and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the

     cliff. 30But passing through their midst, he went away.

     Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Demon

     31And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, 32and they

     were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. 33And in the synagogue there was a man

     who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34"Ha! 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." 35But

     Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent and come out of him!" And when the demon had thrown him down in

     their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36And they were all amazed and said to one

     another, "What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come

     out!" 37And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

     Jesus Heals Many

     38And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a

     high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. 39And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it

     left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.

     40Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to

     him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. 41And demons also came out of many,

     crying, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they

     knew that he was the Christ.

     Jesus Preaches in Synagogues

     42And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to

     him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43but he said to them, "I must preach the good news of the

     kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose." 44And he was preaching in the

     synagogues of Judea.

chapter 5

     Jesus Calls the First Disciples

     1On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the

     lake of Gennesaret, 2and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were

     washing their nets. 3Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from

     the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4And when he had finished speaking, he said

     to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 5And Simon answered, "Master, we

     toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." 6And when they had done this,

     they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7They signaled to their partners in the

     other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8But

     when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O

     Lord." 9For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10and so

     also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not

     be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." 11And when they had brought their boats to land, they left

     everything and followed him.

     Jesus Cleanses a Leper

     12While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his

     face and begged him, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." 13And Jesus stretched out his hand and

     touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him. 14And he charged him to tell no

     one, but "go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded,

     for a proof to them." 15But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to

     hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

     Jesus Heals a Paralytic

     17On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had

     come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to

     heal. 18And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to

     bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went

     up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 20And when he

     saw their faith, he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." 21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to

     question, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 22When Jesus

     perceived their thoughts, he answered them, "Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to

     say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man

     has authority on earth to forgive sins" --he said to the man who was paralyzed--"I say to you, rise, pick up

     your bed and go home." 25And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on

     and went home, glorifying God. 26And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with

     awe, saying, "We have seen extraordinary things today."

     Jesus Calls Levi

     27After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him,

     "Follow me." 28And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

     29And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others

     reclining at table with them. 30And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, "Why do

     you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" 31And 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."

     A Question About Fasting

     33And they said to him, "The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the

     Pharisees, but yours eat and drink." 34And Jesus said to them, "Can you make wedding guests fast while the

     bridegroom is with them? 35 The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they

     will fast in those days." 36He also told them a parable: "No one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it

     on an old garment. If he does, he will tear the new, and the piece from the new will not match the old. 37

     And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be

     spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one

     after drinking old wine desires new, for he says, 'The old is good.'"

chapter 6

     Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

     1On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain,

     rubbing them in their hands. 2But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on

     the Sabbath?" 3And Jesus answered them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and

     those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence,

     which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?" 5And he said to them,

     "The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."

     A Man with a Withered Hand

     6On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand

     was withered. 7And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the

     Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. 8But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the

     man with the withered hand, "Come and stand here." And he rose and stood there. 9And Jesus said to them,

     "I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?" 10And after

     looking around at them all he said to him, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored.

     11But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

     The Twelve Apostles

     12In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. 13And

     when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles: 14Simon,

     whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, 15and

     Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, 16and Judas

     the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

     Jesus Ministers to a Great Multitude

     17And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great

     multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, 18who came to hear

     him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19And

     all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.

     The Beatitudes

     20And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom

     of God.

     21 "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied."Blessed are you who weep now, for you

     shall laugh.

     22 "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as

     evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great

     in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

     Jesus Pronounces Woes

     24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.

     25 "Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry."Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and

     weep.

     26 "Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

     Love Your Enemies

     27 "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse

     you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from

     one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you,

     and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would

     do to you, do so to them.

     32 "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

     33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the

     same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners

     lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting

     nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the

     ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

     Judging Others

     37 "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will

     be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over,

     will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."

     39He also told them a parable: "Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 A

     disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. 41 Why do you

     see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 42 How can

     you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not

     see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will

     see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.

     A Tree and Its Fruit

     43 "For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by

     its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The

     good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure

     produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

     Build Your House on the Rock

     46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? 47 Everyone who comes to me and hears my

     words and does them, I will show you what he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and

     laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not

     shake it, because it had been well built. 49 But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who

     built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and

     the ruin of that house was great."

chapter 7

     Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant

     1After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2Now a centurion

     had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3When the centurion

     heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4And when

     they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5for

     he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue." 6And Jesus went with them. When he

     was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am

     not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word,

     and let my servant be healed. 8For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to

     one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

     9When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, "I tell

     you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." 10And when those who had been sent returned to the

     house, they found the servant well.

     Jesus Raises a Widow's Son

     11Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 12As he

     drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his

     mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. 13And when the Lord

     saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep." 14Then he came up and touched the bier,

     and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." 15And the dead man sat up and

     began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 16Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, "A

     great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!" 17And this report about him spread

     through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

     Messengers from John the Baptist

     18The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19calling two of his disciples to him, sent

     them to the Lord, saying, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" 20And when the

     men had come to him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, 'Are you the one who is to

     come, or shall we look for another?'" 21In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil

     spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22And he answered them, "Go and tell John what you

     have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the

     dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not

     offended by me."

     24When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go

     out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man

     dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings'

     courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is

     he of whom it is written, "'Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

        who will prepare your way before you.'

     28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom

     of God is greater than he." 29(When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God

     just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, 30but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the

     purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

     31 "To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like

     children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, "'We played the flute for you, and you did not

     dance;

        we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.'

     33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' 34

     The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend

     of tax collectors and sinners!' 35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children."

     A Sinful Woman Forgiven

     36One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place

     at the table. 37And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining

     at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38and standing behind him at his

     feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed

     his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he

     said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is

     touching him, for she is a sinner." 40And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to

     you." And he answered, "Say it, Teacher."

     41 "A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they

     could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?" 43Simon answered,

     "The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly."

     44Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you

     gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You

     gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my

     head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many,

     are forgiven--for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." 48And he said to her, "Your sins

     are forgiven." 49Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who

     even forgives sins?" 50And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

chapter 8

     Women Accompanying Jesus

     1Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the

     kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits

     and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3and Joanna, the wife of

     Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their

     means.

     The Parable of the Sower

     4And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable:

     5 "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot,

     and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away,

     because it had no moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8

     And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold." As he said these things, he called out, "He

     who has ears to hear, let him hear."

     The Purpose of the Parables

     9And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, 10he said, "To you it has been given to know the

     secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that 'seeing they may not see, and

     hearing they may not understand.' 11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones

     along the path are those who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts,

     so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the

     word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14

     And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked

     by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. 15 As for that in the good soil,

     they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

     A Lamp Under a Jar

     16 "No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that

     those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything

     secret that will not be known and come to light. 18 Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has,

     more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away."

     Jesus' Mother and Brothers

     19Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. 20And

     he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you." 21But he answered

     them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it."

     Jesus Calms a Storm

     22One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side of

     the lake." So they set out, 23and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and

     they were filling with water and were in danger. 24And they went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we

     are perishing!" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a

     calm. 25He said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one

     another, "Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?"

     Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man

     26Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27When Jesus had stepped out

     on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he

     had not lived in a house but among the tombs. 28When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him

     and said with a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do

     not torment me." 29For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it

     had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds

     and be driven by the demon into the desert.) 30Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And he said,

     "Legion," for many demons had entered him. 31And they begged him not to command them to depart into the

     abyss. 32Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter

     these. So he gave them permission. 33Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the

     herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

     34When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. 35Then

     people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the

     demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 36And

     those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 37Then all the people of

     the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great

     fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 38The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he

     might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 "Return to your home, and declare how much God has

     done for you." And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.

     Jesus Heals a Woman and Jairus's Daughter

     40Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41And there came a

     man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to

     his house, 42for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.As Jesus went, the

     people pressed around him. 43And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years,

     and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. 44She came up

     behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. 45And

     Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?" When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds surround you

     and are pressing in on you!" 46But Jesus said, "Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out

     from me." 47And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before

     him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately

     healed. 48And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."

     49While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, "Your daughter is dead; do not

     trouble the Teacher any more." 50But Jesus on hearing this answered him, "Do not fear; only believe, and she

     will be well." 51And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John

     and James, and the father and mother of the child. 52And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said,

     "Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping." 53And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.

     54But taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child, arise." 55And her spirit returned, and she got up at

     once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. 56And her parents were amazed, but he

     charged them to tell no one what had happened.

chapter 9

     Jesus Sends Out the Apostles

     1And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,

     2and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. 3And he said to them, "Take nothing for

     your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. 4 And whatever house

     you enter, stay there, and from there depart. 5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that

     town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them." 6And they departed and went through

     the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

     Herod Is Perplexed by Jesus

     7Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by

     some that John had been raised from the dead, 8by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of

     the prophets of old had risen. 9Herod said, "John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?"

     And he sought to see him.

     Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

     10On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a

     town called Bethsaida. 11When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to

     them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. 12Now the day began to wear away,

     and the twelve came and said to him, "Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and

     countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place." 13But he said to them,

     "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish--unless we are

     to go and buy food for all these people." 14For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his

     disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each." 15And they did so, and had them all sit down.

     16And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he

     broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17And they all ate and were

     satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.

     Peter Confesses Jesus As the Christ

     18Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, "Who do

     the crowds say that I am?" 19And they answered, "John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that

     one of the prophets of old has risen." 20Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter

     answered, "The Christ of God."

     Jesus Foretells His Death

     21And he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22saying, "The Son of Man must suffer

     many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day

     be raised."

     Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

     23And he said to all, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and

     follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25

     For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is

     ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the

     glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not

     taste death until they see the kingdom of God."

     The Transfiguration

     28Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the

     mountain to pray. 29And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became