(23)And Jesus himself was about thirty years of age when he began his ministry, being (as was supposed the son of Joseph) of Heli, (24)of Matthat, of Levi, of Melchi, of Janna, of Joseph, (25)of Mattathias, of Amos, of Naum, of Esli, of Nagge, (26)of Maath, of Mattathias, of Semei, of Joseph, of Juda, (27)of Joanna, of Rhesa, of Zerubbabel, of Salathiel, of Neri, (28)of Melchi, of Addi, of Cosam, of Elmodam, of Er, (29)of Jose, of Eliezer, of Jorim, of Matthat, of Levi, (30)of Simeon, of Judah, of Joseph, of Jonan, of Eliakim, (31)of Melea, of Menan, of Mattatha, of Nathan, of David, (32)of Jesse, of Obed, of Booz, of Salmon, of Naa.s.son, (33)of Aminadab, of Aram, of Esrom, of Phares, of Judah, (34)of Jacob, of Isaac, of Abraham, of Terah, of Nachor, (35)of Saruch, of Ragau, of Phalec, of Heber, of Sala, (36)of Cainan, of Arphaxad, of Sem, of Noe, of Lamech, (37)of Methusaleh, of Enoch, of Jared, of Maleleel, of Cainan, (38)of Enos, of Seth, of Adam, _the son_ of G.o.d.

CHAP. IV.

THEN Jesus full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the spirit into the wilderness, (2)being tempted forty days by the devil; and did eat nothing during those days: and when they were ended, afterwards he was hungry. (3)And the devil said to him, If thou art the Son of G.o.d, command this stone that it become a loaf. (4)And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of G.o.d."

(5)And the devil taking him up into an exceeding high mountain, displayed before him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time: (6)and the devil said unto him, I will give thee all this authority, and the glory of these; for to me it is delivered, and to whomsoever I will, I give it. (7)If therefore thou wilt worship before me, all shall be thine. (8)And Jesus answering him, said, Get thee behind me, Satan, for it is written, "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy G.o.d, and to him alone shalt thou pay divine honour."

(9)And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a wing of the temple, and said to him, If thou art the Son of G.o.d, cast thy self down from hence: (10)for it is written, "He shall give his angels a charge over thee, to guard thee safely; (11)and that in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone."

(12)And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy G.o.d." (13)And when the devil had closed all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

(14)And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and a report went out into all the region round about concerning him. (15)And he taught in their synagogues, being universally admired. (16)And he came to Nazareth, where he was brought up; and he went, according to his usual custom, into the synagogue on the sabbath-day, and rose up to read. (17)And there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah: and unrolling the volume, he found the pa.s.sage where it is written, (18)"The spirit of the Lord is upon me, for the work whereunto he hath anointed me; he hath sent me to preach glad tidings to the poor; to heal the contrite in heart; to proclaim liberty to the captives; and restore sight to the blind; to send forth the bruised free from bonds; (19)to publish the acceptable year of the Lord." (20)And rolling up the volume, he gave it to the attendant officer, and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were attentively fixed on him. (21)And he began to say to them, To day this scripture is fulfilled in your ears. (22)And all concurred in their testimony to him, and marvelled at the gracious words which proceeded from his mouth. And they said, Is not this the son of Joseph? (23)And he said unto them, Ye will probably say to me this parable, Physician, heal thyself! the works which we have heard to have been performed by thee at Capernaum, do the like here in thy own country. (24)But he said, Verily, I say unto you, that no prophet is acceptable in his own country. (25)Now I tell you of a certainty, that there were many widows in the days of Elias, in Israel, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, so that a grievous famine was upon all the land. (26)And unto none of them was Elias sent, but unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, to a widow woman.

(27)And many lepers were in Israel in the days of the prophet Elisha, and no one of them was cleansed, but Naaman the Syrian. (28)And they were all filled with rage in the synagogue, when they heard these observations: (29)and rising up, dragged him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill, on which their city was built, in order to cast him down headlong: (30)but he pa.s.sing through the midst of them, went away.

(31)And he came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the sabbath. (32)And they were struck with astonishment at his teaching; for his discourse was with authority. (33)And there was in the synagogue a man, who had a spirit of an unclean devil, and he roared out with a great cry, (34)saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, Jesus the Nazarean? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of G.o.d. (35)And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Stop thy mouth, and come out of him. And the devil throwing him down into the midst, came out of him, doing him no injury. (36)And amazement seized on all present, and they spake one to another, saying, What a word is this? for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. (37)And the fame of him went forth into all the adjacent region.

(38)Then rising up out of the synagogue, he came into the house of Simon: and Simon's mother-in-law was seized with a violent fever, and they besought him on her behalf. (39)And standing over her, he charged the fever _to depart_; and it left her: and immediately she arose, and waited upon them.

(40)So when the sun was set, all who had any indisposed with various diseases, brought them to him; and laying his hands severally on each of them, he cured them. (41)And devils also went out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art the Messiah the Son of G.o.d. And rebuking them, he suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was the Messiah.

(42)And as the day was coming on, he went forth and departed into a desert place: and the mult.i.tude sought him out, and came to him, and would have detained him that he should not leave them. (43)But he said unto them, I must preach the glad tidings of the kingdom of heaven in other cities also: for on this service am I sent. (44)And he continued preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

CHAP. V.

AND it came to pa.s.s, as the mult.i.tude were thronging upon him, in order to hear the word of G.o.d, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret: (2)and he saw two vessels a-ground near the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and washing their nets. (3)Then he went on board one of the vessels, which was Simon's, and desired him to put off a little from the land: and sitting down, he taught the mult.i.tudes out of the vessel. (4)And when he ceased speaking, he said to Simon, Go off into deep water, and shoot your nets for a draught.

(5)And Simon answering, said unto him, Sir, we have been toiling all night, and have taken nothing: but at thy command I will shoot the net.

(6)And having done so, they inclosed a prodigious mult.i.tude of fishes; and their net was broken. (7)And they made signals to their partners in the other vessels, that they should come to their a.s.sistance. And they came, and filled both the vessels, so that they were ready to founder.

(8)Then Simon Peter seeing it, fell down on his knees before Jesus, saying, Go from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord! (9)For amazement had seized on him, and on all who were with him, at the draught of fishes which they had taken: (10)as also on James and John the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, Fear not: henceforward thou shalt catch men. (11)And when they had brought their vessels on sh.o.r.e, they left all, and followed him.

(12)And it came to pa.s.s as he was just at one of the cities, behold, a man full of leprosy! and seeing Jesus, he fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

(13)And he stretching out his hand touched him, saying, I will: be thou cleansed. And instantly the leprosy departed from him. (14)And he commanded him to tell no man: but go shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy purification, as Moses enjoined, for a testimony unto them. (15)Now the discourse concerning him more and more spread through the country: and vast mult.i.tudes came together to hear him, and to be cured by him of their disorders. (16)But he himself was in the desert for retirement and prayer.

(17)And on a certain day it happened that he was teaching, and there were sitting Pharisees, and doctors of the law, who had come from every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord for healing them was exercised. (18)And behold, men carried on a couch a man who was a paralytic; and sought to bring him into the house, and to place him before him. (19)And not discovering by what means they could introduce him, because of the crowd, they went up to the roof, and through the tiling let him down with his little couch into the midst, before Jesus. (20)And seeing their faith, he saith to him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. (21)And the scribes and Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this that speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but G.o.d alone? (22)And Jesus knowing their reasoning, in reply said to them, Why do ye reason in your hearts? (23)for which is the easier? to say, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise and walk?

(24)But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority upon earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the paralytic,) I say to thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thy house. (25)And instantly he rose up before them, took up that on which he had lain, and went away to his house, giving glory to G.o.d. (26)And an extacy of admiration seized upon them all, and they glorified G.o.d; and they were filled with awe, saying, We have seen wondrously strange things to-day.

(27)And after these things he went out, and saw a farmer of the taxes, named Levi, sitting at the custom-house: and he said unto him, Follow me. (28)And leaving all behind, he rose, and followed him. (29)And Levi made him a great entertainment at his house and there was a great number of publicans and others, sitting at table with them. (30)And their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? (31)And Jesus answering said unto them, They who are well, have no need of a physician: but they who have illness. (32)I came not to call righteous men, but sinners, to repentance.

(33)Then said they unto him, Why do the disciples of John observe frequent fasts, and make prayers; but thine are eating and drinking?

(34)And he said unto them, Can you make the children of the bridechamber fast, as long as the bridegroom is with them? (35)But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, then shall they fast in those days. (36)Then he spake a parable unto them, No man putteth a patch of new cloth on an old garment; but if otherwise, both the new makes a rent, and the patch from the new is not of a piece with the old. (37)And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; for if he doth, the new wine will burst the bottles, and it will itself be spilled, and the bottles be destroyed. (38)But new wine should be put into new bottles; then both are preserved. (39)And no man drinking old wine, immediately desires new: for he saith, The old is better.

CHAP. VI.

AND it came to pa.s.s on the sabbath after the second day of the pa.s.sover, that he was pa.s.sing through the cornfields; and the disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them out in their hands.

(2)Then said some of the Pharisees unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful on the sabbath-day? (3)And Jesus answering said to them; Have ye never read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him? (4)how he entered into the house of G.o.d, and took the loaves of shew-bread, and did eat, and gave also to those who were with him; which it was not lawful for any to eat, but the priests alone?

(5)And he said, The Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath-day.

(6)And it came to pa.s.s on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and a man was there, and his right hand was shrunk. (7)Then the scribes and Pharisees watched him, if he would heal on the sabbath-day, that they might find an accusation against him.

(8)Now he knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, Rise, and stand in the midst. And he arose, and stood up. (9)Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you a question; Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath-day, or to do evil? to preserve life or to destroy it? (10)And looking round upon them all, he said to the man, Stretch out thine hand; and he did so: and his hand was restored sound as the other. (11)But they were filled with madness, and talked earnestly to each other what they could do to Jesus.

(12)Now it came to pa.s.s in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray and continued all night in an oratory of G.o.d. (13)And when it was day, he called his disciples to him; and elected from them twelve, whom he named Apostles: (14)Simon, whom he also called Peter, and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, (15)Matthew and Thomas, James son of Alpheus, and Simon called the Zealous, (16)Jude the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, who also was the traitor. (17)And coming down with them, he stood on a level spot: and the crowd of his disciples, and a vast mult.i.tude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases; (18)and they who were disturbed with unclean spirits: and they were cured. (19)And all the mult.i.tude strove to touch him, for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.

(20)And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed are ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of G.o.d. (21)Blessed are ye who hunger now, for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now, for ye shall laugh. (22)Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from them, and shall revile you, and shall cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. (23)Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy; for, lo! your reward is great in heaven: for after the same manner did your fathers to the prophets. (24)But wo unto you who are rich! for ye have received your consolation. (25)Wo unto you who are full! for ye shall hunger. Wo unto you who laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. (26)Wo unto you, when men shall speak well of you! for just so did their fathers of the false prophets. (27)But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you; (28)bless those who curse you, and pray for those who wantonly insult you. (29)To him that smiteth thee on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who would take from thee thy cloak, withhold not thy coat also. (30)And give to every one that asketh thee; and from him who would take thy goods, demand them not again. (31)And as ye would that men should do unto you, do ye also to them in like manner.

(32)And if ye love them that love you, what thanks are due to you? for even sinners love those who love them. (33)And if ye do good to them who do good to you, what thanks have ye? do not even sinners the same thing? (34)And if ye lend to those, from whom ye hope to receive back again, what thanks are due to you? for sinners lend to sinners, that they may receive an equivalent. (35)But love your enemies, and do good and lend, hoping for nothing in return: and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Most High; for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the wicked. (36)Be ye therefore compa.s.sionate, as also your Father is compa.s.sionate. (37)And judge not, that ye be not judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: (38)give, and there shall be given unto you; good measure pressed down, and shook, and running over, shall they give into your lap. For with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured back to you again.

(39)And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind?

will they not both fall into the pit? (40)The disciple is not above his teacher; but every one who is completely taught shall be as his master.

(41)But why beholdest thou the mote which is in thy brother's eye, but observest not the beam which is in thine own eye? (42)Or how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, permit me to take off the mote which is on thine eye, not seeing thyself the beam in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite! cast out the beam which is in thine eye, and then shalt thou see distinctly to take off the mote which is in thy brother's eye.

(43)For there is no good tree which produceth fruit of a bad quality; neither doth a tree of a bad sort produce good fruit. (44)Every tree is known by its own peculiar fruit. For men do not gather figs from off thorns, nor do they gather from the bramble a bunch of grapes. (45)A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, produceth what is good; and a wicked man, from the evil treasure in his heart, produceth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (46)And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (47)Every one who cometh to me, and heareth my words, and puts them in practice, I will shew you to whom he is like: (48)he is like to a man, building a house, who digged, and sunk deep, and laid the foundation on a rock; and when there was a flood, the river rushed violently against that house, and was not of force to shake it, for it was founded on a rock. (49)But he that heareth, and doth not practice, is like a man who built his house on the earth without a foundation; against which the river rushed violently, and immediately it fell; and the crash of the fall of that house was great.

CHAP. VII.

NOW after he had finished all these sayings in the ears of the people, he entered into Capernaum. (2)And the servant of a certain centurion, who was very valuable to him, being seized with an illness, was ready to die. (3)But when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, entreating him that he would come and preserve the life of his servant. (4)And when they came to Jesus, they entreated him importunately, saying, He is a worthy man on whom thou wilt confer this favour: (5)for he loveth our nation, and hath himself built us a synagogue. (6)Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion dispatched towards him friends, saying to him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not deserving that thou shouldest enter beneath my roof. (7)Therefore neither did I think myself worthy to come unto thee, but speak in a word, and my servant will be cured. (8)For I also am a man under authority, and have under my command soldiers; and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come hither, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. (9)Then Jesus, on hearing these things, respected him highly, and turning to the mult.i.tude which was following him, he said, I tell you, I have not found such faith, even in Israel. (10)And they who were sent, on their return to the house, found the servant who was sick in perfect health.

(11)And it came to pa.s.s the next day, that he went into a city called Nain; and a considerable number of his disciples went with him, and a vast mult.i.tude. (12)And as he drew near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was carrying out, an only son to his mother, and she a widow; and a great concourse of the city was with her. (13)And when Jesus saw her, he was moved with compa.s.sion for her, and said unto her, Weep not.

(14)And approaching, he touched the bier: and the bearers stood still; and he said, Young man, I say to thee, Arise. (15)And the dead man sat up, and began to speak: and he delivered him to his mother. (16)And fear fell on all, and they glorified G.o.d, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us, and that G.o.d hath looked down with mercy on his people. (17)And this account respecting him went abroad through all Judea, and all the region adjacent.

(18)And his disciples informed John of all these things. (19)And John calling two certain persons of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that cometh, or are we to expect another? (20)Then the men came to him, saying, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that cometh, or are we to expect another? (21)And in that very hour he cured many of diseases and acute complaints, and evil spirits; and to many blind persons he gave sight. (22)And Jesus addressing them, said, Go, tell John what things ye have seen and heard: that the blind recover sight, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached unto them. (23)And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended at me.

(24)Now when John's messengers were departed, he began to speak to the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? (25)But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in delicate garments? Behold, they who indulge in soft raiment, and delicate food, are in king's palaces. (26)But what went ye out to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. (27)For this is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee. (28)For I tell you, of those born from woman, there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of heaven, is greater than he. (29)And all the people when they heard it, and the publicans, glorified G.o.d, being baptised with the baptism of John. (30)But the Pharisees and teachers of the law rejected the counsel of G.o.d towards themselves, not being baptised by him.

(31)And the Lord said, To what then shall I compare the men of this generation? and to what are they like? (32)They are like to children sitting in the markets, and calling to each other, and saying, We have played the flute to you, and ye have not danced; we have raised the cry of mourning, and ye have not wept. (33)For John the Baptist came neither eating bread, nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.

(34)The Son of man is come eating and drinking, and ye say, A gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

(35)though wisdom hath been justified by her children.

(36)Then one of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to table. (37)And, behold, a certain woman in the city, who was a notorious offender, when she knew that Jesus was sitting at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster vessel of odoriferous balm, (38)and standing at his feet behind him, began to water his feet with her tears, and to wipe them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the perfumed balm. (39)And when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said within himself, If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what kind of a woman this is that toucheth him; for she is a notorious sinner. (40)And Jesus addressing himself to him said, Simon, I have somewhat to say to thee. And he said, Master, speak freely.

(41)A certain creditor had two debtors, the one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. (42)But having nothing to pay, he forgave them both. Tell me, which of these, then, will love him most? (43)And Simon answering said, I suppose, he to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast judged rightly. (44)So turning to the woman, he said to Simon, Thou seest this woman? I came into thine house, even water for my feet thou gavest not; but she hath washed my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. (45)One kiss hast thou not given me, but she from the time she hath come in, hath not ceased tenderly to kiss my feet. (46)My head with oil thou hast not anointed; but she hath anointed my feet with odoriferous balm. (47)For which cause, I tell thee, her many sins are forgiven, for she hath loved much: but to whom a little is forgiven, he loveth little. (48)And he said to her, Thy sins are forgiven. (49)And they who sat at table with him began to say in themselves, Who is this, who even forgives sins? (50)But he said unto the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

CHAP. VIII.

AND it came to pa.s.s afterwards, that he went through every city and village, preaching and publishing the glad tidings of the kingdom of G.o.d, and the twelve with him. (2)And certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and sicknesses, Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven devils had gone out. (3)And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's lieutenant-governor, and Susanna, and many others, who ministred to his support out of their possessions.

(4)Now when a vast mult.i.tude was collected, even those who came to him out of every city, he spake by a parable. (5)A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell by the road side, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it up. (6)And other seed fell on a rock, and vegetating, withered because it had no moisture.

(7)And other seed fell amidst thorns, and the thorns springing up with it, choked it. (8)And some fell on good ground, and shooting up, produced fruit an hundred fold. So saying, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

(9)Then his disciples asked him, saying. What might this parable mean?

(10)And he said, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of G.o.d; but to the rest in parables: that seeing they may not perceive, and hearing may not comprehend. (11)Now this is the parable: The seed is the word of G.o.d. (12)They by the road side, are such as hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh the word from their heart, that they should not be saved in believing. (13)And they on the rock, are such as when they have heard, with joy embrace the word; and these have not root, who for a time believe, and in a season of trial apostasize.

(14)And that which fell among thorns, are they having heard, and going away, are choked by the cares, and wealth, and pleasures of life, and bring forth no perfect fruit. (15)But that on the good ground are they who having heard the word, retain it in a heart excellent and good, and bring forth fruit with patience.

(16)No man lighting a lamp hides it with a cover, or putteth it under a bed, but on a stand, that they who are coming in, may see the light.

(17)For there is nothing hid which shall not be made manifest, nor concealed, which shall not be known and brought to light. (18)Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, even what he seemeth to have shall be taken away from.

(19)Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come near him because of the crowd. (20)And it was told him, saying, Thy mother and thy brethren are standing without, desirous of seeing thee.

(21)Then he answered and said to them, My mother and my brethren are they, who hear the word of G.o.d, and practise it.

(22)And it came to pa.s.s on one of the days, that he went himself into a ship, and his disciples, and said unto them, Let us pa.s.s over to the farther side of the lake. And they set fail. (23)And while they were on the pa.s.sage, he went to sleep: and a hurricane of wind rushed down on the lake; and they were filled with water, and imminent danger.

(24)Then they came and awoke him, saying, Master, Master, we are perishing. Then arising, he issued his command to the wind, and the billows of water, and they subsided, and there was a calm. (25)And he said to them, Where is your faith? And they feared and were astonished, saying one to another, Well! what a man is this! that he commands even the winds and the sea, and they obey him.