Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee. For Jesus himself testified that a prophet hath no honor in his own country. Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.

So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine.

And there was a certain n.o.bleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. Then said Jesus unto him,

Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

The n.o.bleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him,

Go thy way: thy son liveth.

And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told _him_, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that _it was_ at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. This _is_ again the second miracle _that_ Jesus did, when he was come out of Judea into Galilee. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord _is_ upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

And he closed the book, and he gave _it_ again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them,

This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears.

And all bear him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son? And he said unto them,

Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

And he said,

Verily, I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; but unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, _a city_ of Sidon, unto a woman _that was_ a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman, the Syrian.

And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, and rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong. But he pa.s.sing through the midst of them went his way.

CHAPTER VIII.

MOVES TO CAPERNAUM--ANDREW AND PETER CALLED.

Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, a city of Galilee, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zebulon, and the land of Nephthalim, _by_ the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; the people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach the gospel of the kingdom of G.o.d, and to say,

Repent: the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of G.o.d is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them,

Follow me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

And they straightway left _their_ nets, and followed him. And going on a little farther thence, he saw other two brethren, James _the son_ of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and straightway he called them: and they immediately left the ship and their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

And they went into Capernaum: and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, saying, Let _us_ alone; what have we to do with thee, _thou_ Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of G.o.d. And Jesus rebuked him, saying,

Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

And when the devil had torn him, had thrown him in the midst, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him, and hurt him not.

And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? What new doctrine _is_ this?

What a word _is_ this! for with authority and power he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him, and they come out. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region, into every place of the country round about Galilee.

And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and anon they tell him of her; and they besought him for her. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she arose, and ministered unto them.

And at even, when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and them that were possessed with devils: and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. And all the city was gathered together at the door.

And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of G.o.d. And he rebuking _them_ suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare _our_ sicknesses. And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, and when it was day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. And when they had found him, they said unto him, All _men_ seek for thee. And he said unto them,

Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

And the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. And he said unto them,

I must preach the kingdom of G.o.d to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people, and cast out devils. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. And there followed him great mult.i.tudes of people from Galilee, and _from_ Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and _from_ Judea, and _from_ beyond Jordan.

CHAPTER IX.

SERMON ON THE MOUNT, NEAR CAPERNAUM.

And seeing the mult.i.tudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

Blessed _are_ the poor in spirit: for their's is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed _are_ they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed _are_ the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed _are_ they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed _are_ the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see G.o.d.

Blessed _are_ the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of G.o.d. Blessed _are_ they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are ye, when _men_ shall revile you, and persecute _you_, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great _is_ your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pa.s.s, one jot or one t.i.tle shall in no wise pa.s.s from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven; but whosoever shall do and teach _them_, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed _the righteousness_ of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of h.e.l.l fire.

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Agree with thine adversary quickly, whilst thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily, I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.