Interactive Red-Letter Gospel Reader

1. Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the Word, 2. it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus,^{aScene 011 · Note a×Greek for "one who loves God" or "lover of God"} so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.

1. In the beginning was the Word,^{aScene 012 · Note a×Greek: Λόγος / logos = word, something spoken, discourse (reason, wisdom)} and the Word was with God,^{bScene 012 · Note b×Greek: Θεόν / Theon = a God or Deity; The Supreme Deity; God The Father} and the Word was God.^{cScene 012 · Note c×Greek: Θεὸς / Theos = a God or Deity, Divine, Godly, God-like}

2. He was in the beginning with God.

3. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

4. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.

5. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us. 6. There was the true Light, which coming into the world, enlightens every man.^{dScene 012 · Note d×Isaiah 49:6NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 49:6 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

7. The Light shines in the darkness,^{eScene 012 · Note e×Genesis 1:3 / Isaiah 9:2NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Genesis 1:3 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Isaiah 9:2 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} and the darkness did not comprehend it.

8. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him - 9. but we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from The Father, full of grace and truth.

1. The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah,^{aScene 021 · Note a×Hebrew Meshiach = Greek Christos = English Christ} the son of David, the son of Abraham:

2. Abraham was the father of Isaac, 3. Isaac the father of Jacob, 4. and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.

5. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, 6. Perez was the father of Hezron, 7. and Hezron the father of Ram.

8. Ram was the father of Amminadab, 9. Amminadab the father of Nahshon, 10. and Nahshon the father of Salmon.

11. Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, 12. Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, 13. and Obed the father of Jesse.

14. Jesse was the father of David the King. 15. David was the father of Solomon by Bathsheba, who had been the wife of Uriah.

16. Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, 17. Rehoboam the father of Abijah, 18. and Abijah the father of Asa.

19. Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, 20. Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, 21. and Joram the father of Uzziah.

22. Uzziah was the father of Jotham, 23. Jotham the father of Ahaz, 24. and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.

25. Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, 26. Manasseh the father of Amon, 27. and Amon the father of Josiah.

28. Josiah became the father of Jeconiah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

29. After the deportation to Babylon: Jeconiah became the father of Shealtiel, 30. and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel.

31. Zerubbabel was the father of Abihud, 32. Abihud the father of Eliakim, 33. and Eliakim the father of Azor.

34. Azor was the father of Zadok, 35. Zadok the father of Achim, 36. and Achim the father of Eliud.

37. Eliud was the father of Eleazar, 38. Eleazar the father of Matthan, 39. and Matthan the father of Jacob.

40. Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.

41. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations;

42. and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations;

43. and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, are fourteen generations.

1. Jesus was, as supposed, the son of Joseph, 2. the son of Eli,

3. the son of Matthat, 4. the son of Levi, 5. the son of Melchi,

6. the son of Jannai, 7. the son of Joseph, 8. the son of Mattathias,

9. the son of Amos, 10. the son of Nahum, 11. the son of Hesli,

12. the son of Naggai, 13. the son of Maath, 14. the son of Mattathias,

15. the son of Semein, 16. the son of Josech, 17. the son of Joda,

18. the son of Joanan, 19. the son of Rhesa, 20. the son of Zerubbabel,

21. the son of Shealtiel, 22. the son of Neri, 23. the son of Melchi,

24. the son of Addi, 25. the son of Cosam, 26. the son of Elmadam,

27. the son of Er, 28. the son of Joshua, 29. the son of Eliezer,

30. the son of Jorim, 31. the son of Matthat, 32. the son of Levi,

33. the son of Simeon, 34. the son of Judah, 35. the son of Joseph,

36. the son of Jonam, 37. the son of Eliakim, 38. the son of Melea,

39. the son of Menna, 40. the son of Mattatha, 41. the son of Nathan,

42. the son of David, 43. the son of Jesse,

44. the son of Obed, 45. the son of Boaz, 46. the son of Salmon,

47. the son of Nahshon, 48. the son of Amminadab, 49. the son of Admin,

50. the son of Ram, 51. the son of Hezron, 52. the son of Perez,

53. the son of Judah, 54. the son of Jacob, 55. the son of Isaac,

56. the son of Abraham, 57. the son of Terah,

58. the son of Nahor, 59. the son of Serug, 60. the son of Reu,

61. the son of Peleg, 62. the son of Heber, 63. the son of Shelah,

64. the son of Cainan, 65. the son of Arphaxad, 66. the son of Shem,

67. the son of Noah, 68. the son of Lamech, 69. the son of Methuselah,

70. the son of Enoch, 71. the son of Jared, 72. the son of Mahalaleel,

73. the son of Cainan, 74. the son of Enosh, 75. the son of Seth,

76. the son of Adam, 77. the son of God.

1. The beginning of the gospel ^{aScene 111 · Note a×meaning "good news"} of Jesus Christ,^{bScene 111 · Note b×Hebrew: Meshiach = Greek: Christos = English: Christ} the Son of God.

2. In the days of Herod the Great,^{cScene 111 · Note c×Herod I (73 - 4 BCE) King of Judea & Galilee (37 - 4 BCE)} King of Judea, there was a priest of the division of Abijah ^{dScene 111 · Note d×1 Chronicles 24:1, 8NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead 1 Chronicles 24:1 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read 1 Chronicles 24:8 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} named Zacharias, who had a wife from the daughters of Aaron named Elizabeth. 3. They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all of the commandments and requirements of the Lord; 4. but they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.

5. Now, it happened that while Zacharias was performing his priestly service before God, in the appointed order of his division according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the Temple of the Lord and burn incense.

6. While the whole multitude of people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 7. Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him.

8. But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son; and you will give him the name John.^{eScene 111 · Note e×God is gracious / merciful}

9. "You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. 10. He will drink no wine or liquor;^{fScene 111 · Note f×Numbers 6:3NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Numbers 6:3 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb;^{gScene 111 · Note g×Jeremiah 1:5NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Jeremiah 1:5 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} and He will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.

11. "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the Spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children,^{hScene 111 · Note h×Malachi 4:5-6NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Malachi 4:5-6 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

12. Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." ^{iScene 111 · Note i×Genesis 17:17NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Genesis 17:17 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

13. The angel answered, and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.^{jScene 111 · Note j×Daniel 8:16; 9:21-22NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Daniel 8:16 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Daniel 9:21-22 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}14. And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak ^{kScene 111 · Note k×Ezekiel 3:26; 24:27NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Ezekiel 3:26 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Ezekiel 24:27 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."

15. The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the Temple. 16. When he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the Temple, because he kept making signs to them, and remained mute.

17. When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.

1. After these days Zacharias’ wife Elizabeth became pregnant; 2. and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, "This is the way that the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace from among men." ^{aScene 112 · Note a×Genesis 30:23NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Genesis 30:23 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

1. Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 2. to a virgin engaged to a man of the house of David whose name was Joseph; and the virgin's name was Mary.

3. Coming in, Gabriel said to her, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." 4. But Mary was very perplexed at this statement, and wondered what kind of greeting this was.

5. The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 6. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son; and you shall name Him Jesus.^{aScene 121 · Note a×(Isaiah 7:14)NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 7:14 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

7. "He will be great; and will be called the Son of the Most High; 8. and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His Kingdom will have no end." ^{bScene 121 · Note b×2 Samuel 7:12-17NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead 2 Samuel 7:12-17 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

9. Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?"

10. The angel answered, and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the Holy Child shall be called the Son of God.

11. "And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month; for nothing is impossible with God." ^{cScene 121 · Note c×Genesis 18:14 / Jeremiah 32:17NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Genesis 18:14 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Jeremiah 32:17 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

12. Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord! May it be done to me according to your word."

13. And Gabriel departed from her.

1. Then Mary arose, and went in a hurry to a city in the hill country of Judea, and she entered the house of Zacharias, and greeted Elizabeth.

2. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

3. And she cried out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 4. How has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord, would come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.

5. "Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord."

6. Mary said: "My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,^{aScene 122 · Note a×Psalm 35:9 / Habakkuk 3:18NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Psalm 35:9 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Habakkuk 3:18 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} for He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave.^{bScene 122 · Note b×Psalm 138:6NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Psalm 138:6 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

7. "And behold, from this time on, all generations will count me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me; and Holy is His Name.

8. "His mercy is upon generation after generation, toward those who fear Him.^{cScene 122 · Note c×Exodus 20:6 / Psalm 103:17NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Exodus 20:6 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Psalm 103:17 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}9. He has done mighty deeds with His arm; ^{dScene 122 · Note d×Psalm 98:1 / Isaiah 40:10NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Psalm 98:1 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Isaiah 40:10 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart. 10. He has brought down rulers from their thrones, and has exalted those who were humble. 11. He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent away the rich empty-handed. 12. He has given help to Israel His servant,^{eScene 122 · Note e×Isaiah 41:8NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 41:8 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} in remembrance of His mercy,^{fScene 122 · Note f×Psalm 98:3NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Psalm 98:3 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants, forever."

13. Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months, and then she returned to her home.

1. Now when the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, she gave birth to a son. 2. Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her, and they were rejoicing with her.

3. And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child,^{aScene 131 · Note a×Genesis 17:12 / Leviticus 12:3NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Genesis 17:12 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Leviticus 12:3 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} and they were going to name him Zacharias, after his father, but his mother answered and said, "No indeed, but he shall be called John."

4. They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name." 5. And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him to be called.

6. Zacharias asked for a tablet, and he wrote as follows: "His name is John." And they were all astonished.

7. And immediately the mouth of Zacharias was opened, and his tongue began to speak in praise of God.

1. John’s father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he prophesied, saying: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,^{aScene 132 · Note a×Psalm 106:48NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Psalm 106:48 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} for He has visited us, and accomplished redemption for His people!

2. "He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David,^{bScene 132 · Note b×2 Samuel 22:3 / Psalm 132:17 / Ezekiel 29:21NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead 2 Samuel 22:3 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Psalm 132:17 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Ezekiel 29:21 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} His servant, as He spoke by the mouth of His Holy Prophets from of old: 3. Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us, to show mercy toward our fathers; 4. and to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to Abraham our father,^{cScene 132 · Note c×Genesis 12:2-3; 22:17-18NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Genesis 12:2-3 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Genesis 22:17-18 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}5. to grant that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all our days.

6. "And you, child, will be called the Prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare His way; ^{dScene 132 · Note d×Isaiah 40:3NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 40:3 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}7. to give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us; 8. to shine upon those who sit in darkness ^{eScene 132 · Note e×Isaiah 9:2NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 9:2 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace."

9. Fear came upon all those living around them, and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. 10. All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, "What will this child turn out to be?" for the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.

11. The child continued to grow and to become strong in Spirit; and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

1. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be with Child by the Holy Spirit. 2. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away ^{aScene 141 · Note a×Deuteronomy 24:1NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Deuteronomy 24:1 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} secretly.

3. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 4. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

5. Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet Isaiah: "Behold, the young maiden shall be with child, and shall bear a Son; and they shall call His name Immanuel," ^{bScene 141 · Note b×Isaiah 7:14NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 7:14 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} which translated means, "God with us." ^{cScene 141 · Note c×Isaiah 8:8, 10NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 8:8 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Isaiah 8:10 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

6. Joseph awoke from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife; 7. but he kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a son.

1. In those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2. This was the first census taken while Quinctilius ^{aScene 142 · Note a×Publius Quinctilius Varus - Roman Governor of Syria from 7 BCE to 4 BCE} was Governor of Syria, and everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.

3. In order to register, Joseph went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee, to the city of David (which is called Bethlehem) in Judea, because he was of the house and family of David; 4. along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.

1. While they were there, the days were completed for Mary to give birth; and she gave birth to her firstborn son. 2. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

1. In the same region, there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night. 2. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them.

3. They were terribly frightened, but the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people. 4. For today in the city of David ^{aScene 144 · Note a×Micah 5:2NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Micah 5:2 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} there has been born for you a Savior,^{bScene 144 · Note b×(Isaiah 9:6)NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 9:6 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} who is Christ,^{cScene 144 · Note c×Hebrew Messiah - Daniel 9:25 / (Deuteronomy 18:15)NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Daniel 9:25 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Deuteronomy 18:15 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} the Lord. 5. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths, and lying in a manger."

6. And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly host, who were praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the Highest! 7. And on earth, peace among men with whom He is pleased."

8. When the angels had gone away into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us!"

9. So they went quickly, and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby, as He lay in the manger.

10. When the shepherds saw this, they made known the statement which had been told to them about this Child. 11. All who heard it wondered at the things which were told to them by the shepherds, but Mary pondered all these things, treasuring them in her heart.

12. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as they had been told.

1. When eight days had passed, before His circumcision,^{aScene 145 · Note a×Genesis 17:12 / Leviticus 12:3NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Genesis 17:12 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Leviticus 12:3 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel, before He was conceived in the womb.^{bScene 145 · Note b×Matthew 1:21 / Luke 1:31NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Matthew 1:21 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Luke 1:31 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

1. When the days for their purification according to the law of Moses were completed,^{aScene 151 · Note a×Leviticus 12:2-7NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Leviticus 12:2-7 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} they brought Jesus up to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord 2. (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord),^{bScene 151 · Note b×Exodus 13:2, 12, 15NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Exodus 13:2 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Exodus 13:12 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Exodus 13:15 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}3. and to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the Law, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." ^{cScene 151 · Note c×Leviticus 12:8NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Leviticus 12:8 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

4. There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 5. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit, that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

6. He came in the Spirit into the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, Simeon took Him into his arms, and he blessed God, and said, 7. "Now Lord, You are releasing Your bond-servant to depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples; a Light of revelation to the Gentiles,^{dScene 151 · Note d×Isaiah 42:6NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 42:6 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} and the glory of Your people Israel!"

8. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed, to the end that the thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. 9. And a sword will pierce even your own soul."

10. His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Jesus.

1. There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. 2. She was advanced in years, and had lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. 3. She never left the Temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.

4. At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Jesus to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

1. When they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth. 2. The Child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

1. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the King,^{aScene 161 · Note a×Herod the Great (73 - 4 BCE) King of Judea & Galilee (37 - 4 BCE)} Magi ^{bScene 161 · Note b×likely Persian / Zoroastrian astrologers} from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born the King of the Jews? For we saw His star ^{cScene 161 · Note c×Numbers 24:17 / Isaiah 60:3NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Numbers 24:17 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Isaiah 60:3 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} in the east, and have come to worship Him."

2. When King Herod heard this, he was troubled, and all of Jerusalem with him. 3. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah ^{dScene 161 · Note d×Daniel 9:25 / (Deuteronomy 18:15)NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Daniel 9:25 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Deuteronomy 18:15 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} was to be born.

4. They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: 5. 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; for out of you shall come forth a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.' " ^{eScene 161 · Note e×Micah 5:2 / (Numbers 24:17)NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Micah 5:2 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Numbers 24:17 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

6. Then Herod secretly called the Magi, and determined from them the exact time that the star had appeared. 7. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search carefully for the Child; 8. and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him."

9. After hearing the King, the Magi went on their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them, until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11. After coming into the house, they saw the Child, with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. 12. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense,^{fScene 161 · Note f×Isaiah 60:3, 6 / (Psalm 72:10)NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 60:3 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Isaiah 60:6 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Psalm 72:10 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} and myrrh.^{gScene 161 · Note g×Exodus 30:23-25NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Exodus 30:23-25 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

13. Having been warned by God in a dream not to return to Herod, the Magi left for their own country by another way.

1. Now when the Magi had gone, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, and said, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him."

2. So Joseph got up, and took the Child and His mother while it was still night, and left for Egypt; 3. and they remained there until the death of Herod.^{aScene 162 · Note a×Herod I "The Great" - died spring (March?) 4 BCE}

1. When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the Magi, he became very enraged, and he sent men to slay all the male children who were in Bethlehem, and all its vicinity; from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the Magi.

2. Then, what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning; Rachel weeping for her children, and she refused to be comforted, because they were no more." ^{aScene 163 · Note a×Jeremiah 31:15 / (Genesis 37:35)NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Jeremiah 31:15 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Genesis 37:35 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

1. When Herod died,^{aScene 164 · Note a×Herod I "The Great" - died spring (March?) 4 BCE} behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream in Egypt, and said, "Get up. Take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child's life are dead." 2. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called My Son." ^{bScene 164 · Note b×Hosea 11:1 / (Numbers 23:22, 24:8)NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Hosea 11:1 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Numbers 23:22 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Numbers 24:8 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

3. So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. 4. But when he heard that Archelaus ^{cScene 164 · Note c×Herod Archelaus (23 BCE - 18 CE) Ethnarch of Judea & Samaria (4 BCE - 6 CE)} was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there.

5. Then, after being warned by God in a dream, Joseph left for the region of Galilee, and they came and lived in a city called Nazareth. 6. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: He shall be called a Nazarene.^{dScene 164 · Note d×source unknown}

1. Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover, and when Jesus became twelve, they went up there according to the custom of the Feast.

2. As they were returning, after spending the full number of days, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. 3. But His parents were unaware of it, and supposed Him to be in the caravan, and they went a day's journey.

4. When they began looking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances, and did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem looking for Him.

5. After three days, they found Jesus in the Temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 6. All who heard Him were amazed at His understanding, and His answers.

7. When His parents saw Him, they were astonished; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You treated us this way? Behold, Your father and I have been anxiously looking for You!"

8. Jesus said to them, "Why were you looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's house?" 9. But they did not understand this statement which He made to them.

10. Jesus returned to Nazareth with them, and He obeyed them; and His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

11. And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

1. In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was Governor of Judea, and Herod Antipater was Tetrarch of Galilee,^{aScene 211 · Note a×Herod Antipater (aka Antipas) (20 BCE - 39 CE) Tetrarch of Galilee & Perea (4 BCE - 39 CE)}2. and his brother Philip was Tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was Tetrarch of Abilene, 3. in the High Priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, 4. the Word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness of Judea.

5. John was sent from God, and he came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 6. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

7. And John the Baptist came into all the districts around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, saying, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!"

8. For this is the one referred to, "Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way",^{bScene 211 · Note b×Malachi 3:1NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Malachi 3:1 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}9. as it is written in the words of the book of Isaiah the prophet, when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Make ready the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight! ^{cScene 211 · Note c×Isaiah 40:3NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 40:3 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}10. Every ravine will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be brought low; the crooked will become straight, and the rough roads smooth; and all flesh will see the salvation of God.' " ^{dScene 211 · Note d×Isaiah 40:4-5; 52:10NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 40:4-5 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Isaiah 52:10 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

11. Now John was clothed with a garment of camel’s hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist; ^{eScene 211 · Note e×2 Kings 1:8 / Zechariah 13:4NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead 2 Kings 1:8 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Zechariah 13:4 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} and his diet was locusts and wild honey.

12. Then all the people of Jerusalem, and all the country of Judea, and all the district around the Jordan, were going out to him; 13. and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.

1. When John saw the many Pharisees and Sadducees coming out to be baptized by him, he began saying to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

2. Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance; 3. and do not suppose that you can begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you, that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham. 4. Indeed, the axe is already laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire."

1. The crowds were questioning John, saying, "What shall we do?" 2. And he would answer, and say to them, "The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise."

3. Some tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"

4. He said to them, "Collect no more than what you have been ordered to."

5. And some soldiers were questioning John, saying, "And what about us, what shall we do?"

6. He said to them, "Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely; ^{aScene 213 · Note a×Exodus 20:16; 23:1NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Exodus 20:16 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Exodus 23:1 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} and be content with your wages."

1. Now while all the people were in a state of expectation, and wondering in their hearts about whether John was the Christ, he answered as he was preaching, and said to them, "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance; 2. but One is coming after me who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. 3. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit,^{aScene 214 · Note a×Isaiah 44:3NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 44:3 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} and fire!

4. "His winnowing fork is in His hand,^{bScene 214 · Note b×Jeremiah 15:7 / (Psalm 20:26)NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Jeremiah 15:7 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Psalm 20:26 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.This reference is reproduced as printed in the EPUB. It appears to be out of range; no replacement verse has been assumed.} and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into His barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

5. And with many other exhortations John preached the gospel ^{cScene 214 · Note c×meaning good news} to the people.

1. This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent to him priests and Levites from Jerusalem, to ask him, "Who are you?"

2. John confessed, and he did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."

3. They asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not."

4. "Are you the Prophet?" ^{aScene 215 · Note a×Deuteronomy 18:15, 18NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Deuteronomy 18:15 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Deuteronomy 18:18 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} And he answered, "No."

5. Then they said to him, "Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?"

6. He said, "I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' ^{bScene 215 · Note b×Isaiah 40:3NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 40:3 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} as Isaiah the prophet said."

7. Then those who had been sent from the Pharisees asked him, "Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

8. He answered them, saying, "I baptize in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."

9. These things took place in Bethabara ^{cScene 215 · Note c×Bethany is inland, 20 km from the Jordan River} beyond the Jordan,^{dScene 215 · Note d×Judges 7:24NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Judges 7:24 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} where John was baptizing.

1. In those days, Jesus arrived from Nazareth in Galilee, coming to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him.

2. When John saw Jesus coming to him, he said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

3. "This is He on behalf of whom I said, 'After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.' 4. I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water."

5. John tried to prevent Jesus, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and You come to me?"

6. But Jesus said to him, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness."

7. Then John permitted Him.

1. When all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized by John in the Jordan River.

2. After being baptized, Jesus immediately came up out of the water; and while He was praying, behold, the heavens were opened, 3. and John saw the Holy Spirit of God, descending in bodily form like a dove, and lighting upon Jesus.

4. And behold, a voice came out of the heavens, and said, "You are My beloved Son;^{aScene 222 · Note a×Psalm 2:7NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Psalm 2:7 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} in You I am well-pleased."

1. John testified, and cried out, saying, "I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Jesus.

2. "I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, 'He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.'

3. "I myself have seen, and have testified, that this is the Son of God.

4. "This is He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.' "

1. When Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, He was immediately impelled to go out into the wilderness, where He was led around by the Spirit. 2. And He was in the wilderness with the wild beasts for forty days, being tempted by Satan, the Devil.

3. Jesus ate nothing during those days; and after He had fasted for forty days and forty nights,^{aScene 231 · Note a×Exodus 16:35, 34:28NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Exodus 16:35 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Exodus 34:28 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} He became hungry.

1. Then the Devil came, and said to Jesus, "If You are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread."

2. But Jesus answered, and said to him, "It is written; 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.' " ^{aScene 232 · Note a×Deuteronomy 8:3NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Deuteronomy 8:3 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

3. Then the Devil took Jesus into the holy city, Jerusalem, and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the Temple. 4. And the Devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here, for it is written, 'He will command His angels concerning You, to guard You'; 5. and 'On their hands they will bear You up, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.' " ^{bScene 232 · Note b×Psalm 91:11-12NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Psalm 91:11-12 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

6. Jesus answered, and said to him, "On the other hand, it is also written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.' " ^{cScene 232 · Note c×Deuteronomy 6:16NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Deuteronomy 6:16 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

7. Again, the Devil took Jesus up on a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, in a moment of time. 8. And the Devil said to Him, "I will give you all this domain and its glory, for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 9. Therefore, if you fall down and worship me, it shall all be Yours."

10. Then Jesus answered, and said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written; 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.' " ^{dScene 232 · Note d×Deuteronomy 6:13; 10:20NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Deuteronomy 6:13 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Deuteronomy 10:20 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

11. When the Devil had finished every temptation he left Him, until an opportune time. 12. And behold, angels came and began to minister to Jesus.

1. Jesus began His ministry when He was about thirty years of age.

2. One day John the Baptist was standing with two of his disciples; and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"

3. The two disciples heard John speak, and they followed Jesus.

4. Jesus turned, and saw them following, and He said to them, "What do you seek?"

5. They said to Him, "Rabbi (which translated means "Teacher"), where are You staying?"

6. He said to them, "Come, and you will see." 7. So they came and saw where Jesus was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.^{aScene 311 · Note a×Jewish late afternoon, about 5:00 pm}

8. One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Jesus, was named Andrew. 9. He found his brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah!" ^{bScene 311 · Note b×Daniel 9:25 / (Deuteronomy 18:15)NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Daniel 9:25 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Deuteronomy 18:15 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} (which translates as "Christ"); and he brought him to Jesus.

10. Jesus looked at him, and said, "You are Simon, the son of John. You shall be called Cephas" ^{cScene 311 · Note c×Aramaic for “rock” = Greek “petra”} (which is translated "Peter").

1. The next day Jesus purposed to go into Galilee; and He found Philip, and said to him, "Follow Me." 2. Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

3. Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

4. Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"

5. Philip said to him, "Come and see!"

6. When Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, He said, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit."

7. Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?"

8. Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

9. Nathanael answered Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel."

10. Jesus said to him, "You believe because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree; you will see greater things than these. 11. Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will see the heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending ^{aScene 312 · Note a×(Genesis 28:12)NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Genesis 28:12 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} upon the Son of Man."

1. On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee. 2. Mary, the mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.

3. When the wine ran out, His mother said to Jesus, "They have no wine."

4. He said to her, "Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come."

5. Mary said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it."

6. Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, each able to hold twenty or thirty gallons. ^{aScene 313 · Note a×approximately 90 and 130 liters} 7. Jesus said to them, "Fill the pots with water." So they filled them up to the brim.

8. Then He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it to him.

9. When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from - but the servants who had drawn the water knew - he called the bridegroom, and said to him, 10. "Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now!"

11. This first sign which Jesus did in Cana of Galilee manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.

12. After this, Jesus went down to Capernaum with His mother and His brothers and His disciples, and they stayed there a few days.

1. The Passover ^{aScene 321 · Note a×Deuteronomy 16:1-6NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Deuteronomy 16:1-6 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2. In the Temple He found those who were selling the oxen, sheep and doves; and the money changers seated at their tables.

3. Then Jesus made a scourge of cords, and He drove them all out of the Temple, with the sheep and the oxen; 4. and He poured out the coins of the money changers, and overturned their tables.

5. And He said to those who were selling the doves, "Take these things away! Stop making My Father's house a place of business!"

6. His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house will consume me." ^{bScene 321 · Note b×Psalm 69:9NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Psalm 69:9 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

7. Then the Jews said to Him, "What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?"

8. Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

9. The Jews said, "It took forty-six years to build this Temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" 10. But He was speaking of the temple of His body.

11. So when Jesus was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this; and they believed the Scripture, and the Word which He had spoken.

12. Now while He was in Jerusalem, many believed in His Name, observing the signs which He was doing during the Passover Feast. 13. But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 14. and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, because He Himself knew what was in man.

1. Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2. he came to Jesus at night, and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a Teacher, for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him."

3. Jesus answered, and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."

4. Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"

5. Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.

7. "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8. The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from, or where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

9. Nicodemus said, "How can these things be?"

10. Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not understand these things? 11. Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. 12. If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you Heavenly things?

13. "No one has ascended into Heaven but He who descended from Heaven: the Son of Man. 14. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,^{aScene 322 · Note a×Numbers 21:9NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Numbers 21:9 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that everyone who believes in Him will have eternal life.

15. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 16. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

17. "He who believes in Him is not judged; 18. but he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God.

19. "This is the judgment: that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

21. "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested, as having been wrought in God."

1. After these things, Jesus and His disciples came into the Judean countryside, and He was spending time with them there and baptizing; although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were.

2. John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and the people were coming and being baptized, for John had not yet been thrown into prison.

3. The Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that He was making and baptizing more disciples than John.

4. When a discussion arose on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purification, they came to John, and said to him, "Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing, and all are coming to Him."

5. John answered, and said to them, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from Heaven. 6. You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but 'I have been sent ahead of Him.'

7. "He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. 8. So this joy of mine has been made full!

9. "He must increase, but I must decrease."

1. John said, "He who comes from above is above all; 2. he who is of the earth is from the earth, and speaks of the earth.

3. "He who comes from Heaven is above all. 4. What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony.

5. "He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this; that God is true. 6. For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for He gives the Spirit without measure.

7. "The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.

8. "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; 9. but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, and the wrath of God will abide on him."

1. Of all the wicked things which Herod the Tetrarch ^{aScene 331 · Note a×Herod Antipater (aka Antipas) (20 BCE - 39 CE) Tetrarch of Galilee & Perea (4 BCE - 39 CE)} had done, he added this to them all: he sent and had John arrested; and he bound him, and locked him up in prison. 2. For John had reprimanded Herod because he had married Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip;^{bScene 331 · Note b×Herod Philip I (27 BCE - 34 CE) Tetrarch of Ituraea, Trachonitis & Gaulonitis (4 BCE - 34 CE)} and he had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." ^{cScene 331 · Note c×Leviticus 18:16; 20:21NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Leviticus 18:16 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Leviticus 20:21 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

3. Herodias had a grudge against John and wanted to put him to death, but Herod could not do so, for he was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man; 4. and Herod feared the crowd because they regarded John as a prophet, and so he kept him safe. 5. When Herod heard John he was very perplexed, but he enjoyed listening to him.

6. When Jesus heard that John had been taken into custody, He withdrew from Judea and went into Galilee; and He had to pass through Samaria.

1. Jesus came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.^{aScene 332 · Note a×Genesis 33:19; Joshua 24:32NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Genesis 33:19 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Joshua 24:32 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}2. Jacob's well was there, and being wearied from His journey, Jesus was sitting by the well.

3. At about the sixth hour,^{bScene 332 · Note b×about noon} a woman of Samaria came there to draw water.

4. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink," for His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

5. The Samaritan woman said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink, since I am a Samaritan woman?" 6. (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

7. Jesus answered, and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is^{cScene 332 · Note c×Daniel 9:25 / (Deuteronomy 18:15)NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Daniel 9:25 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Deuteronomy 18:15 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."

8. She said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; how will You get the living water? 9. You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us this well, and drank from it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?"

1. Jesus answered, and said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst, 2. because the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water, springing up to eternal life." ^{aScene 333 · Note a×Isaiah 44:3; (12:3) / Jeremiah 2:13 / Zechariah 13:1; 14:8NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 44:3 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Isaiah 12:3 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Jeremiah 2:13 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Zechariah 13:1 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Zechariah 14:8 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

3. The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty, nor come all the way here to draw."

4. Jesus said to her, "Go, and call your husband to come here."

5. The woman answered, and said, "I have no husband."

6. He said to her, "You have correctly said, 'I have no husband'; for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you are with now is not your husband; this you have said truly."

7. The woman said to Jesus, "Sir, I perceive that You are a Prophet. 8. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain,^{bScene 333 · Note b×Genesis 12:6-7; 33:17-20 / Judges 9:6-7NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Genesis 12:6-7 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Genesis 33:17-20 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Judges 9:6-7 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship." ^{cScene 333 · Note c×1 Kings 9:3 / 2 Kings 17:28 / 2 Chronicles 7:12-16 / Psalm 122:1-4 / Isaiah 2:3NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead 1 Kings 9:3 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read 1 Kings 9:2 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read 2 Chronicles 7:12-16 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Psalm 122:1-4 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Isaiah 2:3 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

9. Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, will you worship The Father. 10. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.

11. "But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship The Father in Spirit and in truth; for such people The Father seeks to be His worshipers. 12. God is Spirit; and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit, and truth."

13. The woman said to Him, "I know that the Messiah ^{dScene 333 · Note d×Daniel 9:25 / (Deuteronomy 18:15) - Hebrew: Meshiach = Greek: Christos = English: ChristNASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Daniel 9:25 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Deuteronomy 18:15 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us."

14. Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He."

15. At this point, His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, "What do You seek?" or, "Why do You speak with her?"

16. So the woman left her waterpot and went into the city, and said to the men, "Come and see a man who told me all the things that I have done! 17. Could this be the Messiah?"

18. So the people went out of the city, and were coming to Jesus.

1. Meanwhile, His disciples were urging Jesus, saying, "Rabbi, eat." But He said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." 2. So the disciples were saying to one another, "No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?"

3. Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work.

4. "Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? 5. Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest! 6. Already he who reaps is receiving wages, and is gathering fruit for life eternal, so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. 7. For in this case the saying is true, 'One sows, and another reaps.'

8. "I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."

9. From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him, because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all the things that I have done."

10. The Samaritans asked Jesus to stay with them; and He stayed there for two days.

11. Many more believed because of His words; 12. and they were saying to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world."

13. After two days, Jesus went forth from there into Galilee, for He Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.

1. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the Passover, for they themselves also went to the Feast; 2. and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district.

3. Leaving Nazareth, Jesus came again to Cana in Galilee, where He had turned the water into wine.

1. There was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum. 2. When Jesus had come out of Judea and into Galilee, he went to Him; and he implored Jesus to come and heal his son, who was at the point of death.

3. Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe."

4. The royal official said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies."

5. Jesus said to him, "Go; your son lives."

6. The man believed the Word that Jesus spoke to him, and headed home. 7. As he was going, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living.

8. When he asked them the hour at which he began to get better, they said to him, "The fever left him yesterday, at the seventh hour." 9. So the father knew that it was the hour in which Jesus had said to him, "Your son lives"; and he himself believed, and his entire household.

10. This is the second sign that Jesus performed after He had come out of Judea and into Galilee.

1. Jesus came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 2. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles - 3. The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great Light, and those who were sitting in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a Light dawned." ^{aScene 343 · Note a×Isaiah 9:1-2; 42:7NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 9:1-2 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Isaiah 42:7 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

4. From that time, Jesus began to preach the gospel of God, and say, "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel!" ^{bScene 343 · Note b×meaning good news}

5. And He began teaching in their synagogues, and was being praised by all.

1. As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

2. Later, Jesus was standing by the sea, and the crowd was pressing around Him, and listening to the Word of God. 3. And He saw two boats lying at the shore, but the fishermen had gotten out of them, and were washing their nets.

4. Jesus got into Simon's boat, and asked him to move a little way from the land; then He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat.

5. When He had finished speaking, Jesus said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water, and let down your nets for a catch."

6. Simon answered, and said, "Master, we have worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say, and let down the nets."

7. When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break. 8. So they signaled their partners in the other boat for them to come and help; and they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink.

9. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying, "Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man," 10. for amazement had seized him and all of his companions, because of the amount of fish which they had caught.

11. Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and do not fear; from now on I will make you become fishers of men!"

12. Immediately they left their nets, and followed Him.

1. Going on a little farther from there, Jesus saw two other brothers; James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were partners with Simon. 2. They were in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending the nets.

3. Jesus called them, and when they had brought their boats to land, immediately they left everything, and their father in the boat with the hired servants, and they went away and followed Him.

1. They went into Capernaum, and on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue, and began to teach them. 2. They were amazed at His teaching, for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

3. Just then, there was a man in the synagogue possessed by the unclean spirit of a demon. 4. And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Let us alone! 5. What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? 6. I know who You are - the Holy One of God!"

7. But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him."

8. When the demon had thrown the man down and into convulsions in the midst of the people, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice, and came out of him without hurting him.

9. And they were all amazed, and began talking among themselves, and saying, "What is this message? 10. A new teaching with authority! For with authority and power He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him, and come out."

11. Then Jesus got up, and left the synagogue.

12. And immediately the news about Him spread everywhere, into every locality in all the districts surrounding Galilee.

1. After they came out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

2. When Jesus came into Peter's home, He saw his mother-in-law lying sick in bed, and suffering from a high fever. 3. Immediately they spoke to Jesus, and asked Him to help her.

4. He came to her, and standing over her, He took her by the hand, and raised her up.

5. Then He rebuked the fever, and it left her; and she immediately got up and waited on them.

1. When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill with various diseases, and many who were demon-possessed; and the whole city was gathered at the door.

2. Laying His hands on each one of them, Jesus healed all who were ill, and He cast out the spirits with a word. 3. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: "He Himself took our infirmities, and carried away our diseases." ^{aScene 353 · Note a×Isaiah 53:4NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 53:4 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

4. Demons were also coming out of many, shouting, "You are the Son of God!"

5. But rebuking them, Jesus would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew that He was the Christ.

1. Early the next morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.

2. The crowds were searching for Him, and when Simon and his companions found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."

3. The crowds came and tried to keep Him from going away from them, but He said to them, "I must go to the other cities and towns nearby, so that I may preach the Kingdom of God there also; for I was sent for this purpose."

4. So Jesus was going throughout all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom; 5. and casting out the demons, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.

6. The news about Jesus spread throughout all Syria, and they brought to Him all who were ill, and those suffering with various diseases and pains, demoniacs, epileptics, and paralytics, and He healed them.

7. Large crowds followed Him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and beyond the Jordan.

1. While He was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he came and bowed down on his knees before Him, and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean!"

2. Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said, "I am willing; be cleansed." 3. Immediately the leprosy left the man, and he was cleansed.

4. Jesus sent Him away, and sternly ordered him, saying, "See that you tell no one; but go, and show yourself to the priest, and present the offering for your cleansing that Moses commanded,^{aScene 355 · Note a×Leviticus 14:1-32NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Leviticus 14:1-32 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} as a testimony to them."

5. But the man went out and began to proclaim it freely, and the news about Jesus was spreading around even farther. 6. And large crowds were gathering to Him from everywhere, to hear Him, and to be healed of their sicknesses; 7. to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in the unpopulated areas, where He would often slip away into the wilderness and pray.

1. Soon afterwards, Jesus went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd.

2. As He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother. 3. She was a widow, and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her.

4. When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, "Do not weep." 5. Then He came up and touched the coffin, and the bearers came to a halt.

6. Jesus said, "Young man, I say to you, arise!" and the dead man sat up, and began to speak.

7. Jesus gave him back to his mother, and fear gripped them all.

8. And they began glorifying God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and, "God has visited His people." 9. This report concerning Jesus went out all over Judea, and into all of the surrounding district.

10. Then the disciples of John the Baptist reported to him about all these things.

1. When John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he summoned two of his disciples, and sent them to the Lord, saying, "Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?"

2. When the men came to Jesus, they said to Him, "John the Baptist has sent us to ask You,'Are you the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?' "

3. At that very time Jesus cured many people of diseases and afflictions, and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.

4. He answered, and said to them, "Go and report to John what you see and hear: the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up,^{aScene 361 · Note a×Isaiah 29:18; 35:5-6NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 29:18 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Isaiah 35:5-6 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} and the poor have the gospel preached to them.^{bScene 361 · Note b×Isaiah 61:1NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 61:1 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

5. "And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me."

1. When the messengers of John had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. 2. He asked them, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

3. "But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? 4. Those who are splendidly dressed in soft clothing, and live in luxury, are found in royal palaces.

5. "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a Prophet. 6. This is the One about whom it is written, 'Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.' ^{aScene 362 · Note a×Malachi 3:1NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Malachi 3:1 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

7. "Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist. 8. Yet the one who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.

9. "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force; 10. for all the prophets, and the Law, prophesied until John. 11. And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come. 12. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

13. When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they acknowledged God's justice, having been baptized with the baptism of John. 14. But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God's purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by John.

1. Then Jesus said, "To what shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like?

2. "They are like children sitting in the market place, who call out to one another, and say, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.' 3. For John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and they say, 'He has a demon!' 4. The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'

5. "Yet wisdom is vindicated by all of her deeds."

1. After this, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2. Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which in Hebrew is called Bethesda,^{aScene 371 · Note a×Hebrew meaning House of "Mercy", "Kindness" or "Grace"} having five porticoes. 3. In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered. 4. They were waiting for the movement of the waters, for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred up the water, and whoever then first stepped in after the stirring up of the water was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.

5. A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been in that condition for a long time, He said to him, "Do you wish to get well?"

7. The sick man answered, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me."

8. Jesus said to him, "Get up, pick up your pallet, and walk." 9. Immediately the man became well, and he picked up his pallet, and began to walk.

10. Now it was the Sabbath on that day, so the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, "It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet." ^{bScene 371 · Note b×Exodus 20:8-10; 31:15 / Deuteronomy 5:12-14 / Jeremiah 17:21-22NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Exodus 20:8-10 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Exodus 31:15 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Deuteronomy 5:12-14 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Jeremiah 17:21-22 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

11. But he answered them, "He who made me well was the one who said to me, 'Pick up your pallet, and walk.' "

12. They asked him, "Who is the man who said to you, 'Pick up your pallet and walk'?" But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd.

13. Afterward, Jesus found him in the Temple, and said to him, "Behold, you have become well. Do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you."

1. The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 2. So the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.

3. But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working."

4. So the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Jesus, because not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was also calling God His own Father, thus making Himself equal with God.

5. But Jesus answered, and said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something that He sees The Father is doing; 6. for whatever The Father does, these things the Son also does, in the same way.

7. "For The Father loves the Son, and shows Him all of the things that He Himself is doing; 8. and The Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel! 9. For just as The Father raises the dead, and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.

10. "For The Father does not judge anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son, even as they honor The Father.

11. "He who does not honor the Son, does not honor The Father who sent Him."

1. "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My words, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death and into life.

2. "Truly, truly, I say to you, that an hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 3. For just as The Father has life in Himself, even so He gave the Son to also have life in Himself; 4. and because He is the Son of Man, He gave Him authority to execute judgment.^{aScene 373 · Note a×Daniel 7:13-14NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Daniel 7:13-14 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

5. "Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; ^{bScene 373 · Note b×Isaiah 26:29NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 26:29 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.This reference is reproduced as printed in the EPUB. It appears to be out of range; no replacement verse has been assumed.}6. those who did good deeds, to a resurrection of life, 7. and those who committed evil deeds, to a resurrection of judgment.^{cScene 373 · Note c×Daniel 12:2NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Daniel 12:2 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

8. "I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."

1. "If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. 2. There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true. 3. You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.

4. "But the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.

5. "John was the lamp that was burning and shining, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his Light. 6. But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; 7. for the works which The Father has given Me to accomplish - the very works that I do - testify about Me, that The Father has sent Me. 8. And The Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me.

9. "You have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His form. 10. You do not have His Word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He has sent.

11. "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 12. and yet you are unwilling to come to Me, so that you may have life.

13. "I do not receive glory from men; 14. but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves.

15. "I have come in My Father's Name, and you do not receive Me; 16. but if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 17. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another, and you do not seek the glory that is from The One and only God?

18. "Do not think that I will accuse you before The Father; the One who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope. 19. For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.^{aScene 374 · Note a×Deuteronomy 18:15, 18NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Deuteronomy 18:15 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Deuteronomy 18:18 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

20. "But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

1. A lawyer stood up, and put Jesus to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

2. Jesus said to him, "What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?"

3. He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; ^{aScene 375 · Note a×Deuteronomy 6:5-6; 10:12; 30:6NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Deuteronomy 6:5-6 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Deuteronomy 10:12 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Deuteronomy 30:6 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}4. and your neighbor as yourself." ^{bScene 375 · Note b×Leviticus 19:18, 34NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Leviticus 19:18 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Leviticus 19:34 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

5. Jesus said to him, "You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live."

6. But wishing to justify himself, the lawyer said to Him, "And who is my neighbor?"

7. Jesus replied, and said, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers; and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead.

8. "By chance a priest was traveling on that road, and when he saw the wounded man, he passed by on the other side.

9. "Likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, he also passed by on the other side.

10. "But a Samaritan who was on a journey came upon him, and when he saw him, he felt compassion; and he came to him, and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. 11. Then he put him on his own beast, and brought him to the inn, and took care of him.

12. "On the next day, he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I return.'

13. "Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers' hands?"

14. The lawyer said, "The one who showed mercy toward him."

15. Then Jesus said to him, "Go, and do the same."

1. As they were traveling Jesus entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.

2. She had a sister named Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, and listening to His words. 3. But Martha was distracted with all of her preparations; and she came to Jesus and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all of the serving alone? Tell her to help me!"

4. But the Lord answered, and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things, but only one thing is necessary; 5. for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

1. When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, it was heard that He was at home, and so many had gathered together that there was no longer any room, not even near the door.

2. He was speaking the Word to them, and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea, and from Jerusalem.

3. The power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing, and they brought to Him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a bed carried by four men. 4. They were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Jesus, but being unable to find any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on to the roof, and removed the tiles above Him.

5. When they had dug an opening, they let the paralytic down through the tiles with the stretcher on which he was lying, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus.

6. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven."

1. Some of the scribes and Pharisees who were sitting there began to reason in their hearts, and say to themselves, "Why does this man speak that way? This fellow is blaspheming! 2. Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?" ^{aScene 382 · Note a×Isaiah 43:25NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 43:25 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

3. Immediately Jesus was aware in His Spirit that they were reasoning this way within themselves; and He answered, and said to them, "Why are you thinking evil about these things in your hearts? 4. Which is easier to say? 'Your sins are forgiven', or to say, 'Get up, and pick up your pallet, and walk'?

5. "But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," He then said to the paralytic, "I say to you, get up, and pick up your pallet, and go home."

6. And immediately the man got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God in the sight of everyone.

7. When the crowds saw this, they were all struck with astonishment, and they began glorifying God, who had given such authority to men. 8. And they were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen remarkable things today! We have never seen anything like this."

9. Jesus went out by the seashore; and all the people were coming to Him, and He was teaching them.

1. After that, Jesus went on from there, and as He passed by He noticed a tax collector named Matthew Levi, sitting in the tax collector's booth; and He said to him, "Follow Me."

2. Matthew got up, left everything behind, and began to follow Jesus.

1. Then Matthew gave a large reception for Jesus in his house. 2. And as Jesus was reclining at the table, behold, a great crowd of many tax collectors and sinners came, and were dining with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many of them, and they were following Him.

3. When the Pharisees and their scribes saw that Jesus was eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they began grumbling, and said to His disciples, "Why is your Teacher eating and drinking with the tax collectors and sinners?"

4. When Jesus heard this, He answered, and said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. 5. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,' ^{aScene 384 · Note a×Hosea 6:6 / Micah 6:6-8NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Hosea 6:6 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Micah 6:6-8 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}6. for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."

1. The disciples of John the Baptist and the Pharisees were fasting; and John's disciples came to Jesus, and said to Him, "We often fast and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees also do the same. 2. Why do we and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples eat and drink, and do not fast?"

3. Jesus said to them, "While the bridegroom is with them, the attendants of the bridegroom cannot fast, can they? 4. So long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast; but the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days."

1. Jesus also told them a parable: "No one tears a piece of unshrunk cloth from a new garment and sews it on an old garment, otherwise the new piece will not match the old; and when the new patch pulls away from the old garment a worse tear results.

2. "Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins, otherwise the new wine will burst the wineskins, and it will be spilled out and lost; and the skins are ruined as well. 3. But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins, and then both are preserved.

4. "And no one after drinking old wine wishes for new, for he says, 'The old is better.' "

1. It happened that Jesus was passing through some grainfields on the Sabbath; and as His disciples began to make their way along they became hungry, and they began to pick the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating the grain.

2. When some of the Pharisees saw this, they said to Jesus, "Look, why are your disciples doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?" ^{aScene 387 · Note a×Exodus 20:8-10; 31:15 / Deuteronomy 5:12-14NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Exodus 20:8-10 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Exodus 31:15 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Deuteronomy 5:12-14 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

3. Jesus answering them, said, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need, and he and his companions who were with him became hungry; 4. how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the High Priest, and took and ate the consecrated bread,^{bScene 387 · Note b×1 Samuel 21:6NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead 1 Samuel 21:6 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} and he also gave it to his companions, 5. which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those with him, or anyone except for the priests alone? ^{cScene 387 · Note c×Exodus 29:33 / Leviticus 24:5-9NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Exodus 29:33 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Leviticus 24:5-9 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

6. "Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the Temple break the Sabbath, and are innocent? ^{dScene 387 · Note d×Numbers 28:9-10NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Numbers 28:9-10 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}7. But I say to you that something greater than the Temple is here.

8. "And if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' ^{eScene 387 · Note e×Hosea 6:6NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Hosea 6:6 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} you would not have condemned the innocent."

9. And Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.^{fScene 387 · Note f×Exodus 20:10 / Deuteronomy 5:14NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Exodus 20:10 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Deuteronomy 5:14 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}10. Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath."

1. Departing from there, Jesus entered into their synagogue, and was teaching; and a man was there whose right hand was withered.

2. The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Jesus closely, to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might find reason to accuse Him.

3. And they questioned Jesus, asking, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"

4. But Jesus knew what they were thinking, and He said to the man with the withered hand, "Get up, and come forward." And the man got up, and came forward.

5. And Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it?" But they kept silent.

6. And Jesus said to them, "What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it, and lift it out? 7. How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! 8. So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."

9. Then looking around at them all with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." 10. He stretched it out, and his hand was restored to normal, like the other.

11. But the Pharisees were filled with rage, and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

12. They went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.

13. Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there to the sea with His disciples.

14. A great multitude followed Him; and He told His disciples that a boat should stand ready for Him, so that the people would not crowd Him.

1. It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples."

2. Jesus said to them, "When you pray, say: 'Father, Holy is Your Name. Your Kingdom come. 3. Give us each day our daily bread; 4. and forgive us our sins, as we forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

5. "And lead us not into temptation.' "

1. The day came for John the Baptist when King Herod ^{aScene 391 · Note a×Herod Antipater (aka Antipas) (20 BCE - 39 CE) Tetrarch of Galilee & Perea (4 BCE - 39 CE)} on his birthday gave a banquet for his lords and military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee.

2. When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced before them, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests so much, that he said to her, "Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you!"

3. And the King swore an oath to her; "Whatever you ask of me, I will give to you, up to half of my kingdom." ^{bScene 391 · Note b×Esther 5:3, 6; 7:2NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Esther 5:3 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Esther 5:6 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Esther 7:2 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

4. The girl went out, and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" And Herodias said, "The head of John the Baptist!"

5. Having been prompted by her mother, the girl immediately came in a hurry to the King, and said, "I want you to give me here at once the head of John the Baptist, on a platter."

6. And although Herod was very grieved, yet because of his oaths, and because of his dinner guests, the king was unwilling to refuse her, and he commanded it to be given.

1. Immediately King Herod sent an executioner to behead John in the prison; and he commanded him to bring back his head.

2. The executioner went, and brought John's head on a platter, and gave it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother.

3. When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body away, and laid it in a tomb; and they went and reported this to Jesus.

4. When Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself, on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, near Tiberias.

1. A great number of people heard of all that Jesus was doing, and came to Him. 2. All those who had afflictions pressed around Him, in order to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being cured.

3. Whenever the unclean spirits saw Jesus, they would fall down before Him, and shout, "You are the Son of God!" and He would earnestly warn them not to tell who He was. 4. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: "Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen; My Beloved in whom My Soul is well-pleased! 5. I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles. 6. He will not quarrel, nor cry out; nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. 7. A battered reed He will not break off, and a smoldering wick He will not put out, until He leads justice to victory.

8. "And in His Name the Gentiles will hope." ^{aScene 411 · Note a×Isaiah 42:1-4NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 42:1-4 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

1. When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain to pray; and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.

2. When day came, He called His disciples, and summoned to Himself those whom He wanted.

3. After He sat down, they came to Him; and He appointed twelve of them, whom He also called apostles,^{aScene 412 · Note a×meaning “one who is sent”} 4. so that they would be with Him, and that He could send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out the demons.

5. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first is Simon, the son of John,^{bScene 412 · Note b×Hebrew "Barjonah" (TSG 531.6 / Matthew 16:17) / John 1:42; 21:15-17NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Matthew 16:17 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read John 1:42 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read John 21:15-17 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} to whom Jesus also gave the name Peter;^{cScene 412 · Note c×Aramaic for “rock”= Greek “petra” - John 1:42NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead John 1:42 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} 6. and Andrew his brother;

7. and James, the son of Zebedee; 8. and John his brother (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, "Sons of Thunder");

9. and Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee; 10. and Bartholomew ^{dScene 412 · Note d×may also be Nathanael: John 1:45-49; 21:2 / Acts 1:13Source numbering: the EPUB repeats marker 3 here. It also lists note 7 without a matching marker: Greek for "twin" or "double"NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead John 1:45-49 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read John 21:2 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Acts 1:13 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}from Cana in Galilee;

11. and Matthew Levi,^{eScene 412 · Note e×Mark 2:14 / Luke 5:27NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Mark 2:14 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Luke 5:27 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} the tax collector, from Capernaum;^{fScene 412 · Note f×Mark 2:1-14NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Mark 2:1-14 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

12. and Thomas, who is called Didymus ^{gScene 412 · Note g×Greek for "twin" or "double"} (which means "twin");

13. and James, the son of Alphaeus;

14. and Judas Thaddaeus, the son of James;

15. and Simon Iscariot, who was called the Zealot;

16. and Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon,^{hScene 412 · Note h×John 6:71; 13:2, 26NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead John 6:71 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read John 13:2 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read John 13:26 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} the one who would betray Him.

1. Jesus came down with the apostles, and stood on a level place where there was a large crowd of His disciples. 2. And a great throng of people was there from Galilee, and from Jerusalem and all of Judea, and from Idumea, and beyond the Jordan, and the coastal regions of Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear Jesus, and to be healed of their diseases.

3. Turning His gaze toward His disciples, Jesus opened His mouth, and began to teach them, saying, 4. "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.

5. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

6. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

7. "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.^{aScene 421 · Note a×Psalm 37:11NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Psalm 37:11 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

8. "Blessed are you who hunger and thirst for righteousness now, for you shall be satisfied.

9. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

10. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.^{bScene 421 · Note b×Psalm 41:1NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Psalm 41:1 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

11. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

12. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

13. "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

14. "Blessed are you when people insult you, and men hate you, and persecute you, and scorn your name, and falsely say all kinds of evil things against you, because of Me, the Son of Man. 15. Rejoice and be glad in that day, and leap for joy; for behold, your reward in Heaven is great; for in the same way their fathers persecuted the prophets who were before you.

16. "But woe to you who are rich now, for you are receiving your comfort in full.

17. "Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry.

18. "Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.

19. "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way."

1. "You are the salt of the earth, and salt is good; 2. but if the salt has become unsalty and tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? How can it be made salty again? 3. It is useless for either the soil or the manure pile, and is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out, and trampled under foot by men.

4. "Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.

5. "If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear."

1. And Jesus said to them, "You are the light of the world! 2. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden, 3. and no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a basket, or puts it under a bed, or away in a cellar, 4. but it is put on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house, so that those who enter may see the light. 5. Therefore, let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.

6. "For nothing is hidden except to be revealed and become evident; nor has anything been secret that will not come to light and be known."

1. "The eye is the lamp of the body, so if your eye is clear then your whole body will also be full of light; 2. but if your eye is bad, then your whole body will also be full of darkness. 3. If the light that is in you is darkness, great is that darkness! 4. Watch out then, that the light in you is not darkness.

5. "Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays."

1. "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law, or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 2. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law, until everything is fulfilled.

3. "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; 4. but whoever keeps them, and teaches them, they shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

5. "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven."

1. "You have heard that the ancients were told, 'You shall not commit murder' ^{aScene 426 · Note a×Exodus 20:13 / Deuteronomy 5:17NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Exodus 20:13 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Deuteronomy 5:17 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}2. and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.' 3. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; 4. and whoever says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; 5. and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell!

6. "Therefore, if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering."

1. "Why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? 2. For while you are going with your opponent at law to appear before the magistrate, make an effort to settle quickly with him on the way there, so that he may not drag you before the judge, 3. and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.

4. "Truly I say to you, that you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent."

1. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery'; ^{aScene 428 · Note a×Exodus 20:14 / Deuteronomy 5:18NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Exodus 20:14 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Deuteronomy 5:18 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}2. but I say to you, that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her, has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

3. "If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you, for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

4. "If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you, for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.

5. "It was said, 'Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce'; ^{bScene 428 · Note b×Deuteronomy 24:1NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Deuteronomy 24:1 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}6. but I say to you, that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; 7. and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery."

1. "Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord.' ^{aScene 429 · Note a×Numbers 30:2 / Leviticus 19:12 / Deuteronomy 23:23NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Numbers 30:2 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Leviticus 19:12 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Deuteronomy 23:23 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}2. But I say to you, make no oath at all; either by Heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet,^{bScene 429 · Note b×Isaiah 66:1NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 66:1 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}3. or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.^{cScene 429 · Note c×Psalm 48:1-2NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Psalm 48:1-2 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}4. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

5. "But let your statement be 'Yes' or 'No', because anything more than these leads to evil."

1. "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth;' ^{aScene 431 · Note a×Exodus 21:24 / Leviticus 24:20 / Deuteronomy 19:21NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Exodus 21:24 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Leviticus 24:20 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Deuteronomy 19:21 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} but I say to you, do not resist an evil person; 2. and whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn and offer the other to him also.^{bScene 431 · Note b×Isaiah 50:6NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 50:6 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

3. "If anyone wants to sue you, and take away your shirt, do not withhold your shirt from him - and let him have your coat also. 4. "Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

5. "Give to everyone who asks of you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you; 6. and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back. 7. If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.

8. "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure - pressed down, shaken together, and running over. 9. For by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you in return."

1. "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor ^{aScene 432 · Note a×Leviticus 19:18NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Leviticus 19:18 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} and hate your enemy.' 2. But I say to you who hear; love your enemies, and do good to those who hate you; 3. bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.

4. "If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 5. And if you only do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

6. "But love your enemies, and do good; 7. and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, for you will be sons of the Most High, your Father who is in Heaven; 8. for He Himself is kind to evil and ungrateful men, and He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good,^{bScene 432 · Note b×Job 25:3NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Job 25:3 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} and sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous. 9. Therefore, be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

10. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? What reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 11. For even sinners love those who love them.

12. "Therefore you are to be perfect,^{cScene 432 · Note c×Genesis 17:1NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Genesis 17:1 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} as your Heavenly Father is perfect."

1. "Beware of practicing your righteousness to be noticed by men; otherwise you will have no reward from your Father who is in Heaven. 2. So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

3. "But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving will be in secret; 4. and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

1. "When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

2. "But when you pray, go into your room and close the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

3. "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words, so do not be like them; 4. for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."

1. "Pray, then, in this way: Our Father who is in Heaven, Holy is Your Name. 2. Your Kingdom come, and Your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.^{aScene 435 · Note a×Psalm 103:20-21NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Psalm 103:20-21 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

3. "Give us this day our daily bread,^{bScene 435 · Note b×Proverb 30:8NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Proverbs 30:8 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}4. and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

5. "And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil, 6. for Yours is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

7. "Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive others for their transgressions, so that your Father who is in Heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.

8. "But if you do not forgive others, then neither will your Father who is in Heaven forgive your transgressions."

1. "Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

2. "But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; 3. and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

1. Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me."

2. Jesus said to him, "Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?"

3. Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."

4. And He told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive, and he began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?'

5. "Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns, and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 6. And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; eat, drink, and be merry!" '

7. "But God said to him, 'You fool. This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?'

8. "So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

1. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,^{aScene 438 · Note a×(Proverb 23:4)NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Proverbs 23:4 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 2. But sell your possessions, and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out.

3. "Store up for yourselves an unfailing treasure in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; 4. for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

1. And Jesus said, "For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat, or what you will drink, nor for your body, as to what you will put on; for life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

2. "Consider the birds of the air, for they do not sow nor reap; they have no storeroom, and nor do they gather into barns; and yet God, your Heavenly Father, feeds them. 3. You are much more valuable than the birds.

4. "And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life's span? 5. If then, you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?

6. "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe the lilies of the field, and consider how they grow; 7. they do not toil, nor do they spin; yet I say to you, that not even Solomon, in all his glory, clothed himself like one of these. 8. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, you men of little faith.

9. "So then, do not say, 'What will we eat?' and 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' and do not be anxious; 10. for the nations of the world eagerly seek all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. 11. But seek first His Kingdom, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

12. "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has gladly chosen to give you the Kingdom.

13. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself, 14. because each day has enough trouble of its own."

1. "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. 2. For in the way that you judge, you will be judged, and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

3. "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4. Or how can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when behold, you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? 5. 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."

6. And He also spoke a parable to them: "A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into a pit?"

1. Then Jesus said to them, "Suppose that one of you goes to a friend at midnight, and says to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I have nothing to give him'; 2. but from inside he answers, and says, 'Do not bother me; the door is shut, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' 3. I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

4. "So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you! 5. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks finds;^{aScene 442 · Note a×Proverb 8:17NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Proverbs 8:17 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} and to him who knocks, it will be opened.

6. "Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 7. Or what man when asked for a loaf, will give him a stone? 8. If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit and what is good, to those who ask Him.

9. "In everything therefore, treat other people the same way that you want them to treat you; for this is the Law, and the Prophets.

10. "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad, that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.

11. "But the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."

1. "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, because they will trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

2. "Beware of the false prophets ^{aScene 443 · Note a×Jeremiah 23:16NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Jeremiah 23:16 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves! 3. You will know them by their fruits, for each tree is known by its fruit. 4. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush.

5. "So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 6. For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, and nor on the other hand can a bad tree produce good fruit. 7. So then, you will know them by their fruits.

8. "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire."

1. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven will enter.

2. "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your Name, and in Your Name cast out demons, and in Your Name perform many miracles?'

3. "Then I will declare to them, 'Why do you call Me, "Lord, Lord," and do not do what I say? 4. I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' ^{aScene 444 · Note a×Psalm 6:8NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Psalm 6:8 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}

5. "Therefore, everyone who comes to Me, and hears these Words of Mine, and acts on them, I will show you whom he may be compared to: He is like a wise man building a house, who dug deep, and laid a foundation on the rock. 6. And when the rains fell and the floods came, the winds blew, and the torrent burst and slammed against that house; and yet the storm could not shake it, and it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

7. "But the one who hears these words of Mine, and does not act on them accordingly, is like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand, without any foundation. 8. The rains fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and the torrent burst and slammed against that house, and immediately it collapsed - and great was the ruin of that house."

1. When Jesus had finished all of His discourse in the hearing of the people, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

2. When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him, and He went to Capernaum.

1. When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion, whose highly regarded slave was sick and about to die, heard about Him. 2. And he sent some Jewish elders to ask Jesus to come and save the life of his slave, who was lying at home paralyzed, and terribly tormented.

3. When the elders came to Jesus, they earnestly implored Him, saying, "He is worthy for You to grant this to him, for he loves our nation, and it was he who built our synagogue."

4. Jesus said, "I will come and heal him," and He started on His way with them.

5. When Jesus was not far from the house, the centurion said to Him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, and for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You; but just say the word, and my servant will be healed; ^{aScene 451 · Note a×(Psalm 107:20)NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Psalm 107:20 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}6. for I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go' and he goes, and to another, 'Come here' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it."

7. When Jesus heard this, He marveled at him; and He turned and said to the crowd that was following, "Truly I say to you, I have not found even in Israel, anyone with such great faith!

8. "I say to you, that many will come from the east and the west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, in the Kingdom of Heaven; 9. but the sons of the Kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping, and gnashing of teeth."

10. Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed!" 11. And the servant was healed at that very moment.

12. When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

1. Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee's house, and reclined at the table.

2. There was a woman in the city who was a sinner, and when she learned that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, 3. and standing behind Jesus, weeping at His feet, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet, and anointing them with the perfume.

4. When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him; that she is a sinner."

5. Jesus said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." He replied, "Say it, Teacher."

6. "A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 7. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?"

8. Simon answered, and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave more."

9. Jesus said to him, "You have judged correctly!"

10. Turning toward the woman, Jesus said to Simon, "Do see this woman? 11. When 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. 12. You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time that I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. 13. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume.

14. "For this reason, I say to you, that her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; 15. but he who is forgiven little, loves little."

16. Then Jesus said to the woman, "Your sins have been forgiven."

17. Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this man who forgives sins?"

18. And Jesus said to her, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."

1. Soon afterwards, Jesus began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the Kingdom of God.

2. The twelve apostles were with Him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward; and Susanna; 3. and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.

1. Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent.

2. "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had been performed in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes! 3. Nevertheless, I say to you, that it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, than for you!

4. "And you, Capernaum, you will not be exalted to Heaven - you will be brought down to Hades; ^{aScene 454 · Note a×Isaiah 14:13, 15NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Isaiah 14:13 in NASB 2020 ↗ Read Isaiah 14:15 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which oc­curred in you, it would have remained to this day. 5. Nevertheless, I say to you, that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you."

1. At that time, Jesus rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, "I praise You, O Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to infants.^{aScene 455 · Note a×(Psalm 8:2)NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Psalm 8:2 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}2. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight.

3. "All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; 4. and no one knows who the Son is except The Father, and nor does anyone know who The Father is except the Son, 5. and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.

6. "Come to Me, all who are heavy-laden and weary, and I will give you rest. 7. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls;^{bScene 455 · Note b×Jeremiah 6:16NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Jeremiah 6:16 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} for My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."

1. When Jesus came home, the crowd gathered together again, to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. 2. When His own people heard this, they went to take custody of Him, for they were saying, "He has lost His senses."

3. Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus; and He cast out the demon and healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. 4. All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, "This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?"

5. But when the Pharisees and the scribes who had come down from Jerusalem heard this, some of them were saying, "He is possessed by Beelzebul!"; 6. and "This man casts out the demons only by the ruler of the demons."

7. Others tested Jesus by demanding a sign out of Heaven from Him.

1. Knowing their thoughts, Jesus called them to Himself, and began speaking to them in parables.

2. He said to them, "How can Satan cast out Satan? 3. If any kingdom is divided against itself that kingdom cannot stand, and is laid waste. 4. And if any house or city is divided against itself, it will not be able to stand, and falls.

5. "So, if Satan has risen up against himself, and casts out Satan, he also is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? He cannot stand, but is finished.

6. "You say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul; and if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? So for this reason, they will be your judges.

7. "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you.

8. "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed. 9. But when someone stronger than he attacks him, and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armor on which he had relied, and distributes his plunder.

10. "But no one can enter the strong man's house to plunder and carry off his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house."

1. "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters. 2. Therefore, truly I say to you, all sins, and whatever blasphemies people utter, shall be forgiven the sons of men; 3. but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit is guilty of an eternal sin, and shall never be forgiven.

4. "Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; 5. but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come." - 6. because they were saying, "He has an unclean spirit."

1. "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 2. You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good?

3. "The good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, brings forth what is good; and the evil man, out of his evil treasure, brings forth what is evil; for the mouth speaks of that which fills the heart.

4. "I tell you that in the day of judgment, people shall give an accounting for every careless word that they speak; 5. for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

1. Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You."

2. As the crowds were increasing, Jesus answered, and said to them, "This generation is an evil and adulterous generation because it seeks for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it, but the sign of Jonah the prophet. 3. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster,^{aScene 465 · Note a×Jonah 1:17NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Jonah 1:17 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} and became a sign to the Ninevites,^{bScene 465 · Note b×Jonah 3:3-5NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Jonah 3:3-5 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.} so will the Son of Man be to this generation - three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

4. "The men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation at the judgment, and they will condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; ^{cScene 465 · Note c×Jonah 3:5NASB 2020 · Bible GatewayRead Jonah 3:5 in NASB 2020 ↗ Opens in a new tab. Internet connection required.}5. and behold, something greater than Jonah is here!