Bible in 90 Days

Chapter 2

The Birth of Jesus. ^1 [a]In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus^[b] that the whole world should be enrolled. ² This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. ⁴ And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David,^{(A) 5} to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.^{(B) 6} While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn son.^[c] She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.^(C)

^8 [d]Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. ⁹ The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.^{(D) 10} The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ^11 [e](E)For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

The Visit of the Shepherds. ¹⁵ When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. ¹⁸ All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. ²⁰ Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

The Circumcision and Naming of Jesus. ²¹ When eight days were completed for his circumcision,^[g] he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.^(G)

The Presentation in the Temple. ^22 [h]When the days were completed for their purification^[i] according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,^{(H) 23} just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,”^{(I) 24} and to offer the sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel,^[j] and the holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. ²⁷ He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, ²⁸ he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

³³ The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; ³⁴ and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted^{(L) 35} (and you yourself a sword will pierce)^[k] so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” ³⁶ There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, ³⁷ and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. ³⁸ And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.^(M)

The Return to Nazareth. ³⁹ When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.^{(N) 40} The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.^(O)

The Boy Jesus in the Temple.^{[l] 41} Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,^{(P) 42} and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. ⁴³ After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. ⁴⁴ Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, ⁴⁵ but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. ⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, ⁴⁷ and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” ⁴⁹ And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”^{[m] 50} But they did not understand what he said to them. ⁵¹ He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.^{(Q) 52} And Jesus advanced [in] wisdom and age and favor before God and man.^(R)

III. The Preparation for the Public Ministry

Chapter 3

The Preaching of John the Baptist.^{[n] 1} In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,^[o] when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea,^(S) and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, ² during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,^[p] the word of God came to John^(T) the son of Zechariah in the desert. ^3 [q]He went throughout [the] whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,^{(U) 4 [r]}as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah:^(V)

⁷ He said to the crowds who came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?^{(Y) 8} Produce good fruits as evidence of your repentance; and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.^{(Z) 9} Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”^(AA)

¹⁰ And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” ¹¹ He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two tunics should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” ¹² Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?”^{(AB) 13} He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” ¹⁴ Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.”

^15 (AC)Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Messiah. ^16 [s]John answered them all, saying,^(AD) “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing fan^[t] is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”^{(AE) 18} Exhorting them in many other ways, he preached good news to the people. ^19 [u]Now Herod the tetrarch,^(AF) who had been censured by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil deeds Herod had committed, ²⁰ added still another to these by [also] putting John in prison.

The Baptism of Jesus.^{[v] 21 (AG)}After all the people had been baptized and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying,^[w] heaven was opened ^22 [x](AH)and the holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

The Genealogy of Jesus.^{[y] 23 (AI)}When Jesus began his ministry he was about thirty years of age. He was the son, as was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli,^{(AJ) 24} the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, ²⁵ the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, ²⁶ the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda, ²⁷ the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,^{(AK) 28} the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, ²⁹ the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, ³⁰ the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim, ^31 (AL)the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David,^{[z] 32} the son of Jesse,^(AM) the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon, ³³ the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez,^(AN) the son of Judah,^{(AO) 34} the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham,^(AP) the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, ³⁵ the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah, ³⁶ the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem,^(AQ) the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, ³⁷ the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalaleel, the son of Cainan, ³⁸ the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam,^(AR) the son of God.

Chapter 4

The Temptation of Jesus.^{[aa] 1 (AS)}Filled with the holy Spirit,^[ab] Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert ² for forty days,^[ac] to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry.^{(AT) 3} The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” ⁴ Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’”^{(AU) 5} Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. ⁶ The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish.^{(AV) 7} All this will be yours, if you worship me.” ⁸ Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written:

^9 [ad]Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, ¹⁰ for it is written:

¹¹ and:

¹² Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’”^{(AZ) 13 [ae]}When the devil had finished every temptation,^(BA) he departed from him for a time.

IV. The Ministry in Galilee

The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry. ^14 (BB)Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread^[af] throughout the whole region.^{(BC) 15} He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

The Rejection at Nazareth.^{[ag](BD) 16} He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom^[ah] into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read ¹⁷ and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:

²⁰ Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. ²¹ He said to them, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”^{[aj] 22} And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?”^{(BF) 23} He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’”^{[ak] 24} And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. ^25 [al]Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land.^{(BG) 26 [am]}It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath^(BH) in the land of Sidon. ²⁷ Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”^{(BI) 28} When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. ²⁹ They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. ³⁰ But he passed through the midst of them and went away.

The Cure of a Demoniac. ^31 [an]Jesus then went down to Capernaum,^(BJ) a town of Galilee.^(BK) He taught them on the sabbath, ³² and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority.^{(BL) 33} In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon,^(BM) and he cried out in a loud voice, ³⁴ “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?^[ao] I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”^{(BN) 35} Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. ³⁶ They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” ³⁷ And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

The Cure of Simon’s Mother-in-Law. ^38 (BO)After he left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon.^[ap] Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. ³⁹ He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them.

Other Healings.^{(BP) 40} At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. ^41 [aq]And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.”^(BQ) But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Messiah.

Jesus Leaves Capernaum.^{(BR) 42 [ar]}At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. ⁴³ But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.”^{(BS) 44} And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.^[as]

Chapter 5

The Call of Simon the Fisherman.^{[at](BT) 1 (BU)}While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. ² He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. ³ Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. ^4 (BV)After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” ⁵ Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” ⁶ When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. ⁷ They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking. ⁸ When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” ⁹ For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, ¹⁰ and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.”^{(BW) 11} When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything^[au] and followed him.^(BX)

The Cleansing of a Leper.^{(BY) 12} Now there was a man full of leprosy^[av] in one of the towns where he was; and when he saw Jesus, he fell prostrate, pleaded with him, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” ¹³ Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.” And the leprosy left him immediately. ¹⁴ Then he ordered him not to tell anyone, but “Go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed;^[aw] that will be proof for them.”^{(BZ) 15} The report about him spread all the more, and great crowds assembled to listen to him and to be cured of their ailments, ¹⁶ but he would withdraw to deserted places to pray.^(CA)

The Healing of a Paralytic.^{(CB) 17 [ax]}One day as Jesus was teaching, Pharisees^[ay] and teachers of the law were sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was with him for healing. ¹⁸ And some men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed; they were trying to bring him in and set [him] in his presence. ¹⁹ But not finding a way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the tiles^[az] into the middle in front of Jesus. ²⁰ When he saw their faith, he said, “As for you, your sins are forgiven.”^{[ba] 21} Then the scribes^[bb] and Pharisees began to ask themselves, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who but God alone can forgive sins?”^{(CC) 22} Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them in reply, “What are you thinking in your hearts?^{(CD) 23} Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? ^24 [bc](CE)But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” ²⁵ He stood up immediately before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. ²⁶ Then astonishment seized them all and they glorified God, and, struck with awe, they said, “We have seen incredible things today.”

The Call of Levi.^{(CF) 27} After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” ²⁸ And leaving everything behind,^[bd] he got up and followed him. ^29 (CG)Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. ³⁰ The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” ³¹ Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. ³² I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”

The Question About Fasting.^{(CH) 33} And they said to him, “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.” ^34 [be]Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests^[bf] fast while the bridegroom is with them? ³⁵ But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” ^36 [bg]And he also told them a parable. “No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak. ³⁷ Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. ³⁸ Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. ³⁹ [And] no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”^[bh]

Chapter 6

Debates About the Sabbath.^{[bi] 1 (CI)}While he was going through a field of grain on a sabbath, his disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.^{(CJ) 2} Some Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?” ^3 (CK)Jesus said to them in reply, “Have you not read what David did when he and those [who were] with him were hungry? ⁴ [How] he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering,^[bj] which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions.”^{(CL) 5} Then he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath.”

^6 (CM)On another sabbath he went into the synagogue and taught, and there was a man there whose right hand was withered. ⁷ The scribes and the Pharisees watched him closely to see if he would cure on the sabbath so that they might discover a reason to accuse him.^{(CN) 8} But he realized their intentions and said to the man with the withered hand, “Come up and stand before us.” And he rose and stood there.^{(CO) 9} Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” ¹⁰ Looking around at them all, he then said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so and his hand was restored. ¹¹ But they became enraged and discussed together what they might do to Jesus.

The Mission of the Twelve.^{[bk] 12 (CP)}In those days he departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer^[bl] to God. ¹³ When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve,^[bm] whom he also named apostles: ^14 (CQ)Simon, whom he named Peter,^[bn] and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, ¹⁵ Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot,^{[bo] 16} and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot,^[bp] who became a traitor.

Ministering to a Great Multitude.^{(CR) 17 [bq]}And he came down with them and stood on a stretch of level ground. A great crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon ¹⁸ came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and even those who were tormented by unclean spirits were cured. ¹⁹ Everyone in the crowd sought to touch him because power came forth from him and healed them all.

Sermon on the Plain.^{(CS) 20 [br]}And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said:

²³ Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.^(CV)

Love of Enemies.^{[bt] 27 (CZ)}“But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,^{(DA) 28} bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.^{(DB) 29} To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. ³⁰ Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. ³¹ Do to others as you would have them do to you.^{(DC) 32} For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. ³⁴ If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit [is] that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount.^{(DD) 35} But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.^{(DE) 36} Be merciful, just as [also] your Father is merciful.

Judging Others.^{[bu] 37 (DF)}“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.^{(DG) 38} Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”^{(DH) 39} And he told them a parable, “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?^{(DI) 40} No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.^{(DJ) 41} Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? ⁴² How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.

A Tree Known by Its Fruit.^{(DK) 43 [bv]}“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. ⁴⁴ For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. ⁴⁵ A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.

The Two Foundations. ^46 (DL)“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command? ^47 [bw]I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them.^{(DM) 48} That one is like a person building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. ⁴⁹ But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.”

Chapter 7

The Healing of a Centurion’s Slave.^{(DN) 1 [bx]}When he had finished all his words to the people, he entered Capernaum.^{[by] 2} A centurion^[bz] there had a slave who was ill and about to die, and he was valuable to him. ³ When he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save the life of his slave. ⁴ They approached Jesus and strongly urged him to come, saying, “He deserves to have you do this for him, ⁵ for he loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us.” ⁶ And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.^{[ca] 7} Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. ⁸ For I too am a person subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” ⁹ When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him and, turning, said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” ¹⁰ When the messengers returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

Raising of the Widow’s Son.^{[cb] 11 (DO)}Soon afterward he journeyed to a city called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd accompanied him. ¹² As he drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her.^{(DP) 13} When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, “Do not weep.” ¹⁴ He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” ¹⁵ The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.^{(DQ) 16} Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has visited his people.”^{(DR) 17} This report about him spread through the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.

The Messengers from John the Baptist.^{[cc] 18 (DS)}The disciples of John told him about all these things. John summoned two of his disciples ¹⁹ and sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”^{(DT) 20} When the men came to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’” ²¹ At that time he cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits; he also granted sight to many who were blind. ²² And he said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.^{(DU) 23} And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”^[cd]

Jesus’ Testimony to John. ^24 [ce]When the messengers of John had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John.^(DV) “What did you go out to the desert to see—a reed swayed by the wind? ²⁵ Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine garments? Those who dress luxuriously and live sumptuously are found in royal palaces. ²⁶ Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.^{(DW) 27} This is the one about whom scripture says:

²⁸ I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” ^29 (DY)(All the people who listened, including the tax collectors, and who were baptized with the baptism of John, acknowledged the righteousness of God; ³⁰ but the Pharisees and scholars of the law, who were not baptized by him, rejected the plan of God for themselves.)

^31 [cf]“Then to what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like?^{(DZ) 32} They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another,

³³ For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ ³⁴ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’^{(EA) 35} But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

The Pardon of the Sinful Woman.^{[cg] 36 (EB)}A Pharisee invited him to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.^{[ch] 37} Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee.^(EC) Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment,^{(ED) 38} she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. ³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” ⁴⁰ Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. ⁴¹ “Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages^[ci] and the other owed fifty. ⁴² Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?” ⁴³ Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.” He said to him, “You have judged rightly.” ⁴⁴ Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. ⁴⁶ You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. ⁴⁷ So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love.^[cj] But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” ⁴⁸ He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”^{(EE) 49} The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”^{(EF) 50} But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Chapter 8

Galilean Women Follow Jesus.^{[ck] 1} Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.^(EG) Accompanying him were the Twelve ^2 (EH)and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, ³ Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.

The Parable of the Sower.^{(EI) 4 [cl]}When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to him, he spoke in a parable.^{[cm] 5} “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up. ⁶ Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew, it withered for lack of moisture. ⁷ Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. ⁸ And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold.” After saying this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”^(EJ)

The Purpose of the Parables.^{(EK) 9} Then his disciples asked him what the meaning of this parable might be. ¹⁰ He answered, “Knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been granted to you; but to the rest, they are made known through parables so that ‘they may look but not see, and hear but not understand.’^(EL)

The Parable of the Sower Explained.^{[cn] 11 (EM)}“This is the meaning of the parable. The seed is the word of God.^{(EN) 12} Those on the path are the ones who have heard, but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. ¹³ Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, but they have no root; they believe only for a time and fall away in time of trial. ¹⁴ As for the seed that fell among thorns, they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce mature fruit. ¹⁵ But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.

The Parable of the Lamp.^{[co] 16 (EO)}“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light.^{(EP) 17} For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.^{(EQ) 18} Take care, then, how you hear. To anyone who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he seems to have will be taken away.”^(ER)

Jesus and His Family.^{(ES) 19} Then his mother and his brothers^[cp] came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. ^20 (ET)He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” ²¹ He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”^[cq]

The Calming of a Storm at Sea.^{(EU) 22 [cr]}One day he got into a boat with his disciples and said to them, “Let us cross to the other side of the lake.” So they set sail, ²³ and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A squall blew over the lake, and they were taking in water and were in danger. ²⁴ They came and woke him saying, “Master, master, we are perishing!” He awakened, rebuked the wind and the waves, and they subsided and there was a calm. ²⁵ Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” But they were filled with awe and amazed and said to one another, “Who then is this, who commands even the winds and the sea, and they obey him?”

The Healing of the Gerasene Demoniac.^{(EV) 26} Then they sailed to the territory of the Gerasenes,^[cs] which is opposite Galilee. ²⁷ When he came ashore a man from the town who was possessed by demons met him. For a long time he had not worn clothes; he did not live in a house, but lived among the tombs. ^28 (EW)When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him; in a loud voice he shouted, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me!” ²⁹ For he had ordered the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (It had taken hold of him many times, and he used to be bound with chains and shackles as a restraint, but he would break his bonds and be driven by the demon into deserted places.) ³⁰ Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”^[ct] He replied, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. ³¹ And they pleaded with him not to order them to depart to the abyss.^[cu]

³² A herd of many swine was feeding there on the hillside, and they pleaded with him to allow them to enter those swine; and he let them. ³³ The demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. ³⁴ When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran away and reported the incident in the town and throughout the countryside. ³⁵ People came out to see what had happened and, when they approached Jesus, they discovered the man from whom the demons had come out sitting at his feet.^[cv] He was clothed and in his right mind, and they were seized with fear. ³⁶ Those who witnessed it told them how the possessed man had been saved. ³⁷ The entire population of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them because they were seized with great fear. So he got into a boat and returned. ³⁸ The man from whom the demons had come out begged to remain with him, but he sent him away, saying, ³⁹ “Return home and recount what God has done for you.” The man went off and proclaimed throughout the whole town what Jesus had done for him.

Jairus’s Daughter and the Woman with a Hemorrhage.^{[cw] 40 (EX)}When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. ⁴¹ And a man named Jairus, an official of the synagogue, came forward. He fell at the feet of Jesus and begged him to come to his house, ⁴² because he had an only daughter,^[cx] about twelve years old, and she was dying. As he went, the crowds almost crushed him. ⁴³ And a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years,^[cy] who [had spent her whole livelihood on doctors and] was unable to be cured by anyone, ⁴⁴ came up behind him and touched the tassel on his cloak. Immediately her bleeding stopped. ⁴⁵ Jesus then asked, “Who touched me?” While all were denying it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are pushing and pressing in upon you.” ⁴⁶ But Jesus said, “Someone has touched me; for I know that power has gone out from me.”^{(EY) 47} When the woman realized that she had not escaped notice, she came forward trembling. Falling down before him, she explained in the presence of all the people why she had touched him and how she had been healed immediately. ⁴⁸ He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace.”^(EZ)

⁴⁹ While he was still speaking, someone from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.” ⁵⁰ On hearing this, Jesus answered him, “Do not be afraid; just have faith and she will be saved.” ⁵¹ When he arrived at the house he allowed no one to enter with him except Peter and John and James, and the child’s father and mother. ^52 [cz](FA)All were weeping and mourning for her, when he said, “Do not weep any longer, for she is not dead, but sleeping.” ⁵³ And they ridiculed him, because they knew that she was dead. ⁵⁴ But he took her by the hand and called to her, “Child, arise!” ⁵⁵ Her breath returned and she immediately arose. He then directed that she should be given something to eat. ⁵⁶ Her parents were astounded, and he instructed them to tell no one what had happened.

Chapter 9

The Mission of the Twelve.^{[da] 1 (FB)}He summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, ² and he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal [the sick]. ³ He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey,^[db] neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic. ⁴ Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there.^{(FC) 5} And as for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet^[dc] in testimony against them.”^{(FD) 6} Then they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the good news and curing diseases everywhere.

Herod’s Opinion of Jesus.^{(FE) 7 [dd]}Herod the tetrarch^[de] heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, “John has been raised from the dead”;^{(FF) 8} others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”; still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.” ^9 [df](FG)But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see him.

The Return of the Twelve and the Feeding of the Five Thousand.^{(FH) 10} When the apostles returned, they explained to him what they had done. He took them and withdrew in private to a town called Bethsaida. ¹¹ The crowds, meanwhile, learned of this and followed him. He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed to be cured. ¹² As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said, “Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.” ^13 (FI)He said to them, “Give them some food yourselves.” They replied, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people.” ¹⁴ Now the men there numbered about five thousand. Then he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of [about] fifty.” ¹⁵ They did so and made them all sit down. ¹⁶ Then taking^[dg] the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.^{(FJ) 17} They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.

Peter’s Confession About Jesus.^{[dh] 18 (FK)}Once when Jesus was praying in solitude,^[di] and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” ¹⁹ They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”^{(FL) 20} Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Messiah of God.”^{[dj] 21} He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.

The First Prediction of the Passion. ²² He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”^(FM)

The Conditions of Discipleship.^{(FN) 23} Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily^[dk] and follow me.^{(FO) 24} For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.^{(FP) 25} What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself? ²⁶ Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.^{(FQ) 27} Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

The Transfiguration of Jesus.^{[dl] 28 (FR)}About eight days after he said this, he took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray.^{[dm] 29} While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. ³⁰ And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,^{[dn] 31 [do](FS)}who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. ³² Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory^[dp] and the two men standing with him.^{(FT) 33} As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents,^[dq] one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. ^34 [dr]While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. ^35 [ds](FU)Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” ³⁶ After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time^[dt] tell anyone what they had seen.

The Healing of a Boy with a Demon.^{[du] 37 (FV)}On the next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. ³⁸ There was a man in the crowd who cried out, “Teacher, I beg you, look at my son; he is my only child. ³⁹ For a spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams and it convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it releases him only with difficulty, wearing him out. ⁴⁰ I begged your disciples to cast it out but they could not.” ⁴¹ Jesus said in reply, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you and endure you? Bring your son here.” ⁴² As he was coming forward, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion; but Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and returned him to his father. ⁴³ And all were astonished by the majesty of God.

The Second Prediction of the Passion.^(FW) While they were all amazed at his every deed, he said to his disciples, ⁴⁴ “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” ⁴⁵ But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

The Greatest in the Kingdom.^{(FX) 46 [dv]}An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest.^{(FY) 47} Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side ⁴⁸ and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”^(FZ)

Another Exorcist.^{(GA) 49} Then John said in reply, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company.” ⁵⁰ Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”

V. The Journey to Jerusalem: Luke’s Travel Narrative^[dw]

Departure for Jerusalem; Samaritan Inhospitality. ^51 [dx]When the days for his being taken up^[dy] were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,^{(GB) 52 [dz]}and he sent messengers ahead of him.^(GC) On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, ⁵³ but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”^{(GD) 55} Jesus turned and rebuked them, ⁵⁶ and they journeyed to another village.

The Would-be Followers of Jesus.^{[ea] 57 (GE)}As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” ⁵⁸ Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” ⁵⁹ And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “[Lord,] let me go first and bury my father.” ⁶⁰ But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead.^[eb] But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” ^61 (GF)And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” ⁶² [To him] Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”