Bible in 90 Days

Yeshua’s Birth in Bethlehem

2 Now it happened in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus to register all the world’s inhabitants. ² This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ Everyone was traveling to be registered in his own city.

⁴ Now Joseph also went up from the Galilee, out of the town of Natzeret to Judah, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family of David. ^{[a] 5} He went to register with Miriam, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.

⁶ But while they were there, the time came for her to give birth— ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped Him in strips of cloth and set Him down in a manger, since there was no room for them in the inn.

Shepherds Witness Angelic Praises

⁸ Now there were shepherds in the same region, living out in the fields and guarding their flock at night. ⁹ Suddenly an angel of Adonai stood before them, and the glory of Adonai shone all around them; and they were absolutely terrified.

¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I proclaim Good News to you, which will be great joy to all the people. ¹¹ A Savior is born to you today in the city of David, who is Messiah the Lord. ¹² And the sign to you is this: You will find an infant wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”

¹³ And suddenly a multitude of heavenly armies appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁵ And when the angels departed from them into the heavens, the shepherds were saying to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened which Adonai has made known to us!” ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Miriam and Joseph, and the Baby lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen this, they made known the word that had been spoken to them concerning this Child. ¹⁸ And all those who heard were amazed at the things the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But Miriam treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, just as they had been told.

Temple Prophets Rejoice

²¹ When eight days had passed for His brit-milah,^[b] He was named Yeshua, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. ²² And when the days of their purification were fulfilled,^[c] according to the Torah of Moses, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present to Adonai. ²³ As it is written in the Torah of Adonai, “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to Adonai.” ^{[d] 24} So they offered a sacrifice according to what was said in the Torah of Adonai: “a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons.”^[e]

²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and pious, waiting for the consolation of Israel.^[f] The Ruach ha-Kodesh was on him. ²⁶ And it had been revealed to him by the Ruach ha-Kodesh that he would not die before he had seen the Anointed One of Adonai. ²⁷ So in the Ruach, Simeon came into the Temple; and when the parents brought the Child Yeshua to do for Him according to the custom of the Torah, ²⁸ Simeon received Him into his arms and offered a bracha to God, saying,

³³ And His father and mother were marveling at the things that were said about Him. ³⁴ And Simeon offered a bracha over them and said to Miriam His mother, “Behold, this One is destined to cause the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that is opposed, ³⁵ so the thoughts of many hearts may be uncovered. (And even for you, a sword will pierce through your soul.)”

³⁶ Now Anna, a daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher, was a prophetess. She was well advanced in age, having lived with a husband only^[i] seven years ³⁷ and then as a widow until age eighty-four. She never left the Temple, serving night and day with fasting and prayers. ³⁸ And coming up at that very instant, she began praising God and speaking about the Child to all those waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.^[j]

³⁹ When Joseph and Miriam had completed everything according to the Torah of Adonai, they returned to the Galilee, to their own city of Natzeret. ⁴⁰ The Child kept growing and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him.

The Boy Astonishes Jerusalem Scholars

⁴¹ Now His parents were going every year to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. ^{[k] 42} When He became twelve years old, they were going up according to festival custom. ⁴³ As they headed home after completing the days, the boy Yeshua remained in Jerusalem, but His parents didn’t know. ⁴⁴ Supposing He was in the caravan, they went a day’s journey, then began looking for Him among relatives and friends. ⁴⁵ When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him.

⁴⁶ After three days they found Him in the Temple, sitting in the center of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all those hearing Him were astonished at His understanding and His answers. ⁴⁸ When His parents saw Yeshua, they were overwhelmed. And His mother said to Him, “Child, why did you do this to us? Look! Your father and I were searching for You frantically!”

⁴⁹ He said to them, “Why were you searching for Me? Didn’t you know that I must be about the things of My Father?” ⁵⁰ But they did not grasp the message He was telling them.

⁵¹ Then He went down with them to Natzeret and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured all these words in her heart. ⁵² And Yeshua kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

John the Immerser at the Jordan

3 It was now the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of the Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene. ² During the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came upon John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. ³ And he came into all the surrounding region of the Jordan, proclaiming an immersion of repentance for the removal of sins. ⁴ As it is written in the scroll of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

⁷ Therefore John was saying to the crowds that came out to be immersed by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Therefore produce fruits worthy of repentance; and don’t even begin to say among yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’! For I tell you that from these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. ⁹ Even now the axe is laid at the root of the trees, so every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire!”

¹⁰ The crowds were asking him, “What should we do?”

¹¹ He answered them, saying, “Whoever has two coats, let him give to the one who has none; and whoever has food, let him do the same.”^[m]

¹² Tax collectors also came to him to be immersed. “Teacher,” they said to him, “what should we do?”

¹³ He said to them, “Do not take more than you are supposed to.”

¹⁴ Also soldiers asked him, saying, “And what should we do?”

He said to them, “Do not take things from anyone by force, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be content with your wages.”^[n]

¹⁵ Now the people were filled with expectation, and all were wondering in their hearts about John, whether he might be the Messiah. ¹⁶ John answered them all, saying, “As for me, I immerse you with water. But One is coming who is mightier than I am; I am not worthy to untie the strap of His sandals! He will immerse you in the Ruach ha-Kodesh and fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and gather the wheat into His barn, but the chaff He will burn up with inextinguishable fire.” ^{[o] 18} So with many other exhortations, John proclaimed Good News to the people. ¹⁹ But Herod the tetrarch—after being rebuked by John because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things Herod had done— ²⁰ added even this on top of them all: he shut up John in prison.

²¹ Now when all the people were immersed, Yeshua also was immersed. And while He was praying, heaven was opened ²² and the Ruach ha-Kodesh came down upon Him in bodily form like a dove. And from out of heaven came a voice, “You are My Son, whom I love—with You I am well pleased!”^[p]

The Lineage of Yeshua Ben-David Ben-Elohim

²³ Yeshua was about thirty years old when He began his ministry. He was the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, ²⁴ the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melki, 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, ²⁸ the son of Melki, 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 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, ^{[q] 32} the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, ³³ the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, ³⁴ the son of Jacob, the son of Yitzhak, the son of Abraham,^[r] 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, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, ³⁷ the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Kenan, ³⁸ the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam,^[s] the son of God.

Temptation in the Wilderness

4 Yeshua, now filled with the Ruach ha-Kodesh, returned from the Jordan. He was led by the Ruach in the wilderness ² for forty days, being tested by the devil. Now He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He was hungry.

³ The devil said to Him, “If You are Ben-Elohim, tell this stone to become bread.”

⁴ Yeshua answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’”^[t]

⁵ And leading Him up, the devil showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in an instant. ⁶ And the devil said to Him, “I’ll give to You all this authority along with its glory, because it has been handed over to me and I can give it to anyone I wish. ⁷ Therefore, if you will worship before me, all this shall be Yours.”

⁸ But answering, Yeshua told him, “It is written, ‘You shall worship Adonai your God, and Him only shall you serve.’”^[u]

⁹ Then he brought Yeshua to Jerusalem and placed Him on the highest point of the Temple. He said to Him, “If You are Ben-Elohim, throw Yourself down from here. ¹⁰ For it is written,

¹² But answering, Yeshua said to him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put Adonai your God to the test.’” ^{[x] 13} And when the devil had completed every test, he departed from Him until another occasion.

Isaiah’s Prophecy Fulfilled in Natzeret

¹⁴ Yeshua returned in the power of the Ruach to the Galilee, and news about Him went out through all the surrounding region. ¹⁵ He taught in their synagogues, and everyone was praising Him. ¹⁶ And He came to Natzeret, where He had been raised. As was His custom, He went into the synagogue on Shabbat, and He got up to read. ¹⁷ When the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him, He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

²⁰ He closed the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue were focused on Him. ²¹ Then He began to tell them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your ears.”

²² All were speaking well of Him and marveling at the gracious words coming out of His mouth. And they were saying, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?”

²³ But He said to them, “Doubtless you will say to Me this proverb, ‘Doctor, heal yourself!’ and ‘What we have heard was done at Capernaum, do as much here also in your hometown.’”

²⁴ But He said, “Truly, I tell you, ‘No prophet is accepted in his own hometown.’ ²⁵ But with all truthfulness I say to you, that there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when heaven was closed for three and a half years and there came a great famine over all the land. ²⁶ Elijah was not sent to any of them, but only to Zarephath in the land of Sidon, to a widowed woman. ^{[aa] 27} There were many with tzara’at in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them were purified apart from Naaman the Syrian.”^[ab]

²⁸ Now all in the synagogue were filled with rage upon hearing these things. ²⁹ Rising up, they drove Him out of the town and brought Him as far as the edge of the mountain on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him off the cliff. ³⁰ But passing through the middle of them, He went on His way.

Healing and Deliverance in Capernaum and Beyond

³¹ Yeshua came down to Capernaum, a town in the Galilee. He was teaching them on Shabbat, ³² and they were astounded at His teaching because His message had authority. ³³ In the synagogue was a man who had an unclean demonic spirit, and he cried out with a loud voice, ³⁴ “Ah! What have we to do with You, Yeshua of Natzeret? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are! You are the Holy One of God!”

³⁵ Yeshua rebuked him, saying, “Quiet! Come out of him!” And when the demon threw him down in their midst, it came out without hurting him.

³⁶ They were all amazed, and they spoke to one another, saying, “What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” ³⁷ So His reputation grew, spreading to every place in that region.

³⁸ After He left the synagogue, Yeshua entered Simon’s home. Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they petitioned Him concerning her. ³⁹ Then standing over her, He rebuked the fever and it left her. Immediately she arose to wait on them.

⁴⁰ When the sun was setting, they brought to Yeshua all who were sick with various diseases. And He was laying hands on each one and healing them. ⁴¹ Even demons were coming out from many, shouting out and saying, “You are Ben-Elohim!”^[ac] But He was rebuking them and not permitting them to speak, because they knew Him to be the Messiah.

⁴² Now when it was day, He left and went to a desert place. The crowds were searching for Him, and they came to Him and were trying to keep Him from leaving them. ⁴³ But He said to them, “I must proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of God^[ad] to the other towns also. It was for this purpose I was sent.” ⁴⁴ So He kept preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

Calling Fishermen at the Kinneret

5 It happened that the crowds were pressing upon Yeshua to hear the word of God as He was standing by the Lake of Kinneret, ² when He saw two boats standing beside the lake. Now the fishermen had left them and were washing the nets. ³ Getting into one of the boats, Simon’s boat, Yeshua asked him to push out a ways from the land. Then sitting down, He taught the crowds from the boat.

⁴ When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Go out into the deep water, and let down your nets for a catch.”

⁵ Simon replied, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and caught nothing. But at Your word I will let down the nets.” ⁶ When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets began to break. ⁷ So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. ⁸ But when Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Yeshua’s knees, saying, “Go away from me, Master, for I am a sinful man!” ⁹ For amazement had gripped him and all who were with him, over the catch of fish they had netted; ¹⁰ so also Jacob and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were partners with Simon.

But Yeshua said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on, you will be catching men.” ¹¹ So when they had brought the boats to the landing, they left everything and followed Him.

Yeshua Heals and News Spreads

¹² Now while Yeshua was in one of the towns, a man covered with tzara’at appeared. And when he saw Yeshua, he fell on his face and begged Him, saying, “Master, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

¹³ Yeshua stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing. Be cleansed!” Immediately, the tzara’at left him. ¹⁴ Yeshua ordered him to tell no one, but commanded him, “Go and show yourself to the kohen.^[ae] Then bring an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

¹⁵ But the news about Yeshua was spreading all the more, and many crowds were coming together to hear and to be healed of their diseases. ¹⁶ Yet He would often slip away into the wilderness and pray.

Crowds Gather from the Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem

¹⁷ Now on one of those days, Yeshua was teaching. Pharisees and Torah scholars were sitting there, who had come from every village of the Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem. And Adonai’s power to heal was in Him. ¹⁸ And behold, men were carrying a paralyzed man on a stretcher, trying to bring him in and place him before Yeshua. ¹⁹ But when they found no way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his stretcher through the tiles, right in the middle before Yeshua. ²⁰ When He saw their faith, He said, “Man, your sins are forgiven.”

²¹ Then the Torah scholars and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this fellow speaking blasphemies? Who can pardon sins but God alone?”

²² Yeshua, knowing their thoughts, replied to them, “Why are you raising questions in your hearts? ²³ Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ²⁴ But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to pardon sins. . . .” He said to the paralyzed one, “I tell you, get up and take your cot, and go home!”

²⁵ Immediately he got up before them, picked up what he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God. ²⁶ Astonishment took hold of them, and they glorified God and all were filled with awe, saying, “We’ve seen incredible things today!”

The Banquet at Levi’s House

²⁷ After these things, Yeshua went out and observed a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. He said to him, “Follow Me.” ²⁸ And leaving everything, he got up and followed Him.

²⁹ Levi made a great banquet for Yeshua at his house, and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them. ³⁰ The Pharisees and their Torah scholars began murmuring to His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

³¹ And Yeshua answered and said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a doctor, but those who are sick do. ³² I did not come to call the righteous, but the sinful to repentance.”

³³ But they said to Him, “John’s disciples often fast and offer prayers, as do the disciples of the Pharisees. But Your disciples are eating and drinking.”

³⁴ But Yeshua said to them, “You cannot make the guests of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? ³⁵ But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.”

³⁶ Now he was also telling them a parable. “No one tears a patch from a new garment to use it on an old garment. Otherwise he will rip the new, and the patch from the new will not match the old. ³⁷ And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, it will be spilled out, and the skins will be destroyed. ³⁸ But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. ³⁹ No man who drinks old wine wants new, because he says, ‘The old is fine.’”

Shabbat in the Grain Fields

6 Now during Shabbat, Yeshua was passing through grain fields; and His disciples were picking and eating heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. ² But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not permitted on Shabbat?”

³ Then answering them, Yeshua said, “Haven’t you read what David did when he was hungry, and those with him? ⁴ How he entered into the house of God, took and ate the showbread which only the kohanim are permitted to eat, and even gave it to those with him?” ^{[af] 5} He said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of Shabbat.”

Shabbat Controversy at the Synagogue

⁶ On a different Shabbat, Yeshua entered the synagogue and was teaching. A man was there, whose right hand was paralyzed. ⁷ But closely watching Him were the Torah scholars and Pharisees, to see if He heals on Shabbat, so that they might find grounds to accuse Him. ⁸ But He knew their opinions and said to the man with the paralyzed hand, “Get up and stand in our midst.” And getting up, the man stood.

⁹ Yeshua said to them, “I ask you, is it permitted on Shabbat to do good or to do evil, to save or to destroy a life?” ¹⁰ Then looking around at everyone, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” The man did, and his hand was restored. ¹¹ But they were filled with fury and discussed among themselves what they might do to Yeshua.

Appointing the Twelve

¹² And it was during these days that Yeshua went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent all night in prayer to God. ¹³ When day came, He called His disciples, choosing from among them twelve whom He also named emissaries— ¹⁴ Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; and Jacob and John; and Philip and Bartholomew; ¹⁵ and Matthew and Thomas; Jacob the son of Alphaeus; Simon who was called the Zealot; ¹⁶ Judah the son of Jacob; and Judah from Kriot, who became a traitor.

The Sermon on the Plain

¹⁷ Then Yeshua came down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of His disciples and a multitude of people, from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, ¹⁸ had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases. Even those disturbed by defiling spirits were being healed. ¹⁹ Everyone in the crowd was trying to touch Him, because power flowed from Him and He was healing them all.

²⁰ And looking up at His disciples, He said,

²³ Rejoice in that day and jump for joy! For behold, your reward is great in heaven! For their fathers used to treat the prophets the same way.”^[ag]

²⁷ “But I say to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, pray for the ones who mistreat you. ²⁹ To the one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also. And from the one who takes your cloak, do not hold back your shirt. ³⁰ Give to every one who asks you; and whoever takes something of yours, make no demands upon him.

³¹ “Do to others as you would have them do to you. ³² If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³ And if you do good to those who are doing good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do this. ³⁴ And if you lend to those from whom you expect to take, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same.

³⁵ “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.^[ai] Then your reward will be great and you will be sons of Elyon, for He is kind to the ungrateful and evil ones. ³⁶ Be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate to you.”

³⁷ Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Pardon, and you will be pardoned. ³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you—a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, overflowing, will be given into your lap. For whatever measure you measure out will be measured back to you.”

³⁹ He also spoke this parable to them: “The blind cannot show the way to the blind, can he? Won’t they both fall into a pit? ⁴⁰ A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

⁴¹ “Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the beam in your own eye? ⁴² How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly the speck in your brother’s eye, to take it out.”

⁴³ “For there is no good tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again does a rotten tree produce good fruit. ⁴⁴ Each tree comes to be known by its own fruit. For figs are not gleaned out of briars; neither are bunches of grapes gathered from thorn bushes.

⁴⁵ “Out of the good treasure of his heart the good man brings forth good, and out of evil the evil man brings forth evil. For from the overflow of the heart his mouth speaks.”

⁴⁶ “Why do you call Me ‘Master, Master’ and do not do what I say? ⁴⁷ Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and does them, I will show you what he is like. ⁴⁸ He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock. And when a flood came, the torrent burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built.

⁴⁹ “But the one who hears yet does not do is like a man who built a house upon land without a foundation. When the torrent burst against it, immediately it collapsed—and the destruction of that house was great!”

A Centurion’s Faith at Capernaum

7 When Yeshua finished all His drash in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. ² Now a certain centurion had a valued slave, who was ill and about to die. ³ When he heard about Yeshua, he sent Jewish elders to Him, asking Him to come and save his slave. ⁴ When they came to Yeshua, they begged Him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this, ⁵ for he loves our people and even built our synagogue.”

⁶ Now Yeshua started to go with them; and when He wasn’t far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to Him, “Master, do not trouble Yourself, for I’m not worthy for You to come under my roof. ⁷ That is why I didn’t consider myself worthy to come to You. But say the word and let my servant be healed. ⁸ For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

⁹ Now when Yeshua heard this, He was amazed at him. Turning to the crowd following Him, He said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” ¹⁰ When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

An Amazing Report Spreads throughout all Judea

¹¹ The next day Yeshua traveled to a town called Nain, and coming along with Him were His disciples and a large crowd. ¹² Just as He came near the town gate, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, a widow. A considerable crowd from the town was with her.

¹³ When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her and said, “Don’t cry.” ¹⁴ Then He came up and touched the coffin, and the pallbearers came to a standstill. He said, “Young man! I tell you, get up!” ¹⁵ The dead man sat up and began speaking, and Yeshua gave him to his mother.^[aj]

¹⁶ Fear took hold of them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has appeared among us, and God has visited His people.” ¹⁷ This report concerning Him spread throughout all Judea and the surrounding region.

John Seeks Confirmation from Prison

¹⁸ John’s disciples reported to him about all these things. Calling two of his disciples, ¹⁹ John sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the One who is to come, or should we look for another?”

²⁰ When they appeared before Him, the men said, “John the Immerser sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?’”

²¹ At this very hour He was healing many of diseases, sicknesses, and evil spirits; and He granted sight to many who were blind. ²² And answering, He said to them, “Go report to John what you saw and heard: the blind see, the lame walk, those with tzara’at are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news proclaimed to them. ^{[ak] 23} Blessed is he who is not led to stumble because of Me.”

²⁴ And after John’s messengers left, He began to speak about John to the crowds. “What did you go out to the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ²⁵ No? So what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine garments? Look, those who wear finery and live in luxury are in the palaces of kings! ²⁶ Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, even more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is the one about whom it is written,

²⁸ I say to you, there is no one greater than John among those born of women; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

²⁹ And when all the people heard, even the tax collectors, they affirmed God’s justice, because they had been immersed with John’s immersion. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and Torah lawyers, not having been immersed by John, declared God’s purpose invalid for themselves.

³¹ “So then, to what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? ³² They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to each other, saying,

³³ “For John the Immerser has come not eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ ³⁴ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking. and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ ³⁵ Yet wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

An Unwelcome Woman Finds Favor

³⁶ Now one of the Pharisees was asking Yeshua if He would eat with him. Upon entering the Pharisee’s home, He reclined at the table. ³⁷ And behold, a woman in the town who was a sinner, when she discovered that Yeshua was reclining at the Pharisee’s home, brought an alabaster jar of perfume. ³⁸ As she stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to drench His feet with tears and kept wiping them with her head of hair. Then she was kissing His feet and anointing them with perfume.

³⁹ Now when the Pharisee who invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this were a prophet, He would know what sort of woman is touching Him—that she’s a sinner.”

⁴⁰ And answering, Yeshua said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”

And he said, “Say it, Teacher!”

⁴¹ “A moneylender had two debtors. One owed him five hundred denarii,^[am] but the other fifty. ⁴² When neither could repay him, he canceled both debts. So which of them will love him more?”

⁴³ Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.”

“You have judged correctly,” Yeshua said. ⁴⁴ Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you didn’t give Me water for My feet. But she has drenched My feet with tears and wiped them with her hair. ^{[an] 45} You didn’t greet Me with a kiss; but from the time she entered, she has not stopped kissing My feet. ⁴⁶ You didn’t anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume. ⁴⁷ For this reason I tell you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven—for she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little. ⁴⁸ He then said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.”

⁴⁹ But those who were reclining at table with Him began to say to one another, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”

⁵⁰ Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in shalom.”

Sowing Good News from Town to Town

8 Soon afterward, Yeshua began traveling throughout towns and villages, preaching and proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God. The twelve were also with Him. ² And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Miriam, the one called Magdalene, out of whom seven demons had gone; ³ Joanna, the wife of Kuza, Herod’s finance minister; Susanna; and many others—were supporting them out of their own resources.

⁴ And when a large crowd was gathering and those from various towns were traveling to Him, He spoke by means of a parable. ⁵ “The sower went out to spread his seed. As he sowed, some fell beside the road and was trampled; and the birds of the air ate it up. ⁶ And other seed fell on rock; when it came up, that seed withered away because it had no moisture. ⁷ Other seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. ⁸ And other seed fell into the good soil; and when it came up, it produced fruit a hundredfold.” While saying these things, He would call out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

⁹ Now His disciples were asking Him what this parable meant. ¹⁰ Then Yeshua said to them, “To you has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to the others it is given in parables,^[ao] in order that

¹¹ “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. ¹² Those beside the road are the ones who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they may not believe and be saved. ¹³ But those on the rocky places are the ones who, when they hear, accept the word with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a season, and in a time of testing fall away. ¹⁴ Now that which fell into the thorns are those who were hearing; but as they go along the way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and they do not bear mature fruit. ¹⁵ But the seed in the good soil are those with a praiseworthy and good heart, who have heard the word and hold it fast and bear fruit with patient endurance.

¹⁶ “Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it with some object or places it under a bed. But he puts it on a lampstand so that all those who enter may be able to see the light. ¹⁷ For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor secret that shall not be known and come into open view. ¹⁸ So pay attention how you listen. For whoever has, to him more will be given. And whoever does not have, even what he supposes he has will be taken away from him.”

¹⁹ Yeshua’s mother and brothers came to Him, but were not able to reach Him through the crowd. ²⁰ Now it was reported to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see You.”

²¹ But answering, He said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who are hearing the word of God and doing it.”

Crossing a Stormy Sea

²² Now on one of those days Yeshua and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, “Let’s move to the other side of the lake.” So they set out. ²³ Then as they were sailing, He fell asleep. A violent windstorm came down on the lake, and they were swamped with water and in danger.

²⁴ They came to Yeshua and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re perishing!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging wave of water. Then they stopped, and it became calm.^[aq]

²⁵ Then Yeshua said to them, “Where is your faith?” But they were afraid and marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!”

Not Welcome in the Gerasenes

²⁶ They sailed over to the country of the Gerasenes, which is on the opposite side of the Galilee. ²⁷ A demon-plagued man from the town met Yeshua as He was coming out onto the land. The man hadn’t worn any clothing for a long time and was living not in a house but in the tombs.

²⁸ Seeing Yeshua, he cried out and fell down before Yeshua, and with a loud voice said, “What’s between You and me, Yeshua, Ben El Elyon? I’m begging You, do not torment me!” ²⁹ For Yeshua commanded the defiling spirit to come out of the man. For many times it had seized him so that, even though he was restrained and bound with chains and shackles, he would break the chains and be driven by the demons into the desert.

³⁰ Yeshua questioned him, “What is your name?”

“Legion,” he said, for many demons had entered him. ³¹ They kept begging Him not to command them to depart into the abyss. ^{[ar] 32} Now a large herd of pigs was feeding on the mountain. The demons urged Yeshua to let them enter these pigs, and He gave them permission. ³³ Then the demons came out of the man and entered into the pigs. The herd rushed down the cliff into the lake and was drowned. ³⁴ But when the herdsmen saw what happened, they ran away and reported it in the town and countryside.

³⁵ People went out to see what had happened. They came to Yeshua and found the man from whom the demons had gone—clothed and in his right mind, sitting at the feet of Yeshua. And they were frightened. ³⁶ Now those who had seen it reported how the demon-plagued man had been restored. ³⁷ And all the people from the region surrounding the Gerasenes asked Yeshua to go away from them because they were overcome by great fear. So He got into a boat and returned.

³⁸ The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with Yeshua. But Yeshua sent him away, saying, ³⁹ “Return to your home, and describe all that God has done for you.” So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole town all that Yeshua had done for him.

Interrupted on the Way to a Miracle

⁴⁰ As Yeshua returned, the crowd welcomed Him, for they were all expecting Him. ⁴¹ And here came a man named Jairus, a leader in the synagogue. Falling at Yeshua’s feet, he begged Him to come to his house, ⁴² because his only daughter, about twelve years old, was dying. But as He made His way, the masses were crushing in upon Him.

⁴³ And there was a woman with a blood flow for twelve years,^[as] who could not be healed by anyone. ⁴⁴ She came up from behind and touched the tzitzit of Yeshua’s garment. Immediately, her blood flow stopped. ⁴⁵ Yeshua said, “Who touched Me?”

When everyone denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds are surrounding You and pressing in!”

⁴⁶ But Yeshua said, “Someone touched Me, for I recognized power going out from Me.” ⁴⁷ Then seeing that she did not escape notice, the woman came trembling and fell prostrate before Him. In the presence of all the people, she confessed why she had touched Him and how she had been healed immediately. ⁴⁸ He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in shalom.”

⁴⁹ While He was still speaking, someone comes from the house of the synagogue leader, saying, “Your daughter has died. Don’t bother the Teacher anymore.”

⁵⁰ But hearing this, Yeshua replied to him, “Do not fear—just keep trusting, and she shall be restored.”

⁵¹ When Yeshua came into the house, He didn’t let anyone enter with Him except Peter, John, Jacob, and the child’s father and mother. ⁵² And everyone was weeping and lamenting her; but He said, “Don’t weep, for she didn’t die but is sleeping.” ⁵³ But they were ridiculing Him, knowing she had died.

⁵⁴ But Yeshua, took her by the hand and called out, saying, “Child, get up!” ⁵⁵ Her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. Yeshua ordered food to be given to her to eat. ⁵⁶ Her parents were utterly astonished, but He ordered them to say nothing of what had happened.

Sending Out the Twelve

9 Now when Yeshua called the twelve together, He gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. ² He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. ³ And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey—no walking stick, no travel bag, no bread, no money, nor even to have two shirts. ⁴ Whatever house you enter, stay there and depart from there. ⁵ And whoever does not receive you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a witness against them.” ⁶ So they went out and began traveling throughout the villages, proclaiming the Good News and healing everywhere.

⁷ Now Herod the tetrarch heard all that was happening. He was very confused, because some were saying that John had been raised from the dead, ⁸ but others that Elijah had appeared, and others that some prophet from among the ancients had arisen. ⁹ But Herod said, “I beheaded John, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept trying to see Him.

A Hungry Crowd in a Desolate Place

¹⁰ When the emissaries returned, they described to Yeshua all they had done. Then He took them along and withdrew privately to a city named Bethsaida. ¹¹ But the crowds found out and followed Him. So Yeshua welcomed them and began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those in need of healing.

¹² Now the day began to wind down, and the twelve came and said to Yeshua, “Send the crowd away, so they might go into the nearby villages and countryside and find food and lodging; for we are in a desolate place here.”

¹³ But Yeshua said to them, “You give them something to eat!”

But they said, “We have no more than five loaves of bread and two fish, unless we go to buy food for all these people.” ¹⁴ For there were about five thousand men.

Then Yeshua said to His disciples, “Have the people recline in groups of about fifty each.” ¹⁵ They did so, and all reclined. ¹⁶ And He took the five loaves and the two fish; and looking up to heaven, He offered the bracha and broke them. And He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd. ¹⁷ Then they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of the fragments.

Secrets Revealed to the Disciples Alone

¹⁸ Once when Yeshua was praying alone and His disciples were near, He put a question to them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”

¹⁹ They replied, “John the Immerser, but others Elijah, and others that some prophet from among the ancients has arisen.”

²⁰ Then He said to them, “But who do you that say I am?”

Then Peter answered and said, “The Messiah of God.”

²¹ But Yeshua warned them, and He ordered them not to tell this to anyone, ²² saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and ruling kohanim and Torah scholars, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

²³ Then Yeshua was saying to everyone, “If anyone wants to follow Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross every day, and follow Me. ²⁴ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

²⁵ “For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself? ²⁶ For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and the holy angels. ^{[at] 27} But I tell you truthfully, there are some standing here who will never taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

Glorified on a Mountain

²⁸ About eight days after these teachings, Yeshua took Peter, John, and Jacob with Him and went up the mountain to pray. ²⁹ While He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothing flashed like white lightning. ³⁰ And behold, two men were talking with Him, Moses and Elijah. ³¹ Appearing in glory, they were speaking of Yeshua’s departure, which was about to take place in Jerusalem.

³² Now Peter and those with him were overcome with sleep. But when they awakened, they saw Yeshua’s glory and the two men standing with Him. ³³ And as they were leaving Yeshua, Peter said to Him, “Master, it’s good for us to be here. Let’s make three sukkot: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he was saying.

³⁴ While he was yet saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. ³⁵ Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, the One I have chosen. Listen to Him!” ^{[au] 36} And after the voice happened, Yeshua was found alone. They kept quiet and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.

Coming Down from the Mountaintop

³⁷ On the next day as they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Yeshua. ³⁸ Suddenly a man from the crowd shouted out loudly, saying, “Teacher, I’m begging You to look at my son, for he’s my only child! ³⁹ You see, a spirit takes hold of him, and he immediately screams. It throws him into convulsions with frothing. It hardly ever leaves him—it’s crushing him! ⁴⁰ I begged Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”

⁴¹ Then answering, Yeshua said, “O faithless and twisted generation,^[av] how long shall I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” ⁴² And while the boy was still approaching Yeshua, the demon knocked him down to the ground and threw him into convulsions. But Yeshua rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and restored him to his father. ⁴³ And all were amazed at the mighty power of God. But as everyone was marveling at all He was doing, He said to His disciples, ⁴⁴ “Put these words into your ears: the Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” ⁴⁵ But they did not understand this statement; it was yet concealed from them so they could not grasp it. And they were afraid to ask Him about this statement.

⁴⁶ Now a dispute began between the disciples as to who might be the greatest among them. ⁴⁷ But Yeshua, knowing the reasoning of their heart, took a child and set him by His side. ⁴⁸ He said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in My name, welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me, welcomes the One who sent Me. The one who is the least among all of you is the one who is great.”

⁴⁹ John replied, “Master, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him because he doesn’t follow along with us.”

⁵⁰ Yeshua said to him, “Do not stop him, for he who is not against you is for you.”

Samaria Turns Yeshua Away

⁵¹ When the days were approaching for Him to be taken up, Yeshua was determined to go up to Jerusalem. ⁵² He sent messengers before Him, and they went and entered a Samaritan village to make His arrangements. ⁵³ But they did not receive Him, because He was focused on going up to Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ When His disciples Jacob and John saw this, they said, “Master, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them^[aw]?” ⁵⁵ But Yeshua turned and rebuked them.^[ax]

⁵⁶ Then they moved on to another village. ⁵⁷ As they were traveling on the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.”

⁵⁸ But Yeshua said to him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” ⁵⁹ He said to another, “Follow Me.”

But that one said, “First let me go and bury my father.”

⁶⁰ But Yeshua said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

⁶¹ Then another also said, “I will follow You, Master, but first let me say goodbye to those in my home.”

⁶² But Yeshua said to him, “No one who has put his hand to the plow and looked back is fit for the kingdom of God.”