Page images
PDF
EPUB

Matt. 3: 7.

1 Jo. 3: 17. Ja. 2: 15.

Mar. 1: 7.

Jo. 1: 26. Acts, 1: 5. & 11; 16. & 19; 4.

5 for him a straight passage. Let every valley be filled, every mountain and hill be levelled; let the crooked roads be made 6 straight, and the rough ways smooth, that all flesh may see the 7 Saviour sent of God." Then said he to the multitudes that flocked out to be baptized by him: Offspring of vipers, who hath prompted you to flee from the impending vengeance? 8 Produce then the proper fruits of reformation; and not say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; for I assure you, that of these stones God can raise children to 9 Abraham. And even now the axe lieth at the root of the trees. Every tree, therefore, which produceth not good fruit, is felled and thrown into fire.

10

[ocr errors]

Upon this the multitude asked him: What must we do then? 11 He answered: Let him who hath two coats impart to him who hath none; and let him who hath victuals do the same. 12 There came also publicans to be baptized, who said, Rabbi, 13 what must we do? He answered: Exact no more than what 14 is appointed you. Soldiers likewise asked him : and what must we do? He answered: Injure no man, either by violence or false accusation, and be content with your allowance.

15

As the people were in suspense concerning John, every man imagining within himself that he might be the Messiah, John Matt. 8:11. 16 addressed them all, saying: I indeed baptize in water; but one mightier than I cometh, whose shoe-atchet I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire: his win17 nowing shovel is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his grain he will gather the wheat into his granary, and consume 18 the chaff in unquenchable fire. And, with many other exhortations he published the good tidings to the people.

Matt. 14:3.
Mar. 6; 17.

Matt. 3; 13.

Mar. 1: 9.
Jo. 1; 32.
Matt. 17: 5.
ch. 9; 35.

2 Pet. 1: 17.

Matt. 1: 1.

19

But Herod the tetrarch having been reproved by him on account of Herodias his brother's wife, and for all the crimes which 20 Herod had committed, added this to the number, that he confined John in prison.

21

NOW when John baptized all the people, Jesus was likewise baptized; and while he prayed, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in a bodily form, like

a dove, and a voice came from heaven, which said: Thou art 23 my beloved Son; In thee 1 delight. Now Jesus was himself

about thirty years in subjection, being (as was supposed) a son 24 of Joseph, son of Heli, son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of 25 Melchi, son of Janna, son of Joseph, son of Matthias, son 26 of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai, son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Shimei, son of Joseph, son 27 of Judah, son of Joanna, son of Reza, son of Zerrubabel, son 28 of Salathiel, son of Neri, son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of 29 Cosam, son of Elmodam, son of Er, son of Joses, son of Elie

zer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Simeon, 30 son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonan, son of Eliakim, 31 son of Meleah, son of Mainan, son of Mattatha, son of Na32 than, son of David, son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, 33 son of Salmon, son of Nashon, son of Amminadab, son of Ram, 34 son of Hezron, son of Pharez, son of Judah, son of Jacob, son 35 of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor, son of 36 Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Eber, son of Salah, son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, 37 son of Lamech, son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, 38 son of Mehalaliel, son of Cainan, son of Enos, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.

IV.

Mar. 1: 12.

NOW Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Matt. 4:1. 2 Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he continued forty days, and was tempted by the devil. Having eaten nothing all that time, when it was ended, he was hun3 gry. And the devil said to him: If thou be a son of God, 4 command this stone to become bread. Jesus answered him, saying: It is written, "Man liveth not by bread only, but by Deut. 8; 3. 5 whatever God pleaseth." Then the devil having brought him to the top of a high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of 6 the earth in an instant, and said to him: All this power and glory I will give thee; for it is delivered to me, and to whom

10: 20.

Ps. 91; 11.

7 soever I will, I give it if, therefore, thou wilt worship me, 8 it shall all be thine. Jesus answering, said: It is written, Deut. 6; 13. "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and shalt serve him 1 Sam. 7: 3. 9 only." Then he brought him to Jerusalem, and placing him 10 on the battlement of the temple, said to him; If thou be a son 11 of God, throw thyself down hence; for it is written, "He will give his angels charge concerning thee to keep thee; and in Deut. 6: 16 their arms they shall uphold thee, lest thou dash thy foot against 12 a stone.' Jesus answered: It is said, "Thou shalt not put the 13 Lord thy God to the proof." the proof." When the devil had ended all the temptations, he departed from him for a time.

[ocr errors]

14

SECTION IV. THE ENTRANCE ON THE MINISTRY.

Mar. 1: 14.

THEN Jesus, by the impulse of the Spirit, returned to Ga- Matt. 4:12. 15 lilee, and his renown spread thoughout the whole country, and he taught in their synagogues with universal applause. 16 Being come to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he Matt. 13; 54. entered the synagogue, as his custom was, on the Sabbath day, Jo. 4: 43. 17 and stood up to read. And they put into his hands the book

* Jehovah.

Mar. 6: 1.

Isa. 61; 1.

of the prophet Isaiah; and having opened the book, he found 18 the place where it was written, "The Spirit of the Lord* is upon me, inasmuch as he hath anointed me to publish glad tidings to the poor: he hath commissioned me to heal the brokenhearted, to announce liberty to the captives, and recovery of 19 sight to the blind; to release the oppressed, to proclaim the 20 year of acceptance with the Lord." And having closedt he book, and returned it to the servant, he sat down, and the eyes of 21 all in the synagogue were fixed upon him. And he began with saying to them: This very day the Scripture which ye have 22 just now heard is fulfilled. And all extolled him; but, being astonished at the words full of grace which he uttered, they 23 said, Is not this Joseph's son? He said to them: Ye will doubtless apply to me this proverb, Physician, cure thyself." Do as great things here in thine own country, as we hear thou 24 hast done in Capernaum. But in fact, added he, no prophet 1 Ki. 17: 9. 25 was ever well received in his own country. I tell you of a

2 Ki. 5: 14.

truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when heaven was shut up for three years and a half, so 26 that there was great famine throughout all the land; yet to none of them was Elijah sent, but to a widow in Sareptat 27 of Sidonia. There were likewise many lepers in Israel in the

days of Elisha the prophet; and Naaman the Syrian was 28 cleansed, but none of those. On hearing this, the whole sy29 nagogue were enraged, and, breaking up, drove him out of the city, and brought him to the brow of the mountain whereon their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong. 30 But he passing through the midst of them, went away.

31

Then he came to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught Matt. 7; 28. 32 them on the Sabbath. And they were astonished at his manner of teaching; for he spoke with authority.

Mar. 1; 22.

Mar. 1:23. 33

Matt. 8: 14.
Mar. 1; 29.

Now there was in the synagogue a man possessed by the 34 spirit of an unclean demon, who roared out, saying: Ah! Jesus of Nazareth, what hast thou to do with us? Art thou come to destroy us? I know who thou art, the Holy One of God. 35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying: Be silent, and come out of him. Whereupon the demon, having thrown him down in the 36 middle of the assembly, came out without harming him. And they were all in amazement, and said one to another: What meaneth this, that with authority and power be commandeth the 37 unclean spirits, and they come out? Thenceforth his fame was blazed in every corner of the country.

38

When he was gone out of the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon, whose wife's mother had a violent fever, and

* Jehovah.

In the Old Testament Zarephath.

39 they entreated him on her behalf. Jesus standing near her, rebuked the fever, and it left her, and she instantly arose and served them.

40

After sunset, all they who had any sick, of whatever kind of disease, brought them to him; and he, laying his hands on ev41 ery one, cured them. Demons also came out of many, crying Mar. 1: 34. out: Thou art the Messiah, the Son of God. But he rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew 42 that he was the Messiah. When it was day, he retired into a

desert place; and the multitude sought him out, and caine to 43 him, and urged him not to leave them; but he said to them: I must publish the good tidings of the reign of God in other 44 cities also, because for this purpose I am sent. Accordingly he made this publication in the synagogues of Galilee.

V.
ONE time, as he stood by thel ake of Gennezareth,* the
2 multitude pressing upon him to hear the word of God, he saw
two barks aground near the edge, but the fishermen were on
3 shore washing their nets. Having gone aboard one of them,
which was Simon's, he desired him to put off a little from the
land. Then he sat down, and taught the people out of the
bark.

4

When he had done speaking, he said to Simon: Launch out 5 into deep water, and let down your nets for a draught. Simon answered: Master, we have toiled all night, and have caught nothing; nevertheless, at thy word, I will let down the net. 6 Having done this, they enclosed such a multitude of fishes, that 7 the net began to break. And they beckoned to their companions in the other bark to come and help them. And they came and loaded both the barks, so that they were near sinking. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he threw himself at Jesus' knees, 9 crying: Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man. For

the draught of fishes which they had taken, had filled him and 10 all his companions with terror, particularly James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon's partners. And Jesus said 11 to Simon: Fear not, henceforth thou shalt catch men. having brought their barks to land, they forsook all and followed him.

And

Mar. 1: 40.

12 When he was in one of the neighboring cities, a man cover- Matt. 8;3. ed with leprosy, happening to see him, threw himself on his face, and besought him, saying: Master, if thou wilt, thou 13 canst cleanse me. Jesus stretching out his hand, and touching him, said: I will; be thou cleansed. That instant his 14 leprosy departed from him, and he commanded him to tell nobody. But go, said he, show thyself to the priest, and pre- Lev. 14: 3.

* In the Old Testament Chinnereth.

Matt. 9: 2.
Mar. 2: 3.

ch. 7: 43.

Matt. 9: 9.
Mar. 2: 14.

Matt. 9, 14.

Mar. 2: 18.

sent the offering appointed by Moses for notifying unto the peo15 ple that thou art cleansed. Yet so much the more was Jesus every-where talked of, that vast multitudes flocked to hear him, 16 and to be cured by him of their maladies. And he withdrew into solitary places, and prayed.

17 One day as he was teaching, and pharisees and doctors of law, who had come from Jerusalem, and from every town of Galilee and Judea, were sitting by, the power of the Lord 18 was exerted in the cure of the sick. And behold some men carrying on a bed a man afflicted with a palsy, endeavored to 19 bring him in, and place him before Jesus; but finding it impracticable, by reason of the crowd, they got upon the roof, and let him down through the tiling, with the little bed in the midst 20 before him. Jesus perceiving their faith, said to him: Man, 21 thy sins are forgiven thee. On which the Scribes and the

Pharisees reasoned thus, ' Who is this that speaketh blasphe22 mies? Can any one forgive sins beside God?' Jesus knowing

their thoughts addressed himself to them, and said: What are 23 ye reasoning in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say Thy 24 sins are forgiven thee;' or to say, with effect, Arise and walk? But, that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power upon the earth to forgive sins: Arise, (said he to the palsied man), 25 take up thy bed and return to thy house. That instant he rose in their presence, took up his bed, and returned home glorify26 ing God. Seeing this, they were all struck with amazement and reverence, and glorified God, saying: We have seen incredible things to-day.

27 After this he went out, and observing a publican named 28 Levi sitting at the toll-office, said to him: Follow me. And 29 he arose, left all, and followed him. And Levi nade him a

great entertainment in his own house, where there was a great 30 company of publicans and others at table with them. But the Scribes and the Pharisees of the place murmured, saying to his disciples: Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? 31 Jesus answering, said unto them: It is not the healthy, but the 32 sick, who need a physician. I am come to call, not the righteous, but sinners, to reformation.

33

Then they asked him: How is it that the disciples of John, and likewise those of the Pharisees, frequently fast and pray, 34 but thine eat and drink? He answered: Would ye have the 35 bridemen fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the

days will come wherein the bridegroom shall be taken from 36 them; in those days they will fast. He added this similitude: No body mendeth an old mantle with new cloth; otherwise the new will rend the old; besides, the old and the new will never 37 suit each other. Nobody putteth new wine into old leathern bot

« PreviousContinue »