Mark Cross References - NSB

¹ The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ² The prophet Isaiah wrote: »I am sending my messenger ahead of you to prepare your way.« ³ »The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare the way of Jehovah (YHWH), make his paths straight.« (Isaiah 40:3) ⁴ John the Baptist was in the desert (wilderness) telling people to repent (turn away from sin) and be baptized for forgiveness of sins. ⁵ People from the province of Judea and the city of Jerusalem went out to hear John. They confessed their sins and he baptized them in the Jordan River. ⁶ John was clothed in camel’s hair with a leather belt about his loins. He ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ He told the people: »The man who comes after me is greater than I am. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie his shoes. ⁸ »I baptized (immersed) you with water, but he will baptize (Greek: baptizo: immerse, submerge) you with Holy Spirit.« ⁹ Soon Jesus came from Nazareth in the province of Galilee. John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. ¹⁰ When Jesus came out of the water he saw the heavens open and the Spirit descended on him like a dove. ¹¹ Then a voice came from heaven: »You are my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.« ¹² At once the Spirit compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness filled with wild animals. ¹³ Satan tempted Jesus. This lasted forty days. The angels took care of Jesus. ¹⁴ After John was locked in prison Jesus went to Galilee and preached the Good News of God to the people. ¹⁵ Jesus said: »The time has come. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the good news.« ¹⁶ Walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two fishermen Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother. They were casting a net into the sea. ¹⁷ Jesus said: Follow me and I will teach you to catch people. ¹⁸ They immediately left the nets and went with him. ¹⁹ Jesus then saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat preparing their nets to go fishing. ²⁰ Jesus called them and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and went with Jesus. ²¹ Jesus and his followers traveled to Capernaum. On the day of worship Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. ²² They were astonished at his doctrine, for he taught with authority and not like the scribes. ²³ Suddenly in the synagogue there was a man with an unclean spirit. He screamed: ²⁴ »What do you want with us Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God!« ²⁵ Jesus rebuked the spirit by saying: »Be quiet, and come out of him!« ²⁶ The evil spirit shook the man hard, gave a loud scream, and came out of him. ²⁷ The people were all amazed and questioned. »What is this? What new doctrine is this? He has authority over the unclean spirits, and they obey him.« ²⁸ His fame spread to the entire country of Galilee. ²⁹ Jesus and his disciples, including James and John, left the synagogue and went directly to the home of Simon and Andrew. ³⁰ Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever. At once they told Jesus about her. ³¹ He took her by the hand and helped her sit up. The fever suddenly left. So she got up and prepared a meal for them. ³² That evening at sunset many sick and demon-possessed people were presented to Jesus. ³³ A huge crowd of people from all over Capernaum gathered outside to watch. ³⁴ Jesus healed many who were sick with various diseases. He cast out many demons. Knowing them he would not permit the demons to speak. ³⁵ Early in the morning, long before daybreak, Jesus awoke and went into the wilderness to pray. ³⁶ Later Simon and the others went out to find him. ³⁷ They informed him: »Everyone is asking for you.« ³⁸ He replied: »We must go to other towns. I will preach to them too. I came for this purpose.« ³⁹ He went to Synagogues in every part of Galilee, preaching and driving out evil spirits. ⁴⁰ A man with leprosy knelt in front of Jesus and begged to be healed. »If you want to, you can make me well,« he said. ⁴¹ Moved with compassion Jesus touched him. »I want to,« he said. »Be healed!« ⁴² Instantly the leprosy disappeared and man was healed. ⁴³ Jesus sent him away and warned him. »Go directly to the priest and let him examine you. ⁴⁴ »Do not talk to anyone along the way. Take the offering the Law of Moses requires for those healed of leprosy. That way everyone will have proof of your healing.« ⁴⁵ But the man gave a public account of his healing everywhere he went. Soon crowds surrounded Jesus and he could not enter a town publicly. He had to stay in secluded places and people continued to come to him.

⁷ I will proclaim the decree of Jehovah: He said to me: »You are my Son. Today I have become your Father. (I have begotten you.)

¹⁷ Then a voice from heaven said: »This is my Son whom I love and whom I have approved.«

³ Satan, the Tempter, said to him: »If (since) you are the Son of God order these stones to turn into bread.«

³³ Those on the boat loved him intensely, saying: »Truly, you are the Son of God!«

⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them. A voice came out of the cloud, saying: »This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.«

² They received testimony from those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning. Ministers of God’s word delivered it to us. ³ Most excellent Theophilus (Greek: Theo philos: friend of God): I have accurately traced the course of all things from the beginning. Now it seems good to me to write this report to you.

³⁵ The angel replied: »Holy Spirit would come to you and the power of the Most High will envelope you. Because of this the newborn will be called the Son of God.«

¹⁰ The angel spoke to them: »Do not be afraid. Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy to all the people. ¹¹ »Christ (Messiah) the Lord, a Savior, is born this day in the city of David.

¹⁴ The Word [Jesus] became flesh (a human being) and lived with us. We saw the glory of the only begotten son from the Father. He was full of loving-kindness and truth.

³⁴ »I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.«

⁴⁹ Nathanael answered: »Rabbi you are the Son of God. You are King of Israel.«

¹⁶ »For God loved the world so much, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever has an active faith in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

⁶⁹ »We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.«

³¹ These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. By believing you may have life in his name.

¹ The first account I composed, O Theophilus, was about all that Jesus did and taught, ² until the day he was received up to heaven. After that he gave orders through the Holy Spirit to his chosen apostles.

¹ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, appointed (set apart) for the good news of God, ² He promised this long ago through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures. ³ This is about his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who came from the seed of David according to the flesh. ⁴ He was declared to be the Son of God with power through the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.

³ God did what the Law could not do, because human nature was weak. He sent his own son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering and do away with sin. So he condemned sin in sinful human nature.

³² He that did not spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, will he not with him freely give us all things?

¹ Long ago on many occasions and in many ways God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. ² He has in these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, through whom he made the ages (Greek: aion: ages of time, perpetuity, worlds, generations, human entities).

¹ We have heard that which was from the beginning. We have also seen it with our own eyes. We looked at it and touched it with our hands. It is the Word of life. ² The life was made known and we have seen and testify about it. We declare the life to you. It is the eternal life, which was with the Father and was shown to us. ³ We declare to you what we have seen and heard. This way you may have fellowship with us. Yes, and our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ!

¹¹ The testimony is this that God gave us everlasting life and this life is in his Son. ¹² He who has the Son has the life. He who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

⁷ Then I said: »Here I come! In the scroll of the book it is written about me. (Luke 3:21)

¹ »Behold, I send my messenger! He will prepare the way before me. Seek Jehovah! He will suddenly come to his Temple along with the messenger of the covenant. He is one you desire, behold, he comes,« said Jehovah of Hosts.

⁵ »Bethlehem in Judea,« they answered. This is what the prophet wrote:

¹ John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming: ² »Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.« ³ Isaiah spoke of John when he said: »He is a voice shouting in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of Jehovah. Make his paths straight.’« (Isaiah 40:3) ⁴ John wore clothes made from camel’s hair. He had a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. ⁵ People from Jerusalem, Judea, and the whole Jordan Valley went to him. ⁶ They confessed their sins and were baptized by John in the Jordan River. ⁷ He saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism. »You offspring of vipers,« he said, »who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ »Bear fruit worthy of repentance! ⁹ »Do not presume that Abraham is your father. I tell you that God can make descendants for Abraham from these stones! ¹⁰ »The ax is ready to cut down the trees at the roots. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. ¹¹ »I baptize you with water because of your repentance. He that comes after me is mightier than I. He will baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire. I am not even good enough to carry his sandals.

¹⁰ »This is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare the way for you.’

²⁴ »It is written that the Son of man will depart. The man who betrays him will experience much grief. It would have been better if that man had not been born.«

³¹ Jesus said to them: »All of you will fall away because of me tonight. It is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

¹⁵ »He will be great in the eyes of God. He will not drink wine or strong drink and he will be full of Holy Spirit from the time of his birth. ¹⁶ »Great numbers of the children of Israel will return to Jehovah their God because of him. (1 Samuel 7:3) ¹⁷ »He will go before God in the spirit and power of Elijah. He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and wrongdoers to the way of righteousness. This will make ready a people whose hearts have been directed to Jehovah (YHWH).« (Malachi 3:1)

⁷⁰ »He spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from ages past.

⁷⁶ »Your child will be called the prophet of the Most High. You will go in advance of Jehovah God to make his ways ready. (Malachi 3:1)

² This was in the time when Annas and Caiaphas were chief priests. The word of God was delivered to John the son of Zechariah. He was in the wilderness. ³ John traveled in the region near the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁴ This was according to the words of Isaiah the prophet: »The voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make ready the way of Jehovah. Make his paths straight. ⁵ »Every valley shall be filled. Every mountain and hill shall be brought low. The crooked shall become straight and the rough ways smooth. ⁶ »All flesh shall see the salvation of God.« (Isaiah 40:3-6) ⁷ He told the crowds that came to be baptized by him: »You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ »Produce fruit that is worthy of repentance. Do not say we have Abraham for our father. I tell you, that God is able to make these stones into children for Abraham. ⁹ »The axe is now at the root of the trees. Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown in to the fire.« ¹⁰ The people asked him: »What must we do?« ¹¹ He answered: »He who has two coats let him give to him who has none. He who has food let him do likewise.« ¹² Tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him: »Teacher, what must we do?« ¹³ He told them: »Collect no more than that which is prescribed.« ¹⁴ Soldiers also asked him: »What must we do?« And he said: »Do not take money from any one by force. Never falsely accuse any one wrongfully and be content with your wages.« ¹⁵ Many people were expecting the Messiah. They reasoned in their hearts concerning John: »Perhaps he was the Messiah.« ¹⁶ John answered, saying to them: »I baptize you with water. He is coming who is mightier than I. I am not worthy to untie his shoelaces. He will baptize you in Holy Spirit and in fire.

²⁷ »This is he of whom it is written, Behold I send my messenger before you. He will prepare a way before you. ²⁸ »I say to you, of those who are born of women there is none greater than John. Yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.«

³¹ He took the twelve to Jerusalem so that the Son of man will accomplish all the things that are written through the prophets:

³ A voice of one calling: »In the wilderness prepare the way for Jehovah. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. ⁴ »Every valley will be raised up! Every mountain and hill made low. The rough ground will become level and the rugged places a plain. ⁵ »The glory of Jehovah will be revealed and together all mankind will see it. For the mouth of Jehovah has spoken!«

³ Isaiah spoke of John when he said: »He is a voice shouting in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of Jehovah. Make his paths straight.’« (Isaiah 40:3) ⁴ This was according to the words of Isaiah the prophet: »The voice of one crying in the wilderness. Make ready the way of Jehovah. Make his paths straight. ⁵ »Every valley shall be filled. Every mountain and hill shall be brought low. The crooked shall become straight and the rough ways smooth. ⁶ »All flesh shall see the salvation of God.« (Isaiah 40:3-6)

¹⁵ John spoke about him and declared: He is the one I said would come after me. He is greater than I am because he lived before me.«

¹⁹ John gave his witness even as Jewish authorities sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem. They asked him: »Who are you?« ²⁰ He said: »I am not the Christ.« ²¹ They asked him: »Are you Elijah?« He said: »I am not.« »Are you the prophet?« He answered: »No.« ²² They said to him: »Who are you? We need to know so we can tell the ones who sent us.« ²³ He said: »I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Isaiah the prophet said: ‘Make straight the way of Jehovah (YHWH).’« (Isaiah 40:3) ²⁴ They were sent from the Pharisees. ²⁵ They said to him: »Why do you baptize if you are not the Christ, not Elijah, and not the prophet?« ²⁶ John answered: »I baptize in water. There is one in your midst whom you do not know. ²⁷ »I am not worthy to fasten his shoes.« ²⁸ These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. ²⁹ The next day he saw Jesus coming to him. He boldly declared: »Behold! The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!« ³⁰ »This is he whom I said would come after me. He is greater than I am because he came before me. ³¹ »I did not know him. I came baptizing in water so that everyone in Israel will come to know him.« ³² John said: »I saw the spirit descending as a dove out of heaven upon him. ³³ »I did not know he was the one. God sent me to baptize in water and said: ‘You will see one upon whom the spirit descends. The same is he who baptizes in Holy Spirit.’ ³⁴ »I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.«

²⁸ »You bear witness that I said I am not the Christ. I have been sent before him. ²⁹ »He that has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens to him. He rejoices greatly because he hears the bridegroom’s voice. This fills me with joy. ³⁰ »He must increase and I must decrease.« ³¹ »He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks from an earthly viewpoint. He who comes from heaven is superior. ³² »He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but no man accepts his testimony. ³³ »He who receives his testimony confirms by his seal that God is true. ³⁴ »For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God. God does not give the spirit by measure. ³⁵ »The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. ³⁶ »He who puts active faith in the Son has everlasting life. He who disobeys* the Son will not see life for the wrath of God remains upon him.« (*Greek: apeitheo: willfully disobey, not having faith)

¹ John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming: ² »Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.«

⁶ They confessed their sins and were baptized by John in the Jordan River.

¹¹ »I baptize you with water because of your repentance. He that comes after me is mightier than I. He will baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire. I am not even good enough to carry his sandals.

⁷⁷ »To give knowledge of salvation to his people in the remission of their sins.

² This was in the time when Annas and Caiaphas were chief priests. The word of God was delivered to John the son of Zechariah. He was in the wilderness. ³ John traveled in the region near the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

²³ John was also baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there. People came and were baptized.

³⁷ »You know that message which began in Galilee and was published throughout all Judea, after the baptism that John preached.

²⁴ »Before Jesus came John preached the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. ²⁵ »As John accomplished his purpose he asked: Who do you think I am? I am not that one. One comes after me whose shoes I am not worthy to untie.

³ Paul asked: »What kind of baptism did you get?« They replied: »It was the baptism John taught.« ⁴ Paul said: »John baptized with the baptism of repentance. He told the people they should believe in Jesus, the one who came after John.«

¹⁶ ‘Wait no longer! Get up and be baptized and have your sins washed away by praying to him.’

⁴⁰ »‘However if they confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors and the treacherous things they did to oppose me, ⁴¹ »‘I will oppose them and bring them into the lands of their enemies. Then, if they humble their uncircumcised hearts and accept their guilt, ⁴² »‘I will remember my promise to Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham. I will also remember the land.

¹⁹ Joshua said to Achan: »My son, give glory to Jehovah God of Israel and confess to him. Tell me now what you have done. Do not hide it from me.«

⁵ I confessed my sins to you, and I did not cover up my guilt. I decided to confess them to you, O Jehovah. Then you forgave all my sins.

¹³ The man who covers his sins will not be blessed; but whoever confesses and leaves them will have mercy.

⁵ People from Jerusalem, Judea, and the whole Jordan Valley went to him. ⁶ They confessed their sins and were baptized by John in the Jordan River.

²⁵ Because of this, large crowds followed him from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and the land on the other side of the Jordan.

²⁸ These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

³⁸ Then Peter said: »Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ Many of the believers confessed openly about the evil things they had done.

⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say we have not sinned we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

²² »‘You may eat any kind of locust, cricket, katydid, or grasshopper.

⁸ »He was a hairy man wearing a cloak made of animal skins, tied with a leather belt,« they answered. »It is Elijah!« The king exclaimed.

⁴ »It will happen! The prophets, each one of them will be ashamed of his vision and his prophesy. They will not wear a hairy mantle to deceive.

⁴ John wore clothes made from camel’s hair. He had a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.

¹⁴ »I need to be baptized by you,« John said. »Why are you coming to me?«

¹⁶ John answered, saying to them: »I baptize you with water. He is coming who is mightier than I. I am not worthy to untie his shoelaces. He will baptize you in Holy Spirit and in fire.

⁶ Jesus went with them. As he approached the house, the centurion sent friends to him saying, »Lord do not trouble yourself. I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. ⁷ »I am also not worthy to come to you. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

²⁷ »I am not worthy to fasten his shoes.«

²⁸ »You bear witness that I said I am not the Christ. I have been sent before him. ²⁹ »He that has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens to him. He rejoices greatly because he hears the bridegroom’s voice. This fills me with joy. ³⁰ »He must increase and I must decrease.« ³¹ »He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks from an earthly viewpoint. He who comes from heaven is superior.

²⁵ »As John accomplished his purpose he asked: Who do you think I am? I am not that one. One comes after me whose shoes I am not worthy to untie.

²³ »Listen when I reprove you. I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make my words known to you.

¹⁵ The Spirit will be poured out upon us from on high. Then the wilderness will be turned into a fertile field, and the fertile field will be considered a forest.

³ »‘I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring. I will give blessing to your descendants.

²⁵ »I will sprinkle clean water on you and make you clean instead of unclean. Then I will cleanse you from all your idols. ²⁶ »I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove your stubborn hearts and give you obedient hearts. ²⁷ »I will put my Spirit in you. I will enable you to live by my Laws, and you will obey my rules.

²⁸ »In the last days I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions! (Ac 2:17; Isa 44:3)

⁵ »John baptized with water; but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit in a few days,« He said.

⁴ They were all filled with the Holy Spirit. They began to speak with different tongues, as the Spirit moved them to speak.

¹⁷ »It will come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out from my Spirit upon all flesh. (Greek: apo, from) Your sons and your daughters will prophesy (proclaim God’s Word). Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.

⁴⁵ Those circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed that the gift of Holy Spirit was also poured out on the people of the nations.

¹⁵ »When I spoke the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it was in the beginning. ¹⁶ »Then I remembered what the Lord said, ‘John indeed baptized with water. However you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

⁴ Paul said: »John baptized with the baptism of repentance. He told the people they should believe in Jesus, the one who came after John.« ⁵ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ Paul laid his hands on them and Holy Spirit came upon them. They spoke with tongues and prophesied.

¹³ For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, whether we are Jews or people of the nations, whether we are bond or free; we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

⁵ not by works done in righteousness, which we did, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration (restoration) (spiritual rebirth) and renewing (renovation) of the Holy Spirit. ⁶ He poured Spirit out upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior.

²³ He made his home in Nazareth. Thus the prophecy came true: »He [Jesus] will be called a Nazarene.«

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. ¹⁴ »I need to be baptized by you,« John said. »Why are you coming to me?« ¹⁵ Jesus answered emphatically: »This is the proper way to do everything that God requires. This is the way it must be!« ¹⁶ Then Jesus was baptized and came up from the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened. He saw God’s Spirit coming down like a dove. ¹⁷ Then a voice from heaven said: »This is my Son whom I love and whom I have approved.«

²¹ When all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized. He prayed and heaven was opened. ²² Holy Spirit descended upon him in a bodily form like a dove. A voice came out of heaven. He said: »You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.«

¹ Here is my servant, whom I have strengthened. Here is the one I have chosen, with whom I am pleased. I have filled him with my Spirit, and he will bring justice to every nation.

¹ O that you would split open the heavens and come down! The mountains would quake at your presence.

¹⁶ Then Jesus was baptized and came up from the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened. He saw God’s Spirit coming down like a dove.

²² Holy Spirit descended upon him in a bodily form like a dove. A voice came out of heaven. He said: »You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased.«

⁷ A cloud hovered over them and a voice came out of the cloud: »This is my Son the beloved listen to him!«

³⁵ A voice came out of the cloud saying: »This is my Son my chosen one. Listen to him!«

²⁰ »The Father loves the Son. He shows him all of the things he does. He will show him greater works than these. And you will marvel. ²¹ »The Father raises the dead and gives them life. The Son also gives life to those he wills. ²² »The Father does not judge any man for he has given all judgment to the Son. ²³ »All may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father that sent him.

³⁷ »The Father who sent me testifies about me. You have not heard his voice nor seen him at any time.

²⁸ »Father, glorify your name.« A voice came from heaven: »I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.« ²⁹ The crowd near him only heard thunder. Some said an angel spoke to him. ³⁰ Jesus said: »This voice came for your sake and not for mine.

⁴ He was declared to be the Son of God with power through the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.

¹³ He rescued us from the power of darkness, and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love (the Son he dearly loves).

¹⁷ He received honor and glory from God the Father when he heard the voice from the Majestic Glory: »This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.« ¹⁸ We heard this voice from out of heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

¹ God’s Spirit led Jesus into the desert wilderness. There he was tested (tempted) by the Devil. ² He fasted forty days and nights, and was very hungry. ³ Satan, the Tempter, said to him: »If (since) you are the Son of God order these stones to turn into bread.« ⁴ In reply Jesus answered: »It is written; man shall not live on bread alone, but on all (everything) (every word) (every utterance) (every declaration) that proceeds from the mouth of Jehovah.« (Deuteronomy 8:3) ⁵ Then the Devil took him into the holy city and had him stand on top of the Temple. ⁶ »If (since) you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. The Scriptures say: ‘God will give orders to his angels about you and they will hold you with their hands, so that not even your feet will strike the ground.’« ⁷ »Again it is written,« Jesus replied, »‘you must not put Jehovah your God to the test.’« (Deuteronomy 6:16) ⁸ This time the Devil took Jesus to an extremely high mountain. He showed him all the kingdoms of the world with all their greatness. ⁹ »I will give all this to you,« the Devil told Jesus, »if you kneel down and worship me.« ¹⁰ »Go away, Satan!« demanded Jesus. »It is written, »It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’« (Deuteronomy 6:13-15) ¹¹ Then the Devil left Jesus, and the angels came and served him.

¹ Jesus was full of God’s Holy Spirit when he returned from the Jordan. Holy Spirit led him into the wilderness. ² He spent forty days in the wilderness being tempted by the devil. He did not eat anything during those days so when it was over he was hungry. 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, man shall not live by bread alone.« (Deuteronomy 8:3) ⁵ He led him up to a high place and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. ⁶ Then the devil said: »I will give all this authority and glory to you, for it has been turned over to me. I may give it to whomever I will. ⁷ »If you will worship me it will all be yours.« ⁸ Jesus answered: »It is written, you shall worship Jehovah your God and him only shall you serve.« (Deuteronomy 6:13-15; 10:12; 10:20) (Exodus 20:3-5) ⁹ He led him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle (highest level) of the temple. Then he said to him: »If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here. ¹⁰ »It is written, he shall give his angels charge concerning you to guard you. ¹¹ »They will carry you with their hands so you do not dash your foot against a stone.« ¹² Jesus replied: »It is said you should not test Jehovah your God.« (Deuteronomy 6:16) ¹³ When the devil had completed every temptation he departed from him for a season.

¹⁸ Moses entered the midst of the cloud as he went up to the mountain. He was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

²⁸ Moses was there with Jehovah forty days and forty nights. He did not eat bread or drink water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments (Ten Words).

¹¹ »At the end of forty days and nights Jehovah gave me the two stone tablets, the tablets of the covenant.

¹⁸ »I fell down before Jehovah. Like the first, forty days and nights I did not eat or drink. This was because of all your sin you committed in doing what was evil in the sight of Jehovah to provoke Him to anger.

²⁵ »So I fell down prostrate before Jehovah the forty days and forty nights. I did this because Jehovah said he would destroy you.

⁵ Stretching himself on the earth, he went to sleep under the broom-plant. An angel touched him and said: »Get up and eat some food.« ⁶ Looking up, he saw near his head a cake cooked on coals and a bottle of water. So he ate food and drink water and went to sleep again. ⁷ The angel of Jehovah came again a second time, and touched him and said: »Get up and have some food, or you will not have strength for the journey.« ⁸ So he got up and took food and drink. He was strengthened to go for forty days and forty nights, to Horeb, the mountain of God.

⁵³ »Do you think I cannot ask my Father for help? He would send me more than twelve legions of angels.

¹⁶ The secret of godliness is great and it is without controversy. ‘He (Jesus Christ) was manifested (revealed) in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, and seen by angels. He preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, and received up in glory.’

¹⁷ This means that he had to become like his »brothers« in every way, in order to be their faithful and merciful High Priest in his service to God, in order to offer a propitiatory sacrifice (pay atonement) (to make reconciliation) for the sins of the people. ¹⁸ Since he has suffered and was tested in every way; he is able to help those who are being tested.

¹⁵ We do not have a high priest who is not able to sympathize with our infirmities (weaknesses). He was tested in all things like ourselves. Yet he was without sin!

¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah is upon me, because Jehovah has anointed me to announce good news to the lowly and meek. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners. ² To proclaim the favorable Year of Jehovah and the day of vengeance of our God. To comfort all who mourn, ³ to present a garland, instead of ashes, to those who mourn in Zion, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. They will be called oaks of righteousness. They are the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified.

¹² Jesus heard that John had been arrested. So Jesus withdrew to Galilee.

²³ Jesus walked all over Galilee teaching in the synagogues. He preached the Good News about the Kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and infirmity among the people.

³⁵ Jesus went to all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the good news of the kingdom. He healed every sort of disease and every sort of infirmity.

² While in prison, John heard news of what Christ was doing. He sent his disciples.

² He told his servants: »This is John the Baptist, raised from the dead. That explains the power working in him.«

²⁰ He added this also to them all. He locked up John in prison.

¹⁷ He was given the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written: ¹⁸ »The Spirit of Jehovah is upon me. He anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind. To set at liberty those who are bruised. ¹⁹ »To proclaim the acceptable year of Jehovah.« (Isaiah 61:1)

⁴³ He said to them: »I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also. This is why I was sent.« ⁴⁴ He preached in the synagogues of Galilee.

¹ Jesus and the twelve apostles traveled through cities and villages preaching the good news of the kingdom of God.

²² After these things Jesus and his disciples traveled to the land of Judea where he stayed with them and baptized. ²³ John was also baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there. People came and were baptized. ²⁴ John had not yet been thrown into prison.

²⁵ »I know all of you and have preached the kingdom with you. But you will not see me again.

²³ So they set a date with Paul. A large number of them came that day to the place where Paul was staying. From morning till night he explained his message about the Kingdom of God to them. He tried to convince them about Jesus by quoting from the Law of Moses and the writings of the prophets.

¹⁷ He came and preached peace to you who were far off, and peace to those who were near.

⁴⁴ »In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. Its sovereignty will not be entrusted to another people. It will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms and it will stand forever!

²⁵ »Know and discern, that from the utterance of the commandment to restore and to rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One (Messiah), the Leader: there shall be seven weeks, also sixty-two weeks. It shall be built again with a public square and moat, even in terrible times.

² »Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.«

¹⁷ From that time on Jesus preached this message: »Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is near.«

⁷ »Preach as you go! Announce the kingdom of heaven, for it is near.

³¹ »Which of the two pleased his father?« They replied: »The first.« Jesus said to them: »I tell you, tax collectors and prostitutes will go into the kingdom of God before you.« ³² »John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him. Even the tax collectors and prostitutes believed him. When you saw this, you did not regret your sins and did not have faith in him.

⁹ »Heal the sick that are there and say to them, the kingdom of God is near you.

¹¹ »Shake off the dust that clings to your feet, from that city, so they may know that the kingdom of God came near.

⁴⁷ »Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

³⁶ »Therefore let all the house of Israel know for sure that God has made that same Jesus, whom you impaled, both Lord and Christ.« (Acts 10:36) ³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were stabbed to the heart, and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles: »Men and brothers, what shall we do?« ³⁸ Then Peter said: »Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

²¹ »I witnessed to both Jews and to Greeks about repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁶ It is now made known by the Scriptures of the prophets according to the commandment of the everlasting God. It is made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.

⁴ When the full time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

¹⁰ It was for an administration at the appointed time. This administration is to gather up all things in Christ, the things in heaven, and the things upon the earth. Yes in him!

²⁵ He should instruct those who oppose using meekness. Perhaps God will give them repentance that they may know the truth. ²⁶ They should come to their senses out of the snare of the Devil. He has taken them captive and they do his will.

¹⁸ Jesus walked on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. There he saw Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother. They were fishermen. ¹⁹ He said to them: »Follow me and I will teach you to catch people.« ²⁰ At once they abandoned their nets and followed him. ²¹ He saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother. They were in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them. ²² Instantly they left the boat and their father, and went with him.

² The following are the names of the twelve apostles (ambassadors of the good news) (messengers): first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

¹⁶ Walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two fishermen Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother. They were casting a net into the sea. ¹⁷ Jesus said: Follow me and I will teach you to catch people. ¹⁸ They immediately left the nets and went with him. ¹⁹ Jesus then saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat preparing their nets to go fishing. ²⁰ Jesus called them and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and went with Jesus.

¹⁶ The twelve included Simon whom he surnamed Peter,

¹⁸ Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananaean.

¹ Jesus stood by the Lake of Gennesaret as the crowds pressed in upon him in order to hear the word of God. ² He saw two boats docked by the shore. The fishermen had gone away from them and were washing their nets. ³ He boarded one of the boats. It was Simon’s boat. He asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. ⁴ When he finished speaking he asked Simon to put into deep water and let down the nets for a catch. ⁵ Simon answered, Master we worked all night and caught nothing. At your word I will let down the nets. ⁶ When they did this they caught a large number of fish and their nets were breaking. ⁷ They called their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They filled both boats until they began to sink. ⁸ When Simon Peter saw this he fell down at Jesus’ knees. He said: »Depart from me for I am a sinful man, O Lord.« ⁹ He and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish. ¹⁰ So were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon: »Do not fear. From now on you will catch men.« ¹¹ After they brought their boats to land they left all and followed him.

¹⁴ Simon, whom he also named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip and Bartholomew,

⁴⁰ One of the two, who heard John speak and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. ⁴¹ He found his brother Simon first. He said to him: »We have found the Messiah (Christ).« ⁴² He took him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said: »You are Simon the son of John: you will be called Cephas (meaning: Peter).«

⁸ Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, one of his disciples said:

²² Philip and Andrew told Jesus.

¹³ When they entered the city they went to the upper chamber where they were staying. Included were Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealous one, and Judas the son of James.

¹⁰ »From En Gedi to En Eglaim people will be standing on the shore of the sea with their fishing nets spread out. As many kinds of fish will be there as there are in the Mediterranean Sea.

¹⁹ He said to them: »Follow me and I will teach you to catch people.« ²⁰ At once they abandoned their nets and followed him.

¹⁰ So were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon: »Do not fear. From now on you will catch men.«

³⁸ Then Peter said: »Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ »The promise is to you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as Jehovah our God calls.« (Micah 4:5) (Deuteronomy 6:4) ⁴⁰ He gave a thorough witness with many words and exhorted them, saying: »Save yourselves from this indecent generation.« ⁴¹ Those who gladly received his word were baptized. About three thousand persons were added the same day.

²⁷ Then Peter said: »See, we have given up everything to follow you. What then will we have?« ²⁸ Jesus replied: »Truly I say to you, when all things are made new, and the Son of man is seated in his glory, you who have come after me will be seated on twelve seats, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ »Everyone who has given up houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or child, or land, for my name, will receive many times as much, and have everlasting life. ³⁰ »Many who are first will be last. Some who are last will be first.«

²⁸ Peter said to him: »We have left all and followed you.« ²⁹ Jesus said: »Truly I tell you, a man that has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for my sake, and for the sake of the good news, ³⁰ will receive a hundred times as much now in this time, and in the age to come everlasting life. ³¹ »Many that are first will be last and the last first.«

¹¹ After they brought their boats to land they left all and followed him.

³³ »Likewise,« concluded Jesus, »none of you may be my disciples unless you give up everything you have.«

²⁸ Peter said: »Indeed we have left our own to follow you.« ²⁹ Jesus said: »Truly I tell you, no man has left house, or wife, or brother, or parents, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, ³⁰ who shall not receive manifold more now and in the age to come everlasting life.«

⁸ I count all things to be loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. I suffered the loss of all things. Yet I count them as refuse (garbage) (dung) that I may gain Christ.

²¹ He saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother. They were in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them.

¹⁷ James the son of Zebedee, John the brother of James surnamed Boanerges, which is, Sons of thunder:

³⁷ He allowed only Peter, James, and John the brother of James to follow him.

² Six days later Jesus took Peter, James and John up on a high mountain completely alone. He was transfigured in front of them.

³⁵ James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him saying: »Teacher, we want you to do for us what we ask of you.«

³³ He took Peter, James and John with him. He was very distressed and troubled.

² He killed James the brother of John with a sword.

⁹ »Who said of his father and mother: ‘I have not seen them; and he did not acknowledge his brothers, nor did he regard his own sons. They observed your word and kept your covenant.’

²⁰ Elisha then left his bulls and ran after Elijah. He said: »Let me kiss my father and mother good-bye and then I will go with you.« Elijah answered, »All right, go back. I am not stopping you!«

²¹ One of his disciples said: »Lord, first allow me to go bury my father.« ²² But Jesus said to him: »Follow me; and leave the dead to bury their own dead.«

³⁷ »He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me. He who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

²⁹ Jesus said: »Truly I tell you, a man that has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or father, or children, or lands, for my sake, and for the sake of the good news,

²⁶ »You who come to me may not be my disciple unless you love me more than you love your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters and yourself.

¹⁶ From now on we know no man according to the flesh: even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer.

¹³ He left Nazareth to reside at Capernaum, a town by Lake Galilee, in the districts of Zebulun and Naphtali.

³⁹ He went to Synagogues in every part of Galilee, preaching and driving out evil spirits.

¹ Several days later Jesus returned to Capernaum. The word spread that he was home.

² Jesus taught in the synagogue on the Sabbath. Many were astonished when they heard him. They asked: »Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to this man and how did he perform these mighty works by his hands?

¹ Jesus crossed the Jordan River when he went to the province of Judea. Crowds gathered all around him just as they always did.

¹⁶ Then he returned to Nazareth the place where he was raised. He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day. This was his custom. There he stood up to read.

³¹ Next he traveled to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. There he taught them on the Sabbath day. ³² They were astonished at his teaching for he spoke with authority. ³³ A man in the synagogue had a spirit of an unclean demon. He cried out with a loud voice: ³⁴ »What have we to do with you Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God!« ³⁵ Jesus rebuked him, saying: »Be quiet and come out of him.« When the demon had thrown him down in front of them, he came out of him without harming him. ³⁶ All were amazed and spoke to one another. »What is he telling us? For he speaks with authority and with power he commands the unclean spirits and they come out.« ³⁷ A rumor concerning him spread to every place of the region.

¹⁵ »Will you Capernaum be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to the grave.

¹⁰ Jesus was teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath.

¹⁴ When they left Perga, they went to Antioch in Pisidia. They went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down. ¹⁵ After the public reading of the law and the prophets the synagogue officials sent to them, saying: »You men and brothers if you have a message of encouragement for the people speak.« ¹⁶ Then Paul stood up gestured with his hand and said: »Men of Israel, and you who reverence God, listen.« ¹⁷ »The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they lived as strangers in the land of Egypt. He brought them out of Egypt with his great strength. ¹⁸ »He cared for them and endured their bad conduct in the wilderness for forty years. ¹⁹ »He destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance. ²⁰ »Then he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. This took about four hundred and fifty years. ²¹ »Afterward they desired a king. God gave Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, to them for forty years. ²² »When he removed him, he made David their king. He testified about him when he said: I found David the son of Jesse is a man after my own heart. He will do my will. ²³ »God brought the Savior Jesus to Israel from this man’s descendants. ²⁴ »Before Jesus came John preached the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. ²⁵ »As John accomplished his purpose he asked: Who do you think I am? I am not that one. One comes after me whose shoes I am not worthy to untie. ²⁶ »Men and brothers, children of Abraham, and you of the nations who respect God, the message of salvation is sent to you. ²⁷ »The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not know Jesus. They fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath when they condemned Jesus. ²⁸ »They found no grounds for the death sentence for him. Yet they asked Pilate to put him to death. ²⁹ »When they had fulfilled all that was written about him, they took him down from the stake, and laid him in a tomb. ³⁰ »But God raised him from the dead: ³¹ »Those who came with him from Galilee to Jerusalem saw him. They are his witnesses to the people. ³² »We tell you good news. It is God’s promise to the fathers. ³³ »God has fulfilled this promise to their children by resurrecting Jesus. Just as it is written in the second psalm: You are my Son, today I have become your father. (Psalms 2:7) ³⁴ »He raised him up from the dead, never to decay. It is stated in these words: I will give you the sure blessings promised David. (Isaiah 55:3) ³⁵ »He said in another psalm: You will not allow your Holy One to see decay. (Ps 16:10) ³⁶ »After David served his own generation by doing the will of God he died and was buried with his fathers. His body decayed. ³⁷ »But he (Jesus), whom God raised again, saw no decay. ³⁸ »You should know, men and brothers that it is through this man Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. ³⁹ »Through him all who believe are justified from all things. You could not be justified through the Law of Moses. ⁴⁰ Beware that what the prophets said does not happen to you. ⁴¹ »Look among the nations, watch, and be amazed. Though you are told you will not believe the work I do today.« (Habakkuk 1:5) ⁴² When the Jews left the synagogue the people asked for this message to be preached to them the next Sabbath. ⁴³ When the congregation dismissed, many followed Paul and Barnabas. They urged them to continue in the grace of God. ⁴⁴ Nearly the entire city gathered the next Sabbath day to hear the word of God. ⁴⁵ When the Jews saw the crowds they were filled with envy. They spoke against those things Paul spoke. They contradicted and blasphemed him. ⁴⁶ Paul and Barnabas became very bold, and said: »It was necessary that the Word of God should first be spoken to you. But seeing you reject it you judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life! Therefore we turn to the people of the nations. ⁴⁷ »Jehovah commanded us with these words: I appoint you as a light to the nations. My salvation will come to the ends of the earth.« (Isaiah 49:6) ⁴⁸ And when the people of the nations heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God. As many as were receptive to eternal life believed. ⁴⁹ The word of God (Greek: kurios: God) was published throughout the entire region. ⁵⁰ The Jews incited the devout and honorable women and the leading men of the city. They caused persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their coasts. ⁵¹ So they shook the dust from their feet against them, and went to Iconium. ⁵² The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

² Paul went in, for it was his custom. He reasoned with them from the Scriptures for three Sabbath days.

⁴ He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.

²⁹ »My message is like a fire and like a hammer that breaks rocks in pieces.

²⁸ When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were astonished at what he taught. ²⁹ He taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

⁵⁴ He went to his own country and taught in the synagogue. They were astonished and asked where this man got this wisdom and these mighty works.

¹⁶ »Woe to you, you blind guides! You say, ‘When you swear by the temple, it is nothing.’ Then you say, ‘When you swear by the gold of the temple, you are obligated.’ ¹⁷ »You fools! You blind men! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? ¹⁸ »‘When you swear by an altar, you owe nothing. When you swear by the gift left on the altar, you are obligated. ¹⁹ »You blind men! What is more important, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? ²⁰ »He who swears by the altar, swears by it and everything on it. ²¹ »He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by him that dwells within it. ²² »Thus, he who swears by heaven also swears by the throne of God and him who sits on it. ²³ »Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and faith. You should do both and leave nothing undone. ²⁴ »You blind guides! You strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!

³ (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat until they wash their hands. They practice the tradition of the elders.) ⁴ When they come from the marketplace they wash themselves before they eat. They follow many other rules. They wash their cups, and brass pots, and other vessels. ⁵ The Pharisees and the scribes asked: »Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders. Instead they eat their bread with defiled hands?« ⁶ He told them: »Isaiah prophesied about you hypocrites. It is written: ‘This people honor me with their lips but their heart is far from me. ⁷ ‘They worship me in vain teaching as doctrines the commands of men.’« ⁸ Speaking to the Pharisees and scribes He said: »You abandon the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men. ⁹ »You totally reject the commandment of God that you may keep your tradition. ¹⁰ »Moses said: ‘Honor your father and your mother. He also said: ‘He that speaks evil of father or mother must die.’ ¹¹ »But you say: ‘If a man says to his father or his mother that which would benefit you is a gift to God, ¹² he no longer has to do anything for his father or mother.’ ¹³ »You make the word of God invalid by your tradition.«

³² They were astonished at his teaching for he spoke with authority.

¹⁵ »I will give you ability to talk and words of wisdom, which your adversaries shall not be able to resist or refute.

⁴⁶ »No man has ever spoken the way he speaks,« they replied.

¹⁰ They were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke.

²¹ All who heard him were amazed. They asked: »Is he the one who raised havoc with those who called on this name in Jerusalem? Did he come for that purpose to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?« ²² Saul increased in power and confounded the Jews living in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

² We have renounced the hidden things of shame. And we do not walk in craftiness and deceit. We do not adulterate the word of God. But by the manifestation of the truth we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

¹² The Word of God is alive and active and sharper than any two-edged sword. (Ephesians 6:17) It separates the physical person from the spiritual person, of both joints and marrow. And it can discern (judge) the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (John 12:48) ¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. All things are uncovered and laid bare before him. We must account to him. (Romans 2:16; 14:12)

⁴³ »When an unclean spirit goes out of a man it passes through the desert seeking rest. It does not find it.

³⁴ Jesus healed many who were sick with various diseases. He cast out many demons. Knowing them he would not permit the demons to speak.

² Just as he got out of the boat a man with an unclean spirit came to him from the tombs.

²⁵ A woman whose little daughter had an evil spirit heard about Jesus. She went to him and bowed down.

²⁵ When Jesus saw the people he ordered the unclean spirit to come out of him. He commanded the spirit that caused the loss of voice and hearing to leave and never return to him.

¹² »Did we not say in Egypt: Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert.«

¹⁰ You do not abandon me to the grave or allow your holy one to decay.

¹⁸ For our shield belongs to Jehovah, and our king to the Holy One of Israel. ¹⁹ Once you spoke in vision to your godly ones. You said: »I have given help to one who is mighty. I have exalted one chosen from the people.«

²⁴ »Seventy weeks (seventy sets of seven time periods) are decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish transgression and to make an end of sin, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.

²⁹ They screamed at him, saying: »What have we to do with you, Son of God? Have you come to torment us before the time?«

⁷ Crying out with a loud voice, he said: »What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of the highest God? In God’s name do not torment me!«

³⁴ »What have we to do with you Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God!«

²⁸ When he saw Jesus he cried out and fell down in front of him. He shouted in a loud voice: »What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I implore you do not torment me.«

³⁷ The people of the country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to depart. They were very much afraid. So he boarded a boat and left.

¹⁹ He asked: »What things?« They said to him: »The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene. He was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people.

²⁷ ‘»Because you will not leave me in the grave, neither will you allow your Holy One to see corruption. (Psalm 16:10)

¹⁴ »You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and requested a murderer to be released to you.

²⁷ Truly both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the people of the nations and the people of Israel, were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you have anointed.

⁵ »We have found this man to be a troublemaker who stirs up sedition (resists lawful authority) among all the Jews throughout the world. He is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes.

¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. You do well: the demons also believe, and shudder.

⁷ »To the angel of the congregation in Philadelphia write: He says these things. He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens.

¹⁶ But God says to the wicked: »How dare you quote my decrees and mouth my covenant!

¹¹ The unclean spirits fell down before him and cried: You are the Son of God. ¹² He commanded them not to make him known.

³⁵ Jesus rebuked him, saying: »Be quiet and come out of him.« When the demon had thrown him down in front of them, he came out of him without harming him.

⁴¹ Demons came out from many. They cried out: »You are the Son of God!« He rebuked them and charged them not to speak for they knew he was the Christ.

¹⁷ She followed Paul and cried out: »These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.«

²⁰ They brought the boy to him. Suddenly the spirit threw him into convulsions. He fell on the ground rolled around and foamed at the mouth.

²⁶ The spirit cried out and shook the child violently. It came out and the child became like a dead person. Most of them said: »He is dead.«

³⁹ »A spirit controls him and suddenly he cries out. He foams at the mouth. It throws him into convulsions and he is badly bruised.

⁴² When he came near the demon slammed him down and through him in to a convulsion. Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father.

²² »When some one stronger comes to him and overpowers him he takes away his armor and steels his possessions.

³³ When the demon was cast out, the dumb man spoke. The crowd marveled, saying: »We have never seen anything like this in Israel!«

²² Someone possessed with a demon, blind and dumb was brought to him. He healed him and the dumb man spoke and could see. ²³ The crowds were amazed, and said: »Can this be the son of David?«

³¹ The people marveled as they saw the mute speak, the crippled and lame walk, and the blind see. They glorified the God of Israel.

³⁷ They were beside themselves with amazement saying: He makes even the deaf hear and the dumb speak.

²⁴ The disciples were amazed at his words. Jesus repeated it again: »Children, it is hard to enter into the kingdom of God!

³² Jesus went to Jerusalem. The disciples followed him. They were amazed at what Jesus did. Others followed and were afraid. He met with the twelve to tell them the things that were to happen to him.

³⁶ All were amazed and spoke to one another. »What is he telling us? For he speaks with authority and with power he commands the unclean spirits and they come out.«

¹ He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.

¹⁷ The seventy returned with joy, saying, »Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name.« ¹⁸ He said to them: »I saw Satan falling like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ »Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any way hurt you. ²⁰ »Do not rejoice about this that the spirits are subject to you. Rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.«

⁴ »He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of Jehovah. They will abide in the majesty of the name of Jehovah his God! Now he will be great to the ends of the earth.

²⁴ News about him spread throughout the country of Syria. People sick and suffering from diseases, people with demons, epileptics and paralytics, came to him. Jesus healed them all.

³¹ They spread the news about Jesus all over that part of the country.

⁴⁵ But the man gave a public account of his healing everywhere he went. Soon crowds surrounded Jesus and he could not enter a town publicly. He had to stay in secluded places and people continued to come to him.

¹⁷ He was given the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written:

³⁷ A rumor concerning him spread to every place of the region.

¹⁴ Jesus went to Peter’s house. He saw his wife’s mother lying sick of a fever. ¹⁵ He touched her hand and the fever left her. She arose, and ministered to him.

²¹ Jesus and his followers traveled to Capernaum. On the day of worship Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.

²³ Suddenly in the synagogue there was a man with an unclean spirit. He screamed:

³⁸ He left the synagogue and went to Simon’s house. Simon’s mother in law was suffering with a great fever. They asked him to help her. ³⁹ He stood over her and rebuked the fever. It left her and immediately she rose up and ministered to them.

⁵⁸ Jesus told him: »Foxes have holes and birds of heaven have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.«

²³ He pleaded with him saying: »My little daughter is at the point of death. Please come and lay your hands on her that she will be healed and live.«

³ The sisters therefore sent for the Lord, They said: »The one for whom you have great affection is sick.«

⁵ Do we have a right to lead a sister as a wife just like other apostles, and as brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

¹⁴ Is any among you sick? Let him call the elders of the congregation. Let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of God. ¹⁵ The prayer of faith will save the sick person. God will raise him up; and if he committed sins, it will be forgiven him.

¹ ([Psalm of David]) Bless Jehovah with all my being. With all that I am I praise his holy name! ² With all my heart I praise Jehovah! Do not forget how kind he has been. ³ He forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases.

¹² How can I repay Jehovah for all the good that he has done for me?

⁵⁵ The women who followed Jesus from Galilee and ministered to him watched from a distance.

⁴¹ He took the child by the hand and said to her: »Talitha cumi.« Which means when interpreted, »little girl I say to you arise.«

⁴¹ who, when he was in Galilee, followed him and served him. Many other women came up with him to Jerusalem.

² Traveling with him were the women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities. This included Mary Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out. ³ Also healed was Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna. There were many others, who supported them out of their private substance.

⁴¹ He gave her his hand and lifted her up. Then he called the holy ones and widows and presented her alive.

¹⁶ That evening, they brought many people possessed with demons to him. He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all that were sick.

² They watched to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath day. Then they might have something against him.

⁴⁰ When the sun was setting they brought many who were sick of different diseases to him. He laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.

⁵ People from the province of Judea and the city of Jerusalem went out to hear John. They confessed their sins and he baptized them in the Jordan River.

⁴⁴ Nearly the entire city gathered the next Sabbath day to hear the word of God.

²⁵ Jesus rebuked the spirit by saying: »Be quiet, and come out of him!«

¹² He commanded them not to make him known.

¹⁶ A young woman who had a spirit of divination met us as we were going to the place of prayer. She brought her masters much gain by soothsaying. ¹⁷ She followed Paul and cried out: »These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.« ¹⁸ She did this for many days. This troubled Paul. So he turned and said to the spirit, »I charge you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!« And it came out that very hour.

³ In the morning, O Jehovah, You will hear my voice. In the morning I will address my prayer to you and be on the watch.

⁴ In return for my love, they accuse me, but I pray for them.

²³ After sending the crowd away, he went to the mountain to pray by himself. He was there alone that night.

⁴⁶ After he left he went to the mountain to pray. ⁴⁷ He was on the shore at the beginning of evening and the boat was in the midst of the sea. ⁴⁸ He saw that they were tired of rowing for the wind was against them. It was the fourth watch of the night. He walked on the sea and was about to pass them.

⁴² The next day he went to a secluded place. The crowds followed him. They did not want him to leave them. ⁴³ He said to them: »I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also. This is why I was sent.«

¹⁶ He withdrew to a quiet place and prayed.

¹² He went to the mountain to pray and he continued all night in prayer to God.

³⁹ He went to the Mount of Olives as was his custom and the disciples also followed him. ⁴⁰ When he arrived he said to them: »Pray that you do not enter into temptation.« ⁴¹ He went a short distance from them and kneeled down and prayed. ⁴² He prayed: »Father if it is your will remove this cup from me, nevertheless not my will, but your will be done.« ⁴³ An angel came to him and gave him strength. ⁴⁴ (possible spurious text) He was in agony and earnestly prayed. His sweat became, as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground. ⁴⁵ When he finished his prayer he went to the disciples, and found them sleeping because of their sorrow. ⁴⁶ He said: »Why do you sleep? Arise and pray that you do not enter into temptation.«

³⁴ Jesus said: »My food is to do the will of him that sent me. To finish his work!

¹⁵ Jesus knew that they were about to take him by force and make him king. So he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

¹⁸ With prayer and supplication pray at all times in the Spirit. Watch with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones.

⁵ Have this attitude (mind-set) (understanding) (mental state) in you that was also in Christ Jesus.

⁷ In the days of his life on earth, when he [Christ] offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears to the one who was able to save him out of death, and was heard because of his godly reverence. (Galatians 1:1) (Psalm 69:13)

¹¹ It was broken in that day. In this way, the poor of the flock listened to me and knew that it was the word of Jehovah.

²⁶ They went to John and said: »Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, the one about whom you witnessed, he and the men with him baptize.«

⁴⁸ »If we let him alone all men will believe in him. Then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.«

¹⁹ The Pharisees spoke among themselves: »You see that you are not accomplishing anything. Look the world has gone after him.«

⁴⁹ He said: »Why did you look for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?«

¹⁸ »The Spirit of Jehovah is upon me. He anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind. To set at liberty those who are bruised. ¹⁹ »To proclaim the acceptable year of Jehovah.« (Isaiah 61:1) ²⁰ He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. ²¹ »Today,« he said, »you heard this scripture fulfilled.«

⁴³ He said to them: »I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also. This is why I was sent.«

⁴ »We must work the works of him that sent me while it is day. When the night comes no man can work.

²⁸ »I came out from the Father and came into the world. I leave the world and go to the Father.«

⁴ »I glorified you on the earth. I accomplished the work you gave me to do.

⁸ »I gave them the words that you gave me. They understood them and knew I came from you. They believed you sent me.

³⁰ She went to her house and found the child on the bed with the demon gone.

¹⁴ »Is anything too hard for Jehovah? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life. Sarah shall have a son!«

¹ Jehovah gave Moses and Aaron these regulations: ² »If any of you have a sore on your skin or a boil or an inflammation that could develop into a dreaded skin disease, you shall be brought to the priest. ³ »The priest will examine the sore. If the hairs in it have turned white and the sore appears to be deeper than the surrounding skin, it is a dreaded skin disease, and the priest will pronounce you unclean. ⁴ »If the sore is white and does not appear to be deeper than the skin around it and the hairs have not turned white, the priest will isolate you for seven days. ⁵ »The priest will examine you again on the seventh day. If in his opinion the sore looks the same and has not spread, he will isolate you for another seven days. ⁶ »The priest will examine you again on the seventh day. If the sore has faded and has not spread, he will pronounce you ritually clean. It is only a sore. You will wash your clothes and be ritually clean. ⁷ »If the sore spreads after the priest has examined you and pronounced you clean, you must return to the priest again. ⁸ »The priest will examine you again. If it has spread, he will pronounce you unclean. It is a dreaded skin disease. ⁹ »If any of you have a dreaded skin disease, you should be brought to the priest. ¹⁰ »He will examine you. If there is a white sore on your skin that turns the hairs white and is full of pus, ¹¹ it is a chronic skin disease. The priest will pronounce you unclean. There is no need to isolate you. You are obviously unclean. ¹² »If the skin disease spreads and covers you from head to foot, ¹³ the priest should examine you again. If he finds that it actually has covered the whole body, he will pronounce you ritually clean. If your whole skin has turned white you are ritually clean. ¹⁴ »The moment an open sore appears you are unclean.

¹⁰ After the smoke left the tent, Miriam was covered with an infectious skin disease. She was as white as snow. Aaron turned to her and saw she was covered with the disease. ¹¹ He said to Moses: »Please, do not make us suffer this punishment for our foolish sin. ¹² »Do not let her become like something born dead with half its flesh eaten away.« ¹³ Therefore Moses cried out to Jehovah: »O God, heal her!« ¹⁴ Jehovah answered: »If her father had spit in her face, she would have to bear her disgrace for seven days. So let her be shut out of the camp for a week, and after that she can be brought back in.« ¹⁵ Miriam was shut out of the camp for seven days. The people did not move on until she was brought back in.

⁸ »Stay away from the infection of leprosy. Diligently observe and do according to all that the Levitical priests teach you. I have commanded them, so be careful to obey. ⁹ »Remember what Jehovah your God did to Miriam on the road out of Egypt.

²⁹ »Let the punishment for it fall on Joab and all his family! In every generation may there be some man in his family who has gonorrhea or a dreaded skin disease or is fit only to do a woman’s work or is killed in battle or does not have enough to eat!«

⁵ The king said: »Go to the king of Israel and take this letter to him.« Naaman departed. He took thirty thousand pieces of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of fine clothes. ⁶ The letter stated: »This letter will introduce my officer Naaman. I want you to cure him of his leprosy.« ⁷ The king of Israel read the letter and tore his clothes and said: »How can the king of Syria expect me to cure this man? Does he think that I am God, with the power of life and death? It is plain that he is trying to start a quarrel with me!« ⁸ When the prophet Elisha heard what happened, he sent word to the king: »Why are you so upset? Send Naaman to me. I will show him that there is a prophet in Israel!« ⁹ Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the entrance to Elisha's house. ¹⁰ Elisha sent a servant to tell him to wash himself seven times in the Jordan River. He would then be completely cured of his disease. ¹¹ Naaman left in a rage, saying: »I thought he would at least come out to me, pray to Jehovah his God, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and cure me! ¹² »Are not the Abanah and Pharpar rivers in Damascus better than any river in Israel? I could have washed in them and been cured!« ¹³ His servants went up to him and said: »If the prophet had told you to do something difficult, you would have done it. Now why can you not just wash yourself, as he said, and be cured?« ¹⁴ So Naaman went to the Jordan River and dipped himself in it seven times, as Elisha had instructed. He was completely cured. His flesh became firm and healthy like that of a child. ¹⁵ Naaman returned to Elisha with all his men and said: »Now I realize there is no god but the God of Israel. Please accept a gift from me.« ¹⁶ Elisha the prophet answered: »By the living God Jehovah whom I serve, I swear that I will not accept a gift.« Naaman insisted that he accept it, but he would not. ¹⁷ So Naaman said: »If you will not accept my gift, then let me have two mule-loads of earth to take home with me. From now on I will not offer sacrifices or burnt offerings to any god except Jehovah. ¹⁸ »I hope Jehovah will forgive me when I accompany my king to the temple of Rimmon, the god of Syria, and worship him. Surely Jehovah will forgive me!« ¹⁹ Elisha said: »Go in peace.« And Naaman left. He had gone only a short distance, ²⁰ when Elisha's servant Gehazi said to himself: »My master has let Naaman get away without paying a thing! He should have accepted what that Syrian offered him. By the living God Jehovah I will run after him and get something from him.« ²¹ He ran after Naaman. When Naaman saw a man running after him, he got down from his chariot to meet him, and asked: »What is wrong?« ²² »Nothing is wrong,« answered Gehazi. »But my master sent me to tell you that just now two members of the group of prophets in the hill country of Ephraim arrived. He would like you to give them three thousand pieces of silver and two changes of fine clothes.« ²³ »Please take six thousand pieces of silver,« Naaman replied. He tied the silver in two bags and gave them and two changes of fine clothes to two of his servants, and sent them on ahead of Gehazi. ²⁴ They reached the hill where Elisha lived. Gehazi took the two bags and carried them into the house. Then he sent Naaman's servants back. ²⁵ He went into the house. Elisha asked him: »Where have you been?« »Oh, nowhere,« he answered. ²⁶ Elisha said: »Was I there in spirit when the man got out of his chariot to meet you? This is no time to accept money and clothes, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and cattle, or servants! ²⁷ »Naaman's leprosy will come upon you. You and your descendants will have it from generation to generation!« When Gehazi left, he had the disease. His skin was as white as snow.

³ Four men who were suffering from a dreaded skin disease were outside the gates of Samaria. They said to each other: »Why should we wait here until we die?

⁵ Jehovah sent disease on the king and he became a leper. To the day of his death he lived separately in his private house. Jotham his son was over his house, judging the people of the land.

¹³ Solomon had made a copper platform seven and one half feet long, seven and one half feet wide, and four and one half feet high. He put it in the middle of the courtyard. He stood on the platform, knelt in front of the entire assembly, and stretched out his hands toward heaven.

² A leper came to him and bowed down before him, saying: »Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.« ³ He reached out his hand and touched him, saying: »I want to. Be made clean.« Right away his leprosy was cleansed. ⁴ Jesus told him not to tell anyone. »Show yourself to the priests and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.«

⁵ »The blind receive their sight. The lame walk! The lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear. The dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.

¹⁴ When they approached the people, a man fell to his knees before him, saying:

²² Often it casts him into the fire and into the water to destroy him. If you can do anything have compassion on us and help us. ²³ Jesus said to him: »All things are possible to him who has faith.«

¹⁷ As he traveled someone ran to him, kneeled and asked him: »Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit everlasting life?«

¹² One time while he was in one of the cities a man full of leprosy fell on his face before Jesus. He said: »Lord, if you want to you can make me clean.« ¹³ He stretched forth his hand and touched him, saying: »I want to, be made clean.« Immediately the leprosy departed from him. ¹⁴ He told him to tell no one and go and show himself to the priest. Then he was to make a cleansing offering, just as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.

¹² Entering a village he met ten men suffering from a dreaded skin disease. ¹³ They shouted: »Jesus! Master! Have pity on us!« ¹⁴ When he saw them he told them to go show themselves to the priests. They were cleansed on the way. ¹⁵ When he was healed, one of them came back and praised God in a loud voice. ¹⁶ He fell on his face at Jesus feet and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. ¹⁷ Jesus answered: »Were all ten cleansed? Where are the nine? ¹⁸ »Were the others not willing to return with this foreigner to give glory to God? ¹⁹ He said: »Arise and go your way. Your faith has made you whole.«

⁴¹ He went a short distance from them and kneeled down and prayed.

⁶⁰ He kneeled down and cried with a loud voice: »Jehovah, do not charge this sin against them.« After saying this he fell asleep in death.

¹⁴ For this cause I bow my knees to the Father.

³ Then God said: »Let there be light!« And there was light.

⁹ He spoke and it was done! He commanded and it stood fast.

³⁶ When he saw the large crowds of people, he was moved with compassion for them. He knew they were distressed and scattered like sheep not having a shepherd.

³⁹ He awoke from sleep and commanded the wind and sea. He commanded the sea to be at peace and rest. And he commanded the wind to go down and there was a great calm.

³⁴ When he arrived and saw the great crowd he had compassion on them. They were as sheep without a shepherd. He taught them many things.

¹² When he came near the gate of the city he saw people carrying a dead person. It was the only son of a widow. Many people were with her. ¹³ When the Lord saw her he had sympathy for her. »Do not cry,« he said.

³ God’s Son is the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his being. He sustains all things by his powerful word. After Jesus purged our sins, he sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

¹⁷ This means that he had to become like his »brothers« in every way, in order to be their faithful and merciful High Priest in his service to God, in order to offer a propitiatory sacrifice (pay atonement) (to make reconciliation) for the sins of the people.

²⁸ »O woman,« Jesus replied, »your faith is great! Let your desire be done.« And her daughter was made well from that hour.

³¹ He took her by the hand and helped her sit up. The fever suddenly left. So she got up and prepared a meal for them.

²⁹ Immediately the flow of her blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.

⁵⁰ Jesus replied: »Go your way. Your son lives!« The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. ⁵¹ His servants met him as he returned and said: »Your son is alive!« ⁵² He asked them about the hour he was healed. They said: »Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.« ⁵³ The father knew that it was the same hour in which Jesus said: »Your son lives.« He and his entire household believed.

³ »You are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

³⁰ Their eyes were opened. Jesus strictly warned them: »Do not let anyone know about this.«

⁴³ He gave them firm orders not to tell any man about this. Then he commanded that she be given something to eat.

³⁶ Jesus told them not to tell anyone. The more he told them not to talk the more they talked.

⁵⁶ Her parents were amazed. He charged them to tell no man what had been done.

¹ Jehovah gave Moses ² the following regulations about the ritual purification of those of you cured of a dreaded skin disease: »On the day you are to be pronounced clean, you should be brought to the priest. ³ »The priest will take you outside the camp and examine you. If the disease is healed, ⁴ the priest will order that two ritually clean birds be brought, along with a piece of cedar wood, a red cord, and a sprig of hyssop. ⁵ »The priest will order that one of the birds be killed over a clay bowl containing fresh spring water. ⁶ »He will take the other bird and dip it, together with the cedar wood, the red cord, and the hyssop, in the blood of the bird that was killed. ⁷ »He will sprinkle the blood seven times on the one of you who is to be purified from your skin disease. He will then pronounce you clean. He will let the live bird fly away over the open fields. ⁸ »You must wash your clothes, shave off all your hair, and take a bath. You will then be ritually clean. You may enter the camp. You must live outside your tent for seven days. ⁹ »On the seventh day you should again shave your head, your beard, your eyebrows, and all the rest of the hair on your body. You should wash your clothes and take a bath. Then you will be ritually clean. ¹⁰ »The eighth day bring two male lambs and one female lamb a year old that are without any defects. Also bring five pounds of flour mixed with olive oil, and half a pint of olive oil. ¹¹ »The priest will take you and these offerings to the entrance of the Tent of Jehovah’s presence. ¹² »Then the priest will take one of the male lambs and together with the half pint of oil he will offer it as a repayment offering. He will present them as a special gift to Jehovah for the priest. ¹³ »He will slaughter the lamb in the holy place where the animals for the sin offerings and the burnt offerings are slaughtered. He must do this because the repayment offering, like the sin offering, belongs to the priest and is very holy. ¹⁴ »The priest will take some of the blood from the guilt offering and put it on the right ear lobe, on the right thumb, and on the big toe of the right foot of the one to be cleansed. ¹⁵ »The priest will also take some of the olive oil and pour it into his own left hand. ¹⁶ »He will dip his right finger in the oil in his left hand, and with his finger sprinkle some of the oil seven times in Jehovah’s presence. ¹⁷ »The priest will put some of the oil that is still in his hand on the right ear lobe, on the right thumb, and on the big toe of the right foot of the one to be cleansed. These are the same places he had put the blood of the guilt offering. ¹⁸ »The priest will put the rest of the oil in his hand on the head of the one to be cleansed. So he will pay compensation for wrongdoing and make peace with Jehovah for that person in Jehovah’s presence. ¹⁹ »The priest will also sacrifice the offering for sin to make peace with Jehovah for the one who is being cleansed from his impurity. After that, he will slaughter the burnt offering. ²⁰ »He will sacrifice the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. So the priest will pay compensation for the wrong and make peace with Jehovah for that person. The person who had the skin disease will be clean. ²¹ »If the one to be cleansed is poor and cannot afford that much, he must take one male lamb, present it to pay compensation for the wrong and make peace with Jehovah for himself, and use it for his guilt offering. He will take only eight cups of flour mixed with olive oil as a grain offering, a quart of olive oil, ²² and two mourning doves or two pigeons, whatever he can afford. The one will be an offering for sin and the other a burnt offering. ²³ »The eighth day he will take them to the priest for his cleansing at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting in Jehovah’s presence. ²⁴ »The priest will take the lamb for the guilt offering and the quart of olive oil and present them to Jehovah. ²⁵ »He will slaughter the lamb as a guilt offering. The priest will take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the right ear lobe, on the right thumb, and on the big toe of the right foot of the one to be cleansed. ²⁶ »The priest will pour some of the olive oil into his own left hand. ²⁷ »In Jehovah’s presence he will sprinkle some of the oil with his right finger seven times. ²⁸ »The priest will put some of the oil that is in his hand on the right ear lobe, on the right thumb, and on the big toe of the right foot of the one to be cleansed. These are the same places he had put the blood of the guilt offering. ²⁹ »In Jehovah’s presence, the priest will pour the rest of the oil in his hand on the head of the one to be cleansed in order to make a payment for him. ³⁰ »The one to be cleansed must take one of the mourning doves or pigeons, the one he can afford, ³¹ and sacrifice it as an offering for sin. He will take the other and sacrifice it as a burnt offering together with the grain offering. So in Jehovah’s presence the priest will pay compensation for the wrong and make peace with Jehovah for the one who is being cleansed. ³² »These are the instructions for one who has an infectious skin disease but cannot afford what is needed for his cleansing.«

⁴ Jesus told him not to tell anyone. »Show yourself to the priests and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.«

² »The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat,« he said. ³ »Obey everything they teach you, but do not follow their example. They say one thing and do something else.

¹⁴ He told him to tell no one and go and show himself to the priest. Then he was to make a cleansing offering, just as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.

¹⁴ When he saw them he told them to go show themselves to the priests. They were cleansed on the way.

⁴ The things written in earlier times were written for our instruction, that we through endurance and the encouragement from the Scriptures might have hope.

¹¹ These things happened for examples, and they are written for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages has come.

¹¹ I will remember Jehovah's deeds! I will remember your wonders of old.

¹⁵ So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until this day.

¹ Several days later Jesus returned to Capernaum. The word spread that he was home. ² So many people gathered that there was no room left even by the door. Jesus was speaking God’s word to them.

¹³ Again he went to the seaside and all the people followed him. So he taught them.

⁷ Jesus went with his disciples to the sea. A great crowed from Galilee followed. They were also from Judaea,

¹⁵ The news about him spread far away and large crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. ¹⁶ He withdrew to a quiet place and prayed. ¹⁷ One day when he was teaching, Pharisees and doctors of the Law were in the crowd. People came from every village of Galilee, Judea and Jerusalem. God’s power was with him to heal.

² A great crowd followed him because they saw the signs (miracles) he performed on the sick.

¹⁰ There are many unruly (rebellious) men, vain talkers, and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision.