the water, lo! the heavens were opened to John, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a 17 dove and coming upon Jesus; and lo! a voice from the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. 4 THEN was Jesus led by the Spirit into the 2 Desert, to be tempted by the Devil. And after fasting forty days and nights, at last he was 8 hungry. And the Tempter came to him and said, If you are the Son of God, command these 4 stones to become bread. But Jesus answered, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but in whatever way God may ordain.* 5 Then the Devil took him to the Holy City, • and placed him on a part of the temple, and said to him, If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down; for it is written, He will give his angels charge concerning thee; and they will bear thee up in their hands, that thou mayest not 7 dash thy foot against a stone.† Jesus said to him, It is written also, Thou shalt not make trial of the LORD, thy God.‡ Ch. iv. 1-11. Compare Mark i. 12, 13; Luke iv. 1–13. Deuteronomy vi. 16. Again, the Devil took him to a very high 8 mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory, and said to him, All 9 these will I give you, if you will fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said to him, Go from 10 my sight, thou the Enemy! for it is written, Thou shalt worship the LORD, thy God, and him alone shalt thou serve.* Then the Devil left 11 him, and lo! angels came and ministered to him. BUT Jesus, hearing that John was appre- 12 hended, removed to Galilee, and, leaving Naza- 18 reth, went to dwell at Capernaum on the shore of the lake, on the borders of Zebulon and Naphtali, that what was spoken by Isaiah the 14 prophet might be fulfilled: - The land of Zeb- 15 ulon and the land of Naphtali, the land by the way of the lake, and beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, the people who were in dark- 16 ness, - saw a great light; and upon those who were in the region and shadow of death a light arose.t FROM that time Jesus began to preach, say- 17 Verses 12-17. Compare Mark i. 14, 15; Luke iv. 14, 15, 31. 18 ing, Reform; for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand. AND as he was walking by the lake of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net 19 into the lake; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, Be my followers, and I will 20 make you fishers of men. And they immediately left their nets and became his followers. 21 And going on, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in their boat with Zebedee their father, putting 22 their nets in order; and he invited them. And they, immediately leaving the boat and their father, became his followers. 23 AND Jesus went over the whole of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the glad news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every malady among the peo24 ple. And his fame spread through all Syria; and all the sick were brought to him, men afflicted with diverse diseases and torments, dæ Verses 18-22. Compare Mark i. 16-20; Luke v. 1-11. moniacs, lunatics, and paralytics; and he cured them. And great multitudes followed him from 25 Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judæa, and from the country beyond the Jordan. AND seeing the multitudes, he went up the 5 mountain; and when he had sat down, his disciples came to him. And he taught them thus:Blessed are they who feel their spiritual wants, 3 for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are the mourners, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the mild, for they will inherit the 5 land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for 6 righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the compassionate, for they will 7 receive compassion. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will 8 see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be sons of God. Blessed are they who are persecuted for 10 righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. Chapters v. vii. Compare Luke vi. 12, 17-49. 2 11 Blessed will you be when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all evil 12 against you, falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and exult; for your reward in heaven will be great. For thus were the teachers from God before you persecuted. 13 You are the salt of the earth. But should the salt lose its savor, with what shall it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but is thrown away, and trodden under men's feet. 14 You are the light of the world. 15 standing on a hill cannot be hidden. A city Nor is a lamp lighted to be put under the measure, but on its stand, that it may give light to all 16 who are in the house. So let your light shine before men; that they may see your good deeds, and glorify your Father in heaven. 17 THINK not that I have come to annul the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to 18 annul, but to perfect. I tell you in truth, Not till heaven and earth pass away, shall the smallest letter or stroke pass away from the Law; no, not till all things are ended. 19 Whoever, then, shall break one of the least |