SECT. XXIV. JESUS TEACHES IN THE SYNAGOGUE OF CAPHARNAUM ON THE SABBATH, AND CASTS OUT A DEVIL.

And they entered into Capharnaum, and forthwith upon the sabbath-days he went into Capharnaum. the synagogue, and taught them; and they were astonished at his doctrine; for he taught them as one having power, and not as the scribes.

And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out with a loud voice, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace and go out of the man. And the unclean spirit tearing him, and crying out with a loud voice, and casting him down in the midst of them, went out of him, and hurt him not at all.

And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what is this new doctrine? for with power and authority he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him. And the fame of him was spread forthwith into all the country of Galilee.

SECT. XXV. ON THE SAME DAY HE HEALS PETER'S WIFE'S MOTHER AND MANY OTHERS.

Capharnaum.

And immediately going out of the synagogue, they came with James and John into the house of Simon and Andrew. And Simon's wife's mother lay in a fit of fever; and forthwith they tell him of her. And he came to her, and rebuked the fever and lifted her up, taking her by the hand; and immediately the fever left her, and she rose and ministered unto them.

And when the sun was down, they brought to him those that were sick with divers diseases; and he,

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laying his hands on every one of them, healed them. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And devils went out from many, crying out and saying, Thou art the Son of God. And rebuking them, he suffered them not to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet Isaias, saying, He took our infirmities, and bore our diseases (Isaias liii. 4).

SECT. XXVI. EARLY THE NEXT MORNING, JESUS RETIRES TO A DESERT PLACE, AND THEN BEGINS TO PREACH THROUGHOUT THE CITIES OF GALILEE. A.D. 27.

And rising very early, he went out into a desert place, and there he prayed. And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. And when they had found him, they said to him, All seek for thee. And he said to them, Let us go into the neighbouring towns and cities, that I may preach there also; for to this purpose am I come. The multitudes also sought him, and came unto him; and they stayed him that he should not depart from them. And he said to them, To other cities also I must preach the kingdom of God; for therefore am I sent.

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in

their synagogues, and preaching the gosGalilee. pel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and every infirmity among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and such as were possessed by devils, and lunatics, and those that had the palsy, and he cured them. And much people followed him from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

SECT. XXVII. JESUS HEALS A LEPER.

THE FAME OF HIM

SPREADS ABROAD. A.D. 23.

And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy, who seeing Jesus, knelt before him, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus having compassion on him, stretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou cleansed. And immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean. And he charged him that he should tell no man; but, Go, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing the gift that Moses* commanded for a testimony to them.

And he went out, and began to publish and to blaze abroad the matter. And great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed of their infirmities, so that Jesus could not any longer go openly into the city. And he retired into the desert and prayed.

SECT. XXVIII. RETURNING TO CAPHARNAUM, HE HEALS THE PARALYTIC, AND CALLS MATTHEW.

And again he entered into Capharnaum after some days. And it was heard that he was in the Capharnaum. house, and many came together, so that there was no room; no, not even at the door; and he spake the word to them.

And it came to pass on a certain day, as he sat teaching, that there were also sitting by Pharisees and doctors of the law, that were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was there to heal them. And behold they brought a man sick of the palsy lying on a bed, borne by four; and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before Jesus. And when they

* See Leviticus xiv. 4.

could not find by what way they might bring him in, because of the multitude, they went up on the roof, and uncovering it, they let him down through the tiles, with his bed, into the midst before Jesus.

And he, seeing their faith, said to the man sick of the palsy, Be of good heart, son; thy sins are forgiven thee.

And there were some of the scribes sitting there, and they thought in their hearts, Why doth this man speak thus? he blasphemeth. Who can forgive sins but God only? And Jesus, immediately knowing in his spirit that they so thought within themselves, saith to them, Why think ye evil things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, take up thy bed and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins (he saith to the sick of the palsy), I say to thee, Arise, take up thy bed, and go to thy house. And immediately he arose, and taking up his bed, went his way in the sight of all; so that all wondered, and glorified God, who had given such power to men. And they were filled with fear, saying, We have seen wonderful things to-day.

And Jesus went forth again to the sea-side; and all the multitude came to him, and he taught them. And as he was passing by, he saw a publican, named Levi, the son of Alpheus, who is called Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom; and he saith to him, Follow me; and leaving all, he rose up and followed him.

SECT. XXIX. JESUS IS ENTERTAINED IN MATTHEW'S HOUSE. HIS ANSWERS TO THE PHARISEES.

And Levi made him a great feast in his house. And it came to pass, that as he sat at Capharnaum. meat, many publicans and sinners sat down together with Jesus and his disciples. For they were many, and they followed him.

And the scribes and the Pharisees, seeing that he ate with publicans and sinners, said to his disciples, Why doth your master eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And when Jesus heard this, he said to them, They that are well have no need of a physician, but they that are sick; for I came not to call the just, but sinners, to penance.

And the disciples of John and the Pharisees used to fast; and they came and said to him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast and make prayers, but thy disciples do not fast? And Jesus said to them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast as long as the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them; and then they shall fast in those days.

And he spake also a parable to them: No man seweth a piece of raw cloth to an old garment; otherwise the new piecing taketh away from the old, and there is made a greater rent.

And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; otherwise the new wine will break the bottles, and it will be spilled, and the bottles will be lost. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. And no man drinking old wine directly wisheth for new; for he saith, The old is better.