waxed strong, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

41 And his parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up after the custom of the feast; 43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and his parents knew it not; but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey; and they sought for him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance: 45 and when they found him not, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking for him. 46 And it came to pass, after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them, and asking them questions: 47 and all that heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were astonished ; and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? knew ye not that I must be in my Father's house? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth; and he was subject unto them: and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

*

52 And Jesus advanced in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

III: 1-6.

1 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituræa and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of

Abilene, 2 in the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came unto John the son of

1 And in those days cometh John Zacharias in the wilderness. the Baptist, preaching in the wil-3 And he came into all the region derness of Judæa, saying, 2 Repent round about the Jordan, preaching ye; for the kingdom of heaven is the baptism of repentance unto at hand. For this is he that was remission of sins; as it is written spoken of through Isaiah in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying, the prophet,

*The voice of one crying in the The voice of one crying in the

wilderness,

Make ye ready the way of the
Lord,

Make his paths straight.

Now John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judæa, and all the region round about the Jordan; and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

wilderness,

Make ye ready the way of the
Lord,

Make his paths straight.

5 Every valley shall be filled,

And every mountain and hill shall be brought low;

And the crooked shall become straight,

And the rough ways smooth;

6 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

*

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees com- 7 He said therefore to the multiing to his baptism, he said unto tudes that went out to be baptized them, Ye offspring of vipers, who of him, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance: 9 and fruits worthy of repentance, and think not to say within yourselves, begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And even now unto Abraham. And even now the axe lieth at the root of the the axe also lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the hewn down, and cast into the fire. fire.

I: 7, 8.

John's Commands concerning Righteousness. III : 10-14.

10 And the multitudes asked him, saying, What then must we do? 11 And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise. 12 And there came also * publicans to be baptized, and they said unto him, Teacher, what must we do? 13 And he said unto them, Extort no more than that which is appointed you. 14 And soldiers also asked him, saying, And we, what must we do? And he said unto them, Extort from no man by violence, neither accuse any one wrongfully; and be content with your wages.

The Baptist's Messianic Prophecy.
III: 11, 12.

7 And he preached, saying, There cometh after me he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I baptize you in water; but he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit.

I: 9-11.

"And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee,

and was baptized of John *in the Jordan. 10 And straightway com

III: 15-18.

15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether haply he were the Christ; 16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but

there cometh he that is
mightier than I, the latchet of
whose shoes I am not *worthy to
unloose: he shall baptize you *in
the Holy Spirit and in fire:
17 whose fan is in his hand,
thoroughly to cleanse his threshing-
floor, and to gather the wheat
into his garner; but the chaff he
will burn up with unquenchable fire.
18 With many other exhortations
therefore preached he good tid-
ings unto the people.

III: 21, 22.

18 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffereth him. 16 And Jesus, when he was bap- 21 Now it came to pass, when all tized, went up straightway from the people were baptized, that, the water and lo, the heavens Jesus also having been baptized,

3 And the tempter came and said
unto him, If thou art the Son of
O God, command that these stones
become bread. 4 But he an-
swered and said, It is written,
* Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God. 5Then the
devil taketh him into the holy city;
and he set him on the pinnacle of
the temple, 6 and saith unto him, If
thou art the Son of God, cast thy-
self down:
for it is
written,

*He shall give his angels charge
concerning thee:

and,

On their hands they shall bear

thee up,

Lest haply thou dash thy foot
against a stone.

7 Jesus said unto him, Again it is
written, *Thou shalt not make
trial of the Lord thy God. 8 Again,
the devil taketh him unto an ex-
ceeding high mountain, and
showeth him all the kingdoms of
the world, and the glory of them;
and he said unto him, All these
things will I give thee, if thou wilt
fall down and worship me.

10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, *Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him; and and the angels ministered unto behold, angels came and ministered him. unto him.

and praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form, as a dove, upon him, and a voice came out of heaven, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

IV: 1-13.

1 And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, and was led in the Spirit in the wilderness 2 during forty days, being tempted of the devil. And he did eat nothing in those days: and when they were completed, he hungered.

3 And the devil said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command this stone that it become * bread. 4 And Jesus answered unto him, It is written, * Man shall not live by bread alone.

And he led him to Jerusalem, and set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 10 for it is written,

*He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, to guard thee:

11 and,

On their hands they shall bear thee up,

Lest haply thou dash thy foot
against a stone.

12 And Jesus answering said unto
him, It is said, *Thou shalt not
make trial of the Lord thy God.
5 And he led him up, and showed
him all the kingdoms of the
world in a moment of time. 6 And
the devil said unto him, To thee
will I give all this authority, and
the glory of them: for it hath been
delivered unto me; and to whom-
soever I will I give it. If thou
therefore wilt worship before
me, it shall all be thine. 8 And
Jesus answered and said unto
him,
It is written,
Thou shalt worship the Lord thy
God, and him only shalt thou serve.
13And when the devil had completed
every temptation, he departed from
him for a season.