| Continued As well, there was Anna a prophetess, a daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. She was well on in years, having lived with a husband for seven years from girlhood and now she had been a widow until eighty-four years old. She did not withdraw from the temple but with fastings and petitionings she served there day and night. At the very hour when they (Jesus and his parents) were there she came upon them and gave thanks to God. She then spoke about (the child) to all those who were expecting redemption in Jerusalem. When they (the parents of Jesus) had finished everything according to the law of the Lord they returned to Galilee to their own city of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him. Now every year his parents used to go up to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover. When he became twelve years of age he also went up with him according to the custom of the feast. On completing the days there and when they were returning, Jesus the boy stayed on in Jerusalem. But his parents did not know he did this. They supposed that he was in the company of the people they went with. They had completed a day's journey and sought him amongst their relatives and acquaintances. But when they did not find him they returned to Jerusalem looking for him. It happened that after three days they found him in the temple. He was sitting in the midst of the teachers, both hearing them and asking them questions. All those hearing him were astonished at his intelligence and his answers. On seeing this, his parents were amazed. His mother said to him. "Child why did you do this to us? Look, your father and I have been greatly upset looking for you." (But) He said to them "Why did you search for me? Did you not know that I should be about my Father's business." They did not understand the words he was saying to them. He then went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. His mother carefully kept all these matters in her heart. Meanwhile Jesus grew in wisdom and age and favour before God and people Ch 3:1 In the fifteenth year of the government of Caesar Tiberius, Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was ruling as tetrarch of Gailiee, and Philip his brother was ruling as Tetrarch of the Iturea and of the Trachonitia country. Lysanias was ruling as tetrarch of Abilene. In the time of the high priest Annas and Caiaphas, a word of God came to John the son of Zacharias in the desert. He then came into all the neighbourhood of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance and the forgiveness of sins. This was as it has been written in the roll of the words of Isaiah the prophet." There is a voice of one who is crying in the desert. Prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled up. Every mountain and hill will be laid low. The crooked places will be made straight. The rough places will be made smooth. All flesh will see the salvation of God." He (John the Baptist) addressed the crowds of people | going out to be baptized by him. "Offspring of vipers. Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruits worthy of repentance. Do not say amongst yourselves "We have Abraham as our Father." I tell you that God can raise up children of Abraham out of these stones. Already the axe has been laid at the root of the trees. Every three therefore not producing good fruit is being cut down and cast into the fire." And so the crowds asked him saying "What therefore will we do?" Anwering he told them "The one amongst you who has two tunics, let him give to the one who has none. And the one who has extra food let him do likewise." Then came the tax-collectors as well to be baptized. They said to him. "Teacher what may we do?" And he said to them. "Do nothing more than has been commanded to you." The men serving in the army also asked him saying "What may we do also?" He told them "Do not intimidate anyone nor accuse them falsely. Be satisfied with your pay." Now while this was going on the people were all debating within their hearts concerning John. Perhaps he may be the Christ. But John answered them all saying "I do indeed baptize you with water. But there is someone coming who is stronger than me. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. It is within his hand to thoroughly clean his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn. But the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire." (John) did many things and gave different exhortations as he evangelised the people. But Herod the tetrarch was reproved by him (John) concerning Herodias the wife of his brother and especially concerning the evil deeds he did. Because of this (Herod) shut John in prison. Now it happened that when the people were being baptized Jesus was also being baptized and was praying. While he was doing so heaven opened and the Holy Spirit came down in the bodily form of a dove upon him. There was a voice coming out of heaven saying "You are my beloved Son. In you I have been well pleased." At this time of starting out Jesus was thirty years of age. (Re his lineage) It was supposed he was the son of Joseph, of Heli, of Matthat, of Levi of Jannai, of Joseph, of Mattahias, of Amos, of Naum, of Hresli, of Naggal, of Maath of Mattahias, of Semein, of Joseph, of Jodah, of Joanan, of Rhesa, of Zorbabel, of Salathiel, o Neri, of Melchi, of Addi, of Kosam, of Elmadam, of Er, of Jesus,, of Eliezer, of Jorim, of Matthat, of Levi, of Simeon, of Juda, of Joseph, of Jonam, of Eliakim, of Melea, of Menna, of Mattatha, of Natham, of David, of Jesse, of Jobed, of Boos, of Sala, of Jobed of Boos of Sala of Naason 33 of Aminadab of Admin of Arni of Hearom of Phares of Juda 34 of Jacob of Isaac of Abraham of Thara of Nachor 35 of Seruch of Rhagau of Phalek of Eber of Sela 36 of Cainam of Arphaxad of Sem of Noe of Lamech 37 of Mathusala of Henoch of Jaret of Maleleel of Cainam 38 of Enos of Seth of Adam of God. Ch 4:1 Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit and returned from the Jordan river. | He was then led by the Spirit into the desert and for forty days was tempted by the devil. He did not eat anything during those days and when they were ended he was hungry. The devil said to him. f you are the Son of God tell these stones to become loaves of bread. Jesus answered him. t has been written that 'man shall not live on bread alone. Then leading him up to higher ground he (the devil) showed him all the kingdoms of the inhabited earth in a moment of time. The devil said to him "I will give you authority over all of this and over its glory because it has been delivered to me to give it to whomsoever I wish." Therefore if you worship before me all of this will be yours." Answering Jesus this said to him. "It has been written "You shall worship the Lord your God and him only will you serve." And he (the devil) led him to Jerusalem and set him on the gable of the temple and said to him. "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it has been written 'He will command his angels to preserve you. They will bear you up on their hands in case you dash your foot against a stone." Answering Jesus said to him (the devil). It has been said "You shall not tempt the Lord your God." And having finished putting forward every type of temptation the devil went away from him until an opportune time. So Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee. A report concerning him went out throughout the neighbourhood. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all. He (Jesus) came to Nazareth where he had been brought up. He entered into the synagogue as was the custom on the day of the Sabbath and he stood up to read. A roll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the roll and found the place where it has been written The Spirit of the Lord is upon me and he anointed me to evangelize the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to captives and sight to the blind, to release those who have been crushed (oppressed) and to proclaim a year which is acceptable to the Lord. On closing the roll and returning it to the attendant he sat down. All the eyes in the synagogue were upon him. He began to say to them. "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." All bore witness to him and marvelled at the gracious words coming out of him. They said. "Is this man not the son of Joseph?" He said to them "To be sure you will say this parable to me "Physician heal yourself. We have heard what has happened in Capernaum. Do the same here in your native place." He said "Truly I tell you that no prophet is acceptable in his native place. In truth in the days of Elias there were many widows when there was a drought over the land for three and half years and there was a great famine. But Elias was not sent to them but to Sarepta of Sidon who was a widow. Also there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet. But not one of them were cleansed except for Naaman the Syrian." On hearing these things everyone in the synagogue was filled with anger and rising up they cast him out of the city. They then led him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built so as to throw him down. But he went away, passing through the midst of them. |
