Part 70

16:11. And they hearing that he was alive and had been seen by her, did not believe.

16:12. And after that he appeared in another shape to two of them walking, as they were going into the country.

16:13. And they going told it to the rest: neither did they believe them.

16:14. At length he appeared to the eleven as they were at table: and he upbraided them with their incredulity and hardness of heart, because they did not believe them who had seen him after he was risen again.

16:15. And he said to them: Go ye into the whole world and preach the gospel to every creature.

16:16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall he condemned.

16:17. And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils. They shall speak with new tongues.

16:18. They shall take up serpents: and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. They shall lay their hand upon the sick: and they shall recover.

16:19. And the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God.

16:20. But they going forth preached every where: the Lord working withal, and confirming the word with signs that followed.

THE HOLY GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE

St. Luke was a native of Antioch, the capital of Syria. He was by profession a physician; and some ancient writers say, that he was very skillful in painting. He was converted by St. Paul and became his disciple and companion in his travels, and fellow-labourer in the ministry of the Gospel. He wrote in Greek, about twenty-four years after our Lord's Ascension.

Luke Chapter 1

The conception of John the Baptist, and of Christ. The visitation and canticle of the Blessed Virgin. The birth of the Baptist and the canticle of Zachary.

1:1. Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a narration of the things that have been accomplished among us,

1:2. According as they have delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word:

1:3. It seemed good to me also, having diligently attained to all things from the beginning, to write to thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

1:4. That thou mayest know the verity of those words in which thou hast been instructed.

1:5. There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zachary, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth.

Of the course of Abia. . .that is, of the rank of Abia, which word in the Greek is commonly put for the employment of one day: but here for the functions of a whole week. For, by the appointment of David, 1 Par. 24., the descendants from Aaron were divided into twenty-four families, of which the eighth was Abia, from whom descended this Zachary, who at this time was in the week of his priestly functions.

1:6. And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame.

1:7. And they had no son, for that Elizabeth was barren: and they both were well advanced in years.

1:8. And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God,

1:9. According to the custom of the priestly office, it was his lot to offer incense, going into the temple of the Lord.

1:10. And all the multitude of the people was praying without, at the hour of incense.

1:11. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

1:12. And Zachary seeing him, was troubled: and fear fell upon him.

1:13. But the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard: and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son. And thou shalt call his name John.