Part 2

He came by the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child Jesus, Simeon took Him up in his arms, blessed God, and said, Lord, now let thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word, for my eyes have seen thy salvation which thou has prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people, Israel.

Joseph and Mary marvelled at the things which were spoken of Him. Simeon blessed them, and said to His mother, Mary, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which will be spoken against. A sword shall pierce thy soul that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Then a prophetess also spoke of Him. Anna was the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser. She was an aged widow who, for fourscore and four years, did not leave the temple and served God with fasting and prayer night and day. She gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to those in Jerusalem who awaited redemption.

When they had performed all that was required according to the law of the Lord, they returned to their own city of Nazareth in Galilee. The child grew, became strong in spirit, and was filled with wisdom and the grace of God.

Every year His parents went to Jerusalem at the feast of the passover. When He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. When they had fulfilled the days, they returned, but the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and His mother did not know of it. Supposing Him to have been in the caravan, at the end of the first day's journey, they sought Him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances. When they did not find Him, they turned back toward Jerusalem to find Him.

After three days, they found Him in the temple. He was sitting in the midst of the doctors, listening to them and asking them questions. Those who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers.

When His parents saw Him, they were amazed. His mother said to Him, Son, why has thou done this to us? Thy father and I have been very worried. He said, How is it that ye sought me? Do you not know that I must be about my Father's business? But they did not understand what He said to them. Then He went with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them; but His mother kept all this in her heart. Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man.

3 It was the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar. Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea; Herod was tetrarch of Galilee; and his brother, Philip, was tetrarch of Ituraea and the region of Trachonitis; and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene. Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests.

The word of God came to John the son of Zacharias when he was in the wilderness. He went into all the country around Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. This was according to what is written in the book of Esaias the prophet: The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

John said to the multitude that came to be baptized by him, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance. Stop saying to yourselves, We have our father, Abraham: for I tell you, God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. Now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree which does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.

The people asked him, What shall we do? He answered, He that has two coats, let him give it to him that has none. He that has food, let him do likewise. The publicans who came to him to be baptized also asked, Master, what shall we do? He said to them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. The soldiers, likewise, asked, What shall we do? He said, Do violence to no man, do not accuse anyone falsely; and be content with your wages.

People lived in expectation and wondered whether he was the Christ. John answered by saying to them all, I baptize you with water; but one mightier than I comes, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with a fire whose fan is in His hand. He will thoroughly purge His floor. He will gather the wheat into His garner; but He will burn the chaff with fire unquenchable.

Herod, the tetrarch, had been reproved by John on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife and for all the evils which Herod had done. Herod held this against him. Then, when Herod heard what John was saying, he had John imprisoned.

When Jesus, also being baptized, was praying, the heaven opened and the Holy Ghost, in a bodily shape like a dove, descended upon Him. A voice came from heaven which said, Thou art my beloved Son. In thee I am well pleased.

Jesus was about thirty years of age, the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph, son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, the son of Naum, the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge, the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, the son of Semei, the son of Joseph, the son of Juda.

Juda was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er, the son of Jose, son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, son of Levi.

Levi was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim, the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David, the son of Jesse, son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon.

Salmon was the son of Naasson, son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, the son of Phares, son of Juda, the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac.

Isaac was the son of Abraham, the son of Thara, son of Nachor, which was the son of Saruch, the son of Ragau, son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, the son of Sala, son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, the son of Sem, son of Noah.

Noah was the son of Lamech, which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, the son of Maleleel, son of Cainan, which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

4 Filled with the Holy Ghost, Jesus returned from Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. For forty days He was tempted by the devil. During this time He ate nothing and, when His fasting ended, He was hungry.

The devil said to him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone to be made bread. Jesus answered, It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

The devil, then, took Him up into a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. The devil said to Him, I give thee the power and glory of all this that is mine and to whomever I give it. If thou will worship me, all shall be thine. Jesus said to him, Get thee behind me, Satan. It is written: Thou shall worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shall thou serve.

The devil brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on a pinnacle of the temple and said, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from here. It is written: He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee, and, in their hands, they shall bear thee up lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Jesus said, Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God.

When the devil had ended all the temptation, He departed from Him for a season. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. His fame spread throughout all the region. He taught in the synagogues and was glorified by all.

Jesus went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He went into the synagogue on the sabbath day and stood up to read. He was given the book of the prophet Esaias. When He opened the book, He found the place where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, recover sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are bruised, and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

He closed the book, returned it, and sat down. The eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fastened on Him. Jesus said to them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

All bore Him witness and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded from His mouth. They said, Is this not Joseph's son? He said to them, Ye will surely say to me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself. Whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.