Part 13 (2/2)

(25)And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him, (26)And it was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. (27)And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, (28)then he took him into his arms, and blessed G.o.d, and said: (29)Now, Lord, thou lettest thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; (30)because my eyes saw thy salvation, (31)which thou preparedst before the face of all the peoples, (32)a light for a revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

(33)And his father and mother wondered at the things spoken of him.

(34)And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that shall be spoken against, (35)(and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul also), that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.

(36)And there was Anna, a prophetess, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; (37)and she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, who departed not from the temple, serving day and night with fastings and prayers. (38)And she, coming up at that very time, likewise gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

(39)And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. (40)And the child grew, and became strong, being filled with wisdom; and the favor of G.o.d was upon him.

(41)And his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the pa.s.sover. (42)And when he was twelve years old, they having gone up according to the custom of the feast, (43)and completed the days, as they returned, Jesus the child remained behind in Jerusalem. And his parents knew it not, (44)but supposing that he was in the company, went a day's journey, and sought him among their kindred and acquaintance; (45)and not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him.

(46)And it came to pa.s.s, that 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 astonished at his understanding and answers. (48)And seeing him they were amazed.

And his mother said to him: Child, why didst thou thus deal with us?

Behold, thy father and I sought thee, sorrowing. (49)And he said to them: How is it that ye sought me? Did ye not know, that I must be in my Father's house[2:49]? (50)And they understood not the saying which he spoke to them.

(51)And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

(52)And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with G.o.d and men.

III.

NOW in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judaea, and Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch, of Iturea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, (2)when Annas was high priest and Caiaphas, the word of G.o.d came to John, the son of Zachariah, in the wilderness. (3)And he came into all the country about the Jordan, preaching the immersion of repentance, unto remission of sins, (4)as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, Make straight his paths.

(5)Every valley shall be filled, And every mountain and hill shall be brought low; And the crooked shall be straight, And the rough ways smooth; (6)And all flesh shall see the salvation of G.o.d.

(7)He said therefore to the mult.i.tudes that came out to be immersed by him: Brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

(8)Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance; and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; for I say to you, that G.o.d is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.

(9)And now also the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore, that brings not forth good fruit, is cut down and cast into the fire.

(10)And the mult.i.tudes asked him, saying: What then shall we do?

(11)He answering says to them: He that has two coats, let him impart to him that has none; and he that has food, let him do likewise.

(12)And there came also publicans to be immersed; and they said to him: Teacher, what shall we do? (13)And he said to them: Exact no more than that which is appointed you. (14)And soldiers also asked him, saying: What shall we also do? And he said to them: Do violence to no one, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages[3:14].

(15)And while the people were in expectation, and all were reasoning in their hearts concerning John, whether he himself were not the Christ, (16)John answered them all, saying: I indeed immerse you in water; but there comes he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose sandals I am not worthy to loose; he will immerse you in the Holy Spirit and fire; (17)whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his thres.h.i.+ng-floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn up with fire unquenchable.

(18)And with many other exhortations he published the good tidings to the people.

(19)But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother, and for all the evils which Herod did, (20)added to all this also, that he shut up John in prison.

(21)Now it came to pa.s.s, when all the people had been immersed, that as Jesus, having also been immersed, was praying, the heaven was opened, (22)and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape as a dove upon him; and there came a voice out of heaven: Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

(23)And Jesus himself was, when he began[3:23], about thirty years of age; being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, (24)the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Janna, the son of Joseph, (25)the son of Matthias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, (26)the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of s.h.i.+mei, the son of Joseph, the son of Judah, (27)the son of Joanna, the son of Reza, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Salathiel, the son of Neri, (28)the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmodam, the son of Er, (29)the son of Joses, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, (30)the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonan, the son of Eliakim, (31)the son of Meleah, the son of Mainan, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, (32)the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahon, (33)the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Pharez, the son of Judah, (34)the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor, (35)the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Salah, (36)the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech, (37)the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mehalaleel, the son of Cainan, (38)the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of G.o.d.

<script>