1 Many have tried to report on the things that happened among us. 2 They have written the same things that we learned from others—the people who saw those things from the beginning and served God by telling people his message. 3 Since I myself have studied everything carefully from the beginning, most excellent Theophilus, it seemed good for me to write it out for you. I arranged it in order, 4 to help you know that what you have been taught is true. 5 During the time Herod ruled Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah who belonged to Abijah's group. Zechariah's wife, Elizabeth, came from the family of Aaron.6 Zechariah and Elizabeth truly did what God said was good. They did everything the Lord commanded and were without fault in keeping his law.7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth could not have a baby, and both of them were very old. 8 One day Zechariah was serving as a priest before God, because his group was on duty.9 According to the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to go into the Temple of the Lord and burn incense.10 There were a great many people outside praying at the time the incense was offered.11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing on the right side of the incense table.12 When he saw the angel, Zechariah was startled and frightened.13 But the angel said to him, "Zechariah, don't be afraid. God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give birth to a son, and you will name him John.14 He will bring you joy and gladness, and many people will be happy because of his birth.15 John will be a great man for the Lord. He will never drink wine or beer, and even from birth, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.16 He will help many people of Israel return to the Lord their God.17 He will go before the Lord in spirit and power like Elijah. He will make peace between parents and their children and will bring those who are not obeying God back to the right way of thinking, to make a people ready for the coming of the Lord." 18 Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I know that what you say is true? I am an old man, and my wife is old, too." 19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel. I stand before God, who sent me to talk to you and to tell you this good news.20 Now, listen! You will not be able to speak until the day these things happen, because you did not believe what I told you. But they will really happen." 21 Outside, the people were still waiting for Zechariah and were surprised that he was staying so long in the Temple.22 When Zechariah came outside, he could not speak to them, and they knew he had seen a vision in the Temple. He could only make signs to them and remained unable to speak.23 When his time of service at the Temple was finished, he went home. 24 Later, Zechariah's wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and did not go out of her house for five months. Elizabeth said,25 "Look what the Lord has done for me! My people were ashamed of me, but now the Lord has taken away that shame." 26 During Elizabeth's sixth month of pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,27 to a virgin. She was engaged to marry a man named Joseph from the family of David. Her name was Mary.28 The angel came to her and said, "Greetings! The Lord has blessed you and is with you." 29 But Mary was very startled by what the angel said and wondered what this greeting might mean. 30 The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary; God has shown you his grace.
Luke 2 - New Century
1 At that time, Augustus Caesar sent an order that all people in the countries under Roman rule must list their names in a register.2 This was the first registration; it was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.3 And all went to their own towns to be registered. 4 So Joseph left Nazareth, a town in Galilee, and went to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, known as the town of David. Joseph went there because he was from the family of David.5 Joseph registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was now pregnant.6 While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have the baby, 7 and she gave birth to her first son. Because there were no rooms left in the inn, she wrapped the baby with pieces of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough. 8 That night, some shepherds were in the fields nearby watching their sheep.9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them. The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and they became very frightened.10 The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I am bringing you good news that will be a great joy to all the people.11 Today your Savior was born in the town of David. He is Christ, the Lord.12 This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box." 13 Then a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel, praising God and saying:
14 "Give glory to God in heaven,
and on earth let there be peace among the people who please God." 15 When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem. Let's see this thing that has happened which the Lord has told us about." 16 So the shepherds went quickly and found Mary and Joseph and the baby, who was lying in a feeding trough. 17 When they had seen him, they told what the angels had said about this child.18 Everyone was amazed at what the shepherds said to them.19 But Mary treasured these things and continued to think about them.20 Then the shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for everything they had seen and heard. It had been just as the angel had told them. 21 When the baby was eight days old, he was circumcised and was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before the baby began to grow inside Mary. 22 When the time came for Mary and Joseph to do what the law of Moses taught about being made pure, they took Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 23 (It is written in the law of the Lord: "Every firstborn male shall be given to the Lord.")24 Mary and Joseph also went to offer a sacrifice, as the law of the Lord says: "You must sacrifice two doves or two young pigeons." 25 In Jerusalem lived a man named Simeon who was a good man and godly. He was waiting for the time when God would take away Israel's sorrow, and the Holy Spirit was in him.26 Simeon had been told by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he saw the Christ promised by the Lord.27 The Spirit led Simeon to the Temple. When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the Temple to do what the law said they must do,28 Simeon took the baby in his arms and thanked God:
29 "Now, Lord, you can let me, your servant,
die in peace as you said.
30 With my own eyes I have seen your salvation.
Luke 3 - New Century
1 It was the fifteenth year of the rule of Tiberius Caesar. These men were under Caesar: Pontius Pilate, the ruler of Judea; Herod, the ruler of Galilee; Philip, Herod's brother, the ruler of Iturea and Traconitis; and Lysanias, the ruler of Abilene.2 Annas and Caiaphas were the high priests. At this time, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert.3 He went all over the area around the Jordan River preaching a baptism of changed hearts and lives for the forgiveness of sins.4 As it is written in the book of Isaiah the prophet:
"This is a voice of one
who calls out in the desert:
'Prepare the way for the Lord.
Make the road straight for him.
5 Every valley should be filled in,
and every mountain and hill should be made flat.
Roads with turns should be made straight,
and rough roads should be made smooth.
6 And all people will know about the salvation of God!'" — Isaiah 40:3–5 7 To the crowds of people who came to be baptized by John, he said, "You are all snakes! Who warned you to run away from God's coming punishment?8 Do the things that show you really have changed your hearts and lives. Don't begin to say to yourselves, 'Abraham is our father.' I tell you that God could make children for Abraham from these rocks.9 The ax is now ready to cut down the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." 10 The people asked John, "Then what should we do?" 11 John answered, "If you have two shirts, share with the person who does not have one. If you have food, share that also." 12 Even tax collectors came to John to be baptized. They said to him, "Teacher, what should we do?" 13 John said to them, "Don't take more taxes from people than you have been ordered to take." 14 The soldiers asked John, "What about us? What should we do?" John said to them, "Don't force people to give you money, and don't lie about them. Be satisfied with the pay you get." 15 Since the people were hoping for the Christ to come, they wondered if John might be the one. 16 John answered everyone, "I baptize you with water, but there is one coming who is greater than I am. I am not good enough to untie his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.17 He will come ready to clean the grain, separating the good grain from the chaff. He will put the good part of the grain into his barn, but he will burn the chaff with a fire that cannot be put out."18 And John continued to preach the Good News, saying many other things to encourage the people. 19 But John spoke against Herod, the governor, because of his sin with Herodias, the wife of Herod's brother, and because of the many other evil things Herod did.20 So Herod did something even worse: He put John in prison. 21 When all the people were being baptized by John, Jesus also was baptized. While Jesus was praying, heaven opened22 and the Holy Spirit came down on him in the form of a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, saying, "You are my Son, whom I love, and I am very pleased with you." 23 When Jesus began his ministry, he was about thirty years old. People thought that Jesus was Joseph's son.
Joseph was the son of Heli.
24 Heli was the son of Matthat.
Matthat was the son of Levi.
Levi was the son of Melki.
Melki was the son of Jannai.
Jannai was the son of Joseph.
25 Joseph was the son of Mattathias.
Mattathias was the son of Amos.
Amos was the son of Nahum.
Nahum was the son of Esli.
Esli was the son of Naggai.
26 Naggai was the son of Maath.
Maath was the son of Mattathias.
Mattathias was the son of Semein.
Semein was the son of Josech.
Josech was the son of Joda.
27 Joda was the son of Joanan.
Joanan was the son of Rhesa.
Rhesa was the son of Zerubbabel.
Zerubbabel was the grandson of Shealtiel.
Shealtiel was the son of Neri.
28 Neri was the son of Melki.
Melki was the son of Addi.
Addi was the son of Cosam.
Cosam was the son of Elmadam.
Elmadam was the son of Er.
29 Er was the son of Joshua.
Joshua was the son of Eliezer.
Eliezer was the son of Jorim.
Jorim was the son of Matthat.
Matthat was the son of Levi.
30 Levi was the son of Simeon.
Simeon was the son of Judah.
Judah was the son of Joseph.
Joseph was the son of Jonam.
Jonam was the son of Eliakim.
Luke 4 - New Century
1 Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. The Spirit led Jesus into the desert2 where the devil tempted Jesus for forty days. Jesus ate nothing during that time, and when those days were ended, he was very hungry. 3 The devil said to Jesus, "If you are the Son of God, tell this rock to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written in the Scriptures: 'A person does not live on bread alone.' " 5 Then the devil took Jesus and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in an instant.6 The devil said to Jesus, "I will give you all these kingdoms and all their power and glory. It has all been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish.7 If you worship me, then it will all be yours." 8 Jesus answered, "It is written in the Scriptures: 'You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.' " 9 Then the devil led Jesus to Jerusalem and put him on a high place of the Temple. He said to Jesus, "If you are the Son of God, jump down. 10 It is written in the Scriptures:
'He has put his angels in charge of you
to watch over you.' — Psalm 91:11
11 It is also written:
'They will catch you in their hands
so that you will not hit your foot on a rock.' " — Psalm 91:12 12 Jesus answered, "But it also says in the Scriptures: 'Do not test the Lord your God.' " 13 After the devil had tempted Jesus in every way, he left him to wait until a better time. 14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit, and stories about him spread all through the area.15 He began to teach in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. 16 Jesus traveled to Nazareth, where he had grown up. On the Sabbath day he went to the synagogue, as he always did, and stood up to read. 17 The book of Isaiah the prophet was given to him. He opened the book and found the place where this is written:
18 "The Lord has put his Spirit in me,
because he appointed me to tell the Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to tell the captives they are free
and to tell the blind that they can see again. — Isaiah 61:1
God sent me to free those who have been treated unfairly — Isaiah 58:6
19 and to announce the time when the Lord will show his kindness." — Isaiah 61:2 20 Jesus closed the book, gave it back to the assistant, and sat down. Everyone in the synagogue was watching Jesus closely. 21 He began to say to them, "While you heard these words just now, they were coming true!" 22 All the people spoke well of Jesus and were amazed at the words of grace he spoke. They asked, "Isn't this Joseph's son?" 23 Jesus said to them, "I know that you will tell me the old saying: 'Doctor, heal yourself.' You want to say, 'We heard about the things you did in Capernaum. Do those things here in your own town!' " 24 Then Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, a prophet is not accepted in his hometown. 25 But I tell you the truth, there were many widows in Israel during the time of Elijah. It did not rain in Israel for three and one-half years, and there was no food anywhere in the whole country.26 But Elijah was sent to none of those widows, only to a widow in Zarephath, a town in Sidon. 27 And there were many with skin diseases living in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha. But none of them were healed, only Naaman, who was from the country of Syria." 28 When all the people in the synagogue heard these things, they became very angry.29 They got up, forced Jesus out of town, and took him to the edge of the cliff on which the town was built. They planned to throw him off the edge,30 but Jesus walked through the crowd and went on his way.
Luke 5 - New Century
1 One day while Jesus was standing beside Lake Galilee, many people were pressing all around him to hear the word of God.2 Jesus saw two boats at the shore of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.3 Jesus got into one of the boats, the one that belonged to Simon, and asked him to push off a little from the land. Then Jesus sat down and continued to teach the people from the boat. 4 When Jesus had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Take the boat into deep water, and put your nets in the water to catch some fish." 5 Simon answered, "Master, we worked hard all night trying to catch fish, and we caught nothing. But you say to put the nets in the water, so I will."6 When the fishermen did as Jesus told them, they caught so many fish that the nets began to break.7 They called to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. They came and filled both boats so full that they were almost sinking. 8 When Simon Peter saw what had happened, he bowed down before Jesus and said, "Go away from me, Lord. I am a sinful man!"9 He and the other fishermen were amazed at the many fish they caught, as were 10 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's partners. Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid. From now on you will fish for people." 11 When the men brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed Jesus. 12 When Jesus was in one of the towns, there was a man covered with a skin disease. When he saw Jesus, he bowed before him and begged him, "Lord, you can heal me if you will." 13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man and said, "I will. Be healed!" Immediately the disease disappeared. 14 Then Jesus said, "Don't tell anyone about this, but go and show yourself to the priest and offer a gift for your healing, as Moses commanded. This will show the people what I have done." 15 But the news about Jesus spread even more. Many people came to hear Jesus and to be healed of their sicknesses,16 but Jesus often slipped away to be alone so he could pray. 17 One day as Jesus was teaching the people, the Pharisees and teachers of the law from every town in Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem were there. The Lord was giving Jesus the power to heal people.18 Just then, some men were carrying on a mat a man who was paralyzed. They tried to bring him in and put him down before Jesus.19 But because there were so many people there, they could not find a way in. So they went up on the roof and lowered the man on his mat through the ceiling into the middle of the crowd right before Jesus. 20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." 21 The Jewish teachers of the law and the Pharisees thought to themselves, "Who is this man who is speaking as if he were God? Only God can forgive sins." 22 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, "Why are you thinking these things? 23 Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Stand up and walk'? 24 But I will prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, stand up, take your mat, and go home." 25 At once the man stood up before them, picked up his mat, and went home, praising God.26 All the people were fully amazed and began to praise God. They were filled with much respect and said, "Today we have seen amazing things!" 27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax collector's booth. Jesus said to him, "Follow me!" 28 So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. 29 Then Levi gave a big dinner for Jesus at his house. Many tax collectors and other people were eating there, too.30 But the Pharisees and the men who taught the law for the Pharisees began to complain to Jesus' followers, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"
Luke 6 - New Century
1 One Sabbath day Jesus was walking through some fields of grain. His followers picked the heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands, and ate them.2 Some Pharisees said, "Why do you do what is not lawful on the Sabbath day?" 3 Jesus answered, "Have you not read what David did when he and those with him were hungry? 4 He went into God's house and took and ate the holy bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he gave some to the people who were with him." 5 Then Jesus said to the Pharisees, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath day." 6 On another Sabbath day Jesus went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man with a crippled right hand was there.7 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees were watching closely to see if Jesus would heal on the Sabbath day so they could accuse him. 8 But he knew what they were thinking, and he said to the man with the crippled hand, "Stand up here in the middle of everyone." The man got up and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath day: to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to destroy it?" 10 Jesus looked around at all of them and said to the man, "Hold out your hand." The man held out his hand, and it was healed. 11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were very angry and discussed with each other what they could do to Jesus. 12 At that time Jesus went off to a mountain to pray, and he spent the night praying to God.13 The next morning, Jesus called his followers to him and chose twelve of them, whom he named apostles:14 Simon (Jesus named him Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew,15 Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon (called the Zealot),16 Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who later turned Jesus over to his enemies. 17 Jesus and the apostles came down from the mountain, and he stood on level ground. A large group of his followers was there, as well as many people from all around Judea, Jerusalem, and the seacoast cities of Tyre and Sidon.18 They all came to hear Jesus teach and to be healed of their sicknesses, and he healed those who were troubled by evil spirits.19 All the people were trying to touch Jesus, because power was coming from him and healing them all. 20 Jesus looked at his followers and said,
"You people who are poor are blessed,
because the kingdom of God belongs to you.
21 You people who are now hungry are blessed,
because you will be satisfied.
You people who are now crying are blessed,
because you will laugh with joy. 22 "People will hate you, shut you out, insult you, and say you are evil because you follow the Son of Man. But when they do, you will be blessed. 23 Be full of joy at that time, because you have a great reward in heaven. Their ancestors did the same things to the prophets.
24 "But how terrible it will be for you who are rich,
because you have had your easy life.
25 How terrible it will be for you who are full now,
because you will be hungry.
How terrible it will be for you who are laughing now,
because you will be sad and cry. 26 "How terrible when everyone says only good things about you, because their ancestors said the same things about the false prophets. 27 "But I say to you who are listening, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who are cruel to you.29 If anyone slaps you on one cheek, offer him the other cheek, too. If someone takes your coat, do not stop him from taking your shirt.30 Give to everyone who asks you, and when someone takes something that is yours, don't ask for it back.
Luke 7 - New Century
1 When Jesus finished saying all these things to the people, he went to Capernaum.2 There was an army officer who had a servant who was very important to him. The servant was so sick he was nearly dead. 3 When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant. 4 The men went to Jesus and begged him, saying, "This officer is worthy of your help.5 He loves our people, and he built us a synagogue." 6 So Jesus went with the men. He was getting near the officer's house when the officer sent friends to say, "Lord, don't trouble yourself, because I am not worthy to have you come into my house.7 That is why I did not come to you myself. But you only need to command it, and my servant will be healed.8 I, too, am a man under the authority of others, and I have soldiers under my command. I tell one soldier, 'Go,' and he goes. I tell another soldier, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and my servant does it." 9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, "I tell you, this is the greatest faith I have found anywhere, even in Israel." 10 Those who had been sent to Jesus went back to the house where they found the servant in good health. 11 Soon afterwards Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his followers and a large crowd traveled with him.12 When he came near the town gate, he saw a funeral. A mother, who was a widow, had lost her only son. A large crowd from the town was with the mother while her son was being carried out. 13 When the Lord saw her, he felt very sorry for her and said, "Don't cry." 14 He went up and touched the coffin, and the people who were carrying it stopped. Jesus said, "Young man, I tell you, get up!" 15 And the son sat up and began to talk. Then Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 All the people were amazed and began praising God, saying, "A great prophet has come to us! God has come to help his people." 17 This news about Jesus spread through all Judea and into all the places around there. 18 John's followers told him about all these things. He called for two of his followers19 and sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the One who is to come, or should we wait for someone else?" 20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you with this question: 'Are you the One who is to come, or should we wait for someone else?' " 21 At that time, Jesus healed many people of their sicknesses, diseases, and evil spirits, and he gave sight to many blind people. 22 Then Jesus answered John's followers, "Go tell John what you saw and heard here. The blind can see, the crippled can walk, and people with skin diseases are healed. The deaf can hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is preached to the poor. 23 Those who do not stumble in their faith because of me are blessed!" 24 When John's followers left, Jesus began talking to the people about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed blown by the wind? 25 What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, people who have fine clothes and much wealth live in kings' palaces.26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, and I tell you, John is more than a prophet. 27 This was written about him:
'I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare the way for you.' — Malachi 3:1
28 I tell you, John is greater than any other person ever born, but even the least important person in the kingdom of God is greater than John." 29 When the people, including the tax collectors, heard this, they all agreed that God's teaching was good, because they had been baptized by John.30 But the Pharisees and experts on the law refused to accept God's plan for themselves; they did not let John baptize them.
Luke 8 - New Century
1 After this, while Jesus was traveling through some cities and small towns, he preached and told the Good News about God's kingdom. The twelve apostles were with him,2 and also some women who had been healed of sicknesses and evil spirits: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out;3 Joanna, the wife of Cuza (the manager of Herod's house); Susanna; and many others. These women used their own money to help Jesus and his apostles. 4 When a great crowd was gathered, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he told them this story: 5 "A farmer went out to plant his seed. While he was planting, some seed fell by the road. People walked on the seed, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some seed fell on rock, and when it began to grow, it died because it had no water.7 Some seed fell among thorny weeds, but the weeds grew up with it and choked the good plants. 8 And some seed fell on good ground and grew and made a hundred times more." As Jesus finished the story, he called out, "Let those with ears use them and listen!" 9 Jesus' followers asked him what this story meant. 10 Jesus said, "You have been chosen to know the secrets about the kingdom of God. But I use stories to speak to other people so that:
'They will look, but they may not see.
They will listen, but they may not understand.' — Isaiah 6:9 11 "This is what the story means: The seed is God's message. 12 The seed that fell beside the road is like the people who hear God's teaching, but the devil comes and takes it away from them so they cannot believe it and be saved.13 The seed that fell on rock is like those who hear God's teaching and accept it gladly, but they don't allow the teaching to go deep into their lives. They believe for a while, but when trouble comes, they give up.14 The seed that fell among the thorny weeds is like those who hear God's teaching, but they let the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life keep them from growing and producing good fruit. 15 And the seed that fell on the good ground is like those who hear God's teaching with good, honest hearts and obey it and patiently produce good fruit. 16 "No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. Instead, the person puts it on a lampstand so those who come in will see the light. 17 Everything that is hidden will become clear, and every secret thing will be made known. 18 So be careful how you listen. Those who have understanding will be given more. But those who do not have understanding, even what they think they have will be taken away from them." 19 Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him, but there was such a crowd they could not get to him.20 Someone said to Jesus, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you." 21 Jesus answered them, "My mother and my brothers are those who listen to God's teaching and obey it!" 22 One day Jesus and his followers got into a boat, and he said to them, "Let's go across the lake." And so they started across. 23 While they were sailing, Jesus fell asleep. A very strong wind blew up on the lake, causing the boat to fill with water, and they were in danger. 24 The followers went to Jesus and woke him, saying, "Master! Master! We will drown!" Jesus got up and gave a command to the wind and the waves. They stopped, and it became calm. 25 Jesus said to his followers, "Where is your faith?" The followers were afraid and amazed and said to each other, "Who is this that commands even the wind and the water, and they obey him?" 26 Jesus and his followers sailed across the lake from Galilee to the area of the Gerasene people. 27 When Jesus got out on the land, a man from the town who had demons inside him came to Jesus. For a long time he had worn no clothes and had lived in the burial caves, not in a house.28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him. He said with a loud voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torture me!"29 He said this because Jesus was commanding the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had taken hold of him. Though he had been kept under guard and chained hand and foot, he had broken his chains and had been forced by the demon out into a lonely place. 30 Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He answered, "Legion," because many demons were in him.
Luke 9 - New Century
1 Jesus called the twelve apostles together and gave them power and authority over all demons and the ability to heal sicknesses.2 He sent the apostles out to tell about God's kingdom and to heal the sick. 3 He said to them, "Take nothing for your trip, neither a walking stick, bag, bread, money, or extra clothes. 4 When you enter a house, stay there until it is time to leave. 5 If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off of your feet as you leave the town, as a warning to them." 6 So the apostles went out and traveled through all the towns, preaching the Good News and healing people everywhere. 7 Herod, the governor, heard about all the things that were happening and was confused, because some people said, "John the Baptist has risen from the dead."8 Others said, "Elijah has come to us." And still others said, "One of the prophets who lived long ago has risen from the dead."9 Herod said, "I cut off John's head, so who is this man I hear such things about?" And Herod kept trying to see Jesus. 10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then Jesus took them with him to a town called Bethsaida where they could be alone together.11 But the people learned where Jesus went and followed him. He welcomed them and talked with them about God's kingdom and healed those who needed to be healed. 12 Late in the afternoon, the twelve apostles came to Jesus and said, "Send the people away. They need to go to the towns and countryside around here and find places to sleep and something to eat, because no one lives in this place." 13 But Jesus said to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have only five loaves of bread and two fish, unless we go buy food for all these people." 14 (There were about five thousand men there.) Jesus said to his followers, "Tell the people to sit in groups of about fifty people." 15 So the followers did this, and all the people sat down.16 Then Jesus took the five loaves of bread and two fish, and looking up to heaven, he thanked God for the food. Then he divided the food and gave it to the followers to give to the people.17 They all ate and were satisfied, and what was left over was gathered up, filling twelve baskets. 18 One time when Jesus was praying alone, his followers were with him, and he asked them, "Who do the people say I am?" 19 They answered, "Some say you are John the Baptist. Others say you are Elijah. And others say you are one of the prophets from long ago who has come back to life." 20 Then Jesus asked, "But who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ from God." 21 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone, saying, 22 "The Son of Man must suffer many things. He will be rejected by the Jewish elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of the law. He will be killed and after three days will be raised from the dead." 23 Jesus said to all of them, "If people want to follow me, they must give up the things they want. They must be willing to give up their lives daily to follow me. 24 Those who want to save their lives will give up true life. But those who give up their lives for me will have true life. 25 It is worthless to have the whole world if they themselves are destroyed or lost. 26 If people are ashamed of me and my teaching, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and with the glory of the Father and the holy angels. 27 I tell you the truth, some people standing here will see the kingdom of God before they die." 28 About eight days after Jesus said these things, he took Peter, John, and James and went up on a mountain to pray.29 While Jesus was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became shining white.30 Then two men, Moses and Elijah, were talking with Jesus.
Luke 10 - New Century
1 After this, the Lord chose seventy-two others and sent them out in pairs ahead of him into every town and place where he planned to go. 2 He said to them, "There are a great many people to harvest, but there are only a few workers. So pray to God, who owns the harvest, that he will send more workers to help gather his harvest. 3 Go now, but listen! I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.4 Don't carry a purse, a bag, or sandals, and don't waste time talking with people on the road.5 Before you go into a house, say, 'Peace be with this house.' 6 If peace-loving people live there, your blessing of peace will stay with them, but if not, then your blessing will come back to you. 7 Stay in the same house, eating and drinking what the people there give you. A worker should be given his pay. Don't move from house to house. 8 If you go into a town and the people welcome you, eat what they give you.9 Heal the sick who live there, and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.'10 But if you go into a town, and the people don't welcome you, then go into the streets and say,11 'Even the dirt from your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. But remember that the kingdom of God is near.' 12 I tell you, on the Judgment Day it will be better for the people of Sodom than for the people of that town. 13 "How terrible for you, Korazin! How terrible for you, Bethsaida! If the miracles I did in you had happened in Tyre and Sidon, those people would have changed their lives long ago. They would have worn rough cloth and put ashes on themselves to show they had changed. 14 But on the Judgment Day it will be better for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No! You will be thrown down to the depths! 16 "Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever refuses to accept you refuses to accept me. And whoever refuses to accept me refuses to accept the One who sent me." 17 When the seventy-two came back, they were very happy and said, "Lord, even the demons obeyed us when we used your name!" 18 Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Listen, I have given you power to walk on snakes and scorpions, power that is greater than the enemy has. So nothing will hurt you. 20 But you should not be happy because the spirits obey you but because your names are written in heaven." 21 Then Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the people who are wise and smart. But you have shown them to those who are like little children. Yes, Father, this is what you really wanted. 22 "My Father has given me all things. No one knows who the Son is, except the Father. And no one knows who the Father is, except the Son and those whom the Son chooses to tell." 23 Then Jesus turned to his followers and said privately, "You are blessed to see what you now see. 24 I tell you, many prophets and kings wanted to see what you now see, but they did not, and they wanted to hear what you now hear, but they did not." 25 Then an expert on the law stood up to test Jesus, saying, "Teacher, what must I do to get life forever?" 26 Jesus said, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" 27 The man answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind." Also, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." 28 Jesus said to him, "Your answer is right. Do this and you will live." 29 But the man, wanting to show the importance of his question, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 Jesus answered, "As a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, some robbers attacked him. They tore off his clothes, beat him, and left him lying there, almost dead.
Luke 11 - New Century
1 One time Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his followers said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray as John taught his followers." 2 Jesus said to them, "When you pray, say:
'Father, may your name always be kept holy. May your kingdom come.
3 Give us the food we need for each day.
4 Forgive us for our sins,
because we forgive everyone who has done wrong to us.
And do not cause us to be tempted.' " 5 Then Jesus said to them, "Suppose one of you went to your friend's house at midnight and said to him, 'Friend, loan me three loaves of bread. 6 A friend of mine has come into town to visit me, but I have nothing for him to eat.'7 Your friend inside the house answers, 'Don't bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything.'8 I tell you, if friendship is not enough to make him get up to give you the bread, your boldness will make him get up and give you whatever you need.9 So I tell you, ask, and God will give to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will open for you.10 Yes, everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find. And everyone who knocks will have the door opened. 11 If your children ask for a fish, which of you would give them a snake instead? 12 Or, if your children ask for an egg, would you give them a scorpion? 13 Even though you are bad, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" 14 One time Jesus was sending out a demon who could not talk. When the demon came out, the man who had been unable to speak, then spoke. The people were amazed. 15 But some of them said, "Jesus uses the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons, to force demons out of people." 16 Other people, wanting to test Jesus, asked him to give them a sign from heaven. 17 But knowing their thoughts, he said to them, "Every kingdom that is divided against itself will be destroyed. And a family that is divided against itself will not continue. 18 So if Satan is divided against himself, his kingdom will not continue. You say that I use the power of Beelzebul to force out demons.19 But if I use the power of Beelzebul to force out demons, what power do your people use to force demons out? So they will be your judges. 20 But if I use the power of God to force out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. 21 "When a strong person with many weapons guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger comes and defeats him, the stronger one will take away the weapons the first man trusted and will give away the possessions. 23 "Anyone who is not with me is against me, and anyone who does not work with me is working against me. 24 "When an evil spirit comes out of a person, it travels through dry places, looking for a place to rest. But when it finds no place, it says, 'I will go back to the house I left.' 25 And when it comes back, it finds that house swept clean and made neat. 26 Then the evil spirit goes out and brings seven other spirits more evil than it is, and they go in and live there. So the person has even more trouble than before." 27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out to Jesus, "Blessed is the mother who gave birth to you and nursed you." 28 But Jesus said, "No, blessed are those who hear the teaching of God and obey it." 29 As the crowd grew larger, Jesus said, "The people who live today are evil. They want to see a miracle for a sign, but no sign will be given them, except the sign of Jonah. 30 As Jonah was a sign for those people who lived in Nineveh, the Son of Man will be a sign for the people of this time.
Luke 12 - New Century
1 So many thousands of people had gathered that they were stepping on each other. Jesus spoke first to his followers, saying, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, because they are hypocrites. 2 Everything that is hidden will be shown, and everything that is secret will be made known. 3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an inner room will be shouted from the housetops. 4 "I tell you, my friends, don't be afraid of people who can kill the body but after that can do nothing more to hurt you. 5 I will show you the one to fear. Fear the one who has the power to kill you and also to throw you into hell. Yes, this is the one you should fear. 6 "Five sparrows are sold for only two pennies, and God does not forget any of them. 7 But God even knows how many hairs you have on your head. Don't be afraid. You are worth much more than many sparrows. 8 "I tell you, all those who stand before others and say they believe in me, I, the Son of Man, will say before the angels of God that they belong to me. 9 But all who stand before others and say they do not believe in me, I will say before the angels of God that they do not belong to me. 10 "Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11 "When you are brought into the synagogues before the leaders and other powerful people, don't worry about how to defend yourself or what to say. 12 At that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you must say." 13 Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide with me the property our father left us." 14 But Jesus said to him, "Who said I should judge or decide between you?" 15 Then Jesus said to them, "Be careful and guard against all kinds of greed. Life is not measured by how much one owns." 16 Then Jesus told this story: "There was a rich man who had some land, which grew a good crop. 17 He thought to himself, 'What will I do? I have no place to keep all my crops.'18 Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and other goods. 19 Then I can say to myself, "I have enough good things stored to last for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!" ' 20 "But God said to him, 'Foolish man! Tonight your life will be taken from you. So who will get those things you have prepared for yourself?' 21 "This is how it will be for those who store up things for themselves and are not rich toward God." 22 Jesus said to his followers, "So I tell you, don't worry about the food you need to live, or about the clothes you need for your body. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes.24 Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest, they don't have storerooms or barns, but God feeds them. And you are worth much more than birds.25 You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it.26 If you cannot do even the little things, then why worry about the big things?27 Consider how the lilies grow; they don't work or make clothes for themselves. But I tell you that even Solomon with his riches was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers.28 God clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today but tomorrow is thrown into the fire. So how much more will God clothe you? Don't have so little faith!29 Don't always think about what you will eat or what you will drink, and don't keep worrying.30 All the people in the world are trying to get these things, and your Father knows you need them.
Luke 13 - New Century
1 At that time some people were there who told Jesus that Pilate had killed some people from Galilee while they were worshiping. He mixed their blood with the blood of the animals they were sacrificing to God. 2 Jesus answered, "Do you think this happened to them because they were more sinful than all others from Galilee? 3 No, I tell you. But unless you change your hearts and lives, you will be destroyed as they were!4 What about those eighteen people who died when the tower of Siloam fell on them? Do you think they were more sinful than all the others who live in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you. But unless you change your hearts and lives, you will all be destroyed too!" 6 Jesus told this story: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came looking for some fruit on the tree, but he found none. 7 So the man said to his gardener, 'I have been looking for fruit on this tree for three years, but I never find any. Cut it down. Why should it waste the ground?'8 But the servant answered, 'Master, let the tree have one more year to produce fruit. Let me dig up the dirt around it and put on some fertilizer. 9 If the tree produces fruit next year, good. But if not, you can cut it down.' " 10 Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day.11 A woman was there who, for eighteen years, had an evil spirit in her that made her crippled. Her back was always bent; she could not stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are free from your sickness." 13 Jesus put his hands on her, and immediately she was able to stand up straight and began praising God. 14 The synagogue leader was angry because Jesus healed on the Sabbath day. He said to the people, "There are six days when one has to work. So come to be healed on one of those days, and not on the Sabbath day." 15 The Lord answered, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each of you untie your work animals and lead them to drink water every day—even on the Sabbath day? 16 This woman that I healed, a daughter of Abraham, has been held by Satan for eighteen years. Surely it is not wrong for her to be freed from her sickness on a Sabbath day!" 17 When Jesus said this, all of those who were criticizing him were ashamed, but the entire crowd rejoiced at all the wonderful things Jesus was doing. 18 Then Jesus said, "What is God's kingdom like? What can I compare it with? 19 It is like a mustard seed that a man plants in his garden. The seed grows and becomes a tree, and the wild birds build nests in its branches." 20 Jesus said again, "What can I compare God's kingdom with? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took and hid in a large tub of flour until it made all the dough rise." 22 Jesus was teaching in every town and village as he traveled toward Jerusalem. 23 Someone said to Jesus, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" Jesus said, 24 "Try hard to enter through the narrow door, because many people will try to enter there, but they will not be able.25 When the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you can stand outside and knock on the door and say, 'Sir, open the door for us.' But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'26 Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in the streets of our town.'27 But he will say to you, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Go away from me, all you who do evil!'28 You will cry and grind your teeth with pain when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God's kingdom, but you yourselves thrown outside.29 People will come from the east, west, north, and south and will sit down at the table in the kingdom of God. 30 There are those who are last now who will be first in the future. And there are those who are first now who will be last in the future."
Luke 14 - New Century
1 On a Sabbath day, when Jesus went to eat at the home of a leading Pharisee, the people were watching Jesus very closely.2 And in front of him was a man with dropsy. 3 Jesus said to the Pharisees and experts on the law, "Is it right or wrong to heal on the Sabbath day?" 4 But they would not answer his question. So Jesus took the man, healed him, and sent him away. 5 Jesus said to the Pharisees and teachers of the law, "If your child or ox falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not pull him out quickly?" 6 And they could not answer him. 7 When Jesus noticed that some of the guests were choosing the best places to sit, he told this story: 8 "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, don't take the most important seat, because someone more important than you may have been invited.9 The host, who invited both of you, will come to you and say, 'Give this person your seat.' Then you will be embarrassed and will have to move to the last place.10 So when you are invited, go sit in a seat that is not important. When the host comes to you, he may say, 'Friend, move up here to a more important place.' Then all the other guests will respect you. 11 All who make themselves great will be made humble, but those who make themselves humble will be made great." 12 Then Jesus said to the man who had invited him, "When you give a lunch or a dinner, don't invite only your friends, your family, your other relatives, and your rich neighbors. At another time they will invite you to eat with them, and you will be repaid. 13 Instead, when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 Then you will be blessed, because they have nothing and cannot pay you back. But you will be repaid when the good people rise from the dead." 15 One of those at the table with Jesus heard these things and said to him, "Blessed are the people who will share in the meal in God's kingdom." 16 Jesus said to him, "A man gave a big banquet and invited many people. 17 When it was time to eat, the man sent his servant to tell the guests, 'Come. Everything is ready.' 18 "But all the guests made excuses. The first one said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go look at it. Please excuse me.' 19 Another said, 'I have just bought five pairs of oxen; I must go and try them. Please excuse me.'20 A third person said, 'I just got married; I can't come.'21 So the servant returned and told his master what had happened. Then the master became angry and said, 'Go at once into the streets and alleys of the town, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.'22 Later the servant said to him, 'Master, I did what you commanded, but we still have room.'23 The master said to the servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes, and urge the people there to come so my house will be full. 24 I tell you, none of those whom I invited first will eat with me.' " 25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and said to them, 26 "If anyone comes to me but loves his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, or sisters—or even life—more than me, he cannot be my follower. 27 Whoever is not willing to carry his cross and follow me cannot be my follower. 28 If you want to build a tower, you first sit down and decide how much it will cost, to see if you have enough money to finish the job.29 If you don't, you might lay the foundation, but you would not be able to finish. Then all who would see it would make fun of you, 30 saying, 'This person began to build but was not able to finish.'
Luke 15 - New Century
1 The tax collectors and sinners all came to listen to Jesus.2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to complain: "Look, this man welcomes sinners and even eats with them." 3 Then Jesus told them this story: 4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep but loses one of them. Then he will leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the open field and go out and look for the lost sheep until he finds it.5 And when he finds it, he happily puts it on his shoulders6 and goes home. He calls to his friends and neighbors and says, 'Be happy with me because I found my lost sheep.' 7 In the same way, I tell you there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who changes his heart and life, than over ninety-nine good people who don't need to change. 8 "Suppose a woman has ten silver coins, but loses one. She will light a lamp, sweep the house, and look carefully for the coin until she finds it. 9 And when she finds it, she will call her friends and neighbors and say, 'Be happy with me because I have found the coin that I lost.' 10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God when one sinner changes his heart and life." 11 Then Jesus said, "A man had two sons. 12 The younger son said to his father, 'Give me my share of the property.' So the father divided the property between his two sons.13 Then the younger son gathered up all that was his and traveled far away to another country. There he wasted his money in foolish living.14 After he had spent everything, a time came when there was no food anywhere in the country, and the son was poor and hungry.15 So he got a job with one of the citizens there who sent the son into the fields to feed pigs.16 The son was so hungry that he wanted to eat the pods the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.17 When he realized what he was doing, he thought, 'All of my father's servants have plenty of food. But I am here, almost dying with hunger. 18 I will leave and return to my father and say to him, "Father, I have sinned against God and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son, but let me be like one of your servants." ' 20 So the son left and went to his father. "While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt sorry for his son. So the father ran to him and hugged and kissed him. 21 The son said, 'Father, I have sinned against God and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 But the father said to his servants, 'Hurry! Bring the best clothes and put them on him. Also, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.23 And get our fat calf and kill it so we can have a feast and celebrate. 24 My son was dead, but now he is alive again! He was lost, but now he is found!' So they began to celebrate. 25 "The older son was in the field, and as he came closer to the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. 26 So he called to one of the servants and asked what all this meant.27 The servant said, 'Your brother has come back, and your father killed the fat calf, because your brother came home safely.'28 The older son was angry and would not go in to the feast. So his father went out and begged him to come in.29 But the older son said to his father, 'I have served you like a slave for many years and have always obeyed your commands. But you never gave me even a young goat to have at a feast with my friends.30 But your other son, who wasted all your money on prostitutes, comes home, and you kill the fat calf for him!'
Luke 16 - New Century
1 Jesus also said to his followers, "Once there was a rich man who had a manager to take care of his business. This manager was accused of cheating him. 2 So he called the manager in and said to him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give me a report of what you have done with my money, because you can't be my manager any longer.'3 The manager thought to himself, 'What will I do since my master is taking my job away from me? I am not strong enough to dig ditches, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I know what I'll do so that when I lose my job people will welcome me into their homes.' 5 "So the manager called in everyone who owed the master any money. He asked the first one, 'How much do you owe?' 6 He answered, 'Eight hundred gallons of olive oil.' The manager said to him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and write four hundred gallons.'7 Then the manager asked another one, 'How much do you owe?' He answered, 'One thousand bushels of wheat.' Then the manager said to him, 'Take your bill and write eight hundred bushels.' 8 So, the master praised the dishonest manager for being clever. Yes, worldly people are more clever with their own kind than spiritual people are. 9 "I tell you, make friends for yourselves using worldly riches so that when those riches are gone, you will be welcomed in those homes that continue forever. 10 Whoever can be trusted with a little can also be trusted with a lot, and whoever is dishonest with a little is dishonest with a lot.11 If you cannot be trusted with worldly riches, then who will trust you with true riches? 12 And if you cannot be trusted with things that belong to someone else, who will give you things of your own? 13 "No servant can serve two masters. The servant will hate one master and love the other, or will follow one master and refuse to follow the other. You cannot serve both God and worldly riches." 14 The Pharisees, who loved money, were listening to all these things and made fun of Jesus. 15 He said to them, "You make yourselves look good in front of people, but God knows what is really in your hearts. What is important to people is hateful in God's sight. 16 "The law of Moses and the writings of the prophets were preached until John came. Since then the Good News about the kingdom of God is being told, and everyone tries to enter it by force. 17 It would be easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for the smallest part of a letter in the law to be changed. 18 "If a man divorces his wife and marries another woman, he is guilty of adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman is also guilty of adultery." 19 Jesus said, "There was a rich man who always dressed in the finest clothes and lived in luxury every day. 20 And a very poor man named Lazarus, whose body was covered with sores, was laid at the rich man's gate.21 He wanted to eat only the small pieces of food that fell from the rich man's table. And the dogs would come and lick his sores.22 Later, Lazarus died, and the angels carried him to the arms of Abraham. The rich man died, too, and was buried.23 In the place of the dead, he was in much pain. The rich man saw Abraham far away with Lazarus at his side.24 He called, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am suffering in this fire!'25 But Abraham said, 'Child, remember when you were alive you had the good things in life, but bad things happened to Lazarus. Now he is comforted here, and you are suffering.26 Besides, there is a big pit between you and us, so no one can cross over to you, and no one can leave there and come here.'27 The rich man said, 'Father, then please send Lazarus to my father's house.28 I have five brothers, and Lazarus could warn them so that they will not come to this place of pain.'29 But Abraham said, 'They have the law of Moses and the writings of the prophets; let them learn from them.'30 The rich man said, 'No, father Abraham! If someone goes to them from the dead, they would believe and change their hearts and lives.'
Luke 17 - New Century
1 Jesus said to his followers, "Things that cause people to sin will happen, but how terrible for the person who causes them to happen! 2 It would be better for you to be thrown into the sea with a large stone around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to sin. 3 So be careful! "If another follower sins, warn him, and if he is sorry and stops sinning, forgive him. 4 If he sins against you seven times in one day and says that he is sorry each time, forgive him." 5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Give us more faith!" 6 The Lord said, "If your faith were the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Dig yourself up and plant yourself in the sea,' and it would obey you. 7 "Suppose one of you has a servant who has been plowing the ground or caring for the sheep. When the servant comes in from working in the field, would you say, 'Come in and sit down to eat'? 8 No, you would say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat. Then get yourself ready and serve me. After I finish eating and drinking, you can eat.'9 The servant does not get any special thanks for doing what his master commanded. 10 It is the same with you. When you have done everything you are told to do, you should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done the work we should do.' " 11 While Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, he was going through the area between Samaria and Galilee.12 As he came into a small town, ten men who had a skin disease met him there. They did not come close to Jesus13 but called to him, "Jesus! Master! Have mercy on us!" 14 When Jesus saw the men, he said, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." As the ten men were going, they were healed. 15 When one of them saw that he was healed, he went back to Jesus, praising God in a loud voice.16 Then he bowed down at Jesus' feet and thanked him. (And this man was a Samaritan.) 17 Jesus said, "Weren't ten men healed? Where are the other nine? 18 Is this Samaritan the only one who came back to thank God?" 19 Then Jesus said to him, "Stand up and go on your way. You were healed because you believed." 20 Some of the Pharisees asked Jesus, "When will the kingdom of God come?" Jesus answered, "God's kingdom is coming, but not in a way that you will be able to see with your eyes. 21 People will not say, 'Look, here it is!' or, 'There it is!' because God's kingdom is within you." 22 Then Jesus said to his followers, "The time will come when you will want very much to see one of the days of the Son of Man. But you will not see it. 23 People will say to you, 'Look, there he is!' or, 'Look, here he is!' Stay where you are; don't go away and search. 24 "When the Son of Man comes again, he will shine like lightning, which flashes across the sky and lights it up from one side to the other. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by the people of this time.26 When the Son of Man comes again, it will be as it was when Noah lived.27 People were eating, drinking, marrying, and giving their children to be married until the day Noah entered the boat. Then the flood came and killed them all.28 It will be the same as during the time of Lot. People were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, and building.29 But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from the sky and killed them all. 30 This is how it will be when the Son of Man comes again.
Luke 18 - New Century
1 Then Jesus used this story to teach his followers that they should always pray and never lose hope. 2 "In a certain town there was a judge who did not respect God or care about people.3 In that same town there was a widow who kept coming to this judge, saying, 'Give me my rights against my enemy.'4 For a while the judge refused to help her. But afterwards, he thought to himself, 'Even though I don't respect God or care about people, 5 I will see that she gets her rights. Otherwise she will continue to bother me until I am worn out.' " 6 The Lord said, "Listen to what the unfair judge said. 7 God will always give what is right to his people who cry to him night and day, and he will not be slow to answer them. 8 I tell you, God will help his people quickly. But when the Son of Man comes again, will he find those on earth who believe in him?" 9 Jesus told this story to some people who thought they were very good and looked down on everyone else: 10 "A Pharisee and a tax collector both went to the Temple to pray.11 The Pharisee stood alone and prayed, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people who steal, cheat, or take part in adultery, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week, and I give one-tenth of everything I get!' 13 "The tax collector, standing at a distance, would not even look up to heaven. But he beat on his chest because he was so sad. He said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14 I tell you, when this man went home, he was right with God, but the Pharisee was not. All who make themselves great will be made humble, but all who make themselves humble will be made great." 15 Some people brought even their babies to Jesus so he could touch them. When the followers saw this, they told them to stop. 16 But Jesus called for the children, saying, "Let the little children come to me. Don't stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to people who are like these children. 17 I tell you the truth, you must accept the kingdom of God as if you were a child, or you will never enter it." 18 A certain leader asked Jesus, "Good Teacher, what must I do to have life forever?" 19 Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? Only God is good. 20 You know the commands: 'You must not be guilty of adultery. You must not murder anyone. You must not steal. You must not tell lies about your neighbor. Honor your father and mother.' " 21 But the leader said, "I have obeyed all these commands since I was a boy." 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "There is still one more thing you need to do. Sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me." 23 But when the man heard this, he became very sad, because he was very rich. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, "It is very hard for rich people to enter the kingdom of God. 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." 26 When the people heard this, they asked, "Then who can be saved?" 27 Jesus answered, "The things impossible for people are possible for God." 28 Peter said, "Look, we have left everything and followed you." 29 Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, all those who have left houses, wives, brothers, parents, or children for the kingdom of God 30 will get much more in this life. And in the age that is coming, they will have life forever."
Luke 19 - New Century
1 Jesus was going through the city of Jericho.2 A man was there named Zacchaeus, who was a very important tax collector, and he was wealthy.3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because he was too short to see above the crowd.4 He ran ahead to a place where Jesus would come, and he climbed a sycamore tree so he could see him. 5 When Jesus came to that place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today." 6 Zacchaeus came down quickly and welcomed him gladly.7 All the people saw this and began to complain, "Jesus is staying with a sinner!" 8 But Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "I will give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times more." 9 Jesus said to him, "Salvation has come to this house today, because this man also belongs to the family of Abraham. 10 The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them." 11 As the people were listening to this, Jesus told them a story because he was near Jerusalem and they thought God's kingdom would appear immediately. 12 He said: "A very important man went to a country far away to be made a king and then to return home. 13 So he called ten of his servants and gave a coin to each servant. He said, 'Do business with this money until I get back.' 14 But the people in the kingdom hated the man. So they sent a group to follow him and say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.' 15 "But the man became king. When he returned home, he said, 'Call those servants who have my money so I can know how much they earned with it.' 16 "The first servant came and said, 'Sir, I earned ten coins with the one you gave me.' 17 The king said to the servant, 'Excellent! You are a good servant. Since I can trust you with small things, I will let you rule over ten of my cities.' 18 "The second servant said, 'Sir, I earned five coins with your one.' 19 The king said to this servant, 'You can rule over five cities.' 20 "Then another servant came in and said to the king, 'Sir, here is your coin which I wrapped in a piece of cloth and hid. 21 I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You even take money that you didn't earn and gather food that you didn't plant.'22 Then the king said to the servant, 'I will condemn you by your own words, you evil servant. You knew that I am a hard man, taking money that I didn't earn and gathering food that I didn't plant. 23 Why then didn't you put my money in the bank? Then when I came back, my money would have earned some interest.' 24 "The king said to the men who were standing by, 'Take the coin away from this servant and give it to the servant who earned ten coins.' 25 They said, 'But sir, that servant already has ten coins.'26 The king said, 'Those who have will be given more, but those who do not have anything will have everything taken away from them. 27 Now where are my enemies who didn't want me to be king? Bring them here and kill them before me.' " 28 After Jesus said this, he went on toward Jerusalem.29 As Jesus came near Bethphage and Bethany, towns near the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent out two of his followers. 30 He said, "Go to the town you can see there. When you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here to me.
Luke 20 - New Century
1 One day Jesus was in the Temple, teaching the people and telling them the Good News. The leading priests, teachers of the law, and elders came up to talk with him, 2 saying, "Tell us what authority you have to do these things? Who gave you this authority?" 3 Jesus answered, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me: 4 When John baptized people, was that authority from God or just from other people?" 5 They argued about this, saying, "If we answer, 'John's baptism was from God,' Jesus will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?'6 But if we say, 'It was from other people,' all the people will stone us to death, because they believe John was a prophet."7 So they answered that they didn't know where it came from. 8 Jesus said to them, "Then I won't tell you what authority I have to do these things." 9 Then Jesus told the people this story: "A man planted a vineyard and leased it to some farmers. Then he went away for a long time. 10 When it was time for the grapes to be picked, he sent a servant to the farmers to get some of the grapes. But they beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.11 Then he sent another servant. They beat this servant also, and showed no respect for him, and sent him away empty-handed.12 So the man sent a third servant. The farmers wounded him and threw him out.13 The owner of the vineyard said, 'What will I do now? I will send my son whom I love. Maybe they will respect him.'14 But when the farmers saw the son, they said to each other, 'This son will inherit the vineyard. If we kill him, it will be ours.' 15 So the farmers threw the son out of the vineyard and killed him. "What will the owner of this vineyard do to them? 16 He will come and kill those farmers and will give the vineyard to other farmers." When the people heard this story, they said, "Let this never happen!" 17 But Jesus looked at them and said, "Then what does this verse mean:
'The stone that the builders rejected
became the cornerstone'? — Psalm 118:22
18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken, and the person on whom it falls, that person will be crushed!" 19 The teachers of the law and the leading priests wanted to arrest Jesus at once, because they knew the story was about them. But they were afraid of what the people would do. 20 So they watched Jesus and sent some spies who acted as if they were sincere. They wanted to trap Jesus in saying something wrong so they could hand him over to the authority and power of the governor.21 So the spies asked Jesus, "Teacher, we know that what you say and teach is true. You pay no attention to who people are, and you always teach the truth about God's way.22 Tell us, is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" 23 But Jesus, knowing they were trying to trick him, said, 24 "Show me a coin. Whose image and name are on it?" They said, "Caesar's." 25 Jesus said to them, "Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and give to God the things that are God's." 26 So they were not able to trap Jesus in anything he said in the presence of the people. And being amazed at his answer, they became silent. 27 Some Sadducees, who believed people would not rise from the dead, came to Jesus.28 They asked, "Teacher, Moses wrote that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, then that man must marry the widow and have children for his brother.29 Once there were seven brothers. The first brother married and died, but had no children.30 Then the second brother married the widow, and he died.
Luke 21 - New Century
1 As Jesus looked up, he saw some rich people putting their gifts into the Temple money box.2 Then he saw a poor widow putting two small copper coins into the box. 3 He said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow gave more than all those rich people. 4 They gave only what they did not need. This woman is very poor, but she gave all she had to live on." 5 Some people were talking about the Temple and how it was decorated with beautiful stones and gifts offered to God. But Jesus said, 6 "As for these things you are looking at, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another. Every stone will be thrown down." 7 They asked Jesus, "Teacher, when will these things happen? What will be the sign that they are about to take place?" 8 Jesus said, "Be careful so you are not fooled. Many people will come in my name, saying, 'I am the One' and, 'The time has come!' But don't follow them. 9 When you hear about wars and riots, don't be afraid, because these things must happen first, but the end will come later." 10 Then he said to them, "Nations will fight against other nations, and kingdoms against other kingdoms. 11 In various places there will be great earthquakes, sicknesses, and a lack of food. Fearful events and great signs will come from heaven. 12 "But before all these things happen, people will arrest you and treat you cruelly. They will judge you in their synagogues and put you in jail and force you to stand before kings and governors, because you follow me. 13 But this will give you an opportunity to tell about me.14 Make up your minds not to worry ahead of time about what you will say.15 I will give you the wisdom to say things that none of your enemies will be able to stand against or prove wrong.16 Even your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will turn against you, and they will kill some of you.17 All people will hate you because you follow me.18 But none of these things can really harm you. 19 By continuing to have faith you will save your lives. 20 "When you see armies all around Jerusalem, you will know it will soon be destroyed. 21 At that time, the people in Judea should run away to the mountains. The people in Jerusalem must get out, and those who are near the city should not go in.22 These are the days of punishment to bring about all that is written in the Scriptures.23 How terrible it will be for women who are pregnant or have nursing babies! Great trouble will come upon this land, and God will be angry with these people. 24 They will be killed by the sword and taken as prisoners to all nations. Jerusalem will be crushed by non-Jewish people until their time is over. 25 "There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On earth, nations will be afraid and confused because of the roar and fury of the sea. 26 People will be so afraid they will faint, wondering what is happening to the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken.27 Then people will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin to happen, look up and hold your heads high, because the time when God will free you is near!" 29 Then Jesus told this story: "Look at the fig tree and all the other trees. 30 When their leaves appear, you know that summer is near.
Luke 22 - New Century
1 It was almost time for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover Feast.2 The leading priests and teachers of the law were trying to find a way to kill Jesus, because they were afraid of the people. 3 Satan entered Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' twelve apostles.4 Judas went to the leading priests and some of the soldiers who guarded the Temple and talked to them about a way to hand Jesus over to them.5 They were pleased and agreed to give Judas money.6 He agreed and watched for the best time to hand Jesus over to them when he was away from the crowd. 7 The Day of Unleavened Bread came when the Passover lambs had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus said to Peter and John, "Go and prepare the Passover meal for us to eat." 9 They asked, "Where do you want us to prepare it?" 10 Jesus said to them, "After you go into the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters, 11 and tell the owner of the house, 'The Teacher says: "Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover meal with my followers?" ' 12 Then he will show you a large, furnished room upstairs. Prepare the Passover meal there." 13 So Peter and John left and found everything as Jesus had said. And they prepared the Passover meal. 14 When the time came, Jesus and the apostles were sitting at the table. 15 He said to them, "I wanted very much to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer. 16 I will not eat another Passover meal until it is given its true meaning in the kingdom of God." 17 Then Jesus took a cup, gave thanks, and said, "Take this cup and share it among yourselves. 18 I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until God's kingdom comes." 19 Then Jesus took some bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to the apostles, saying, "This is my body, which I am giving for you. Do this to remember me." 20 In the same way, after supper, Jesus took the cup and said, "This cup is the new agreement that God makes with his people. This new agreement begins with my blood which is poured out for you. 21 "But one of you will turn against me, and his hand is with mine on the table. 22 What God has planned for the Son of Man will happen, but how terrible it will be for that one who turns against the Son of Man." 23 Then the apostles asked each other which one of them would do that. 24 The apostles also began to argue about which one of them was the most important. 25 But Jesus said to them, "The kings of the non-Jewish people rule over them, and those who have authority over others like to be called 'friends of the people.' 26 But you must not be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the leader should be like the servant. 27 Who is more important: the one sitting at the table or the one serving? You think the one at the table is more important, but I am like a servant among you. 28 "You have stayed with me through my struggles. 29 Just as my Father has given me a kingdom, I also give you a kingdom 30 so you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Luke 23 - New Century
1 Then the whole group stood up and led Jesus to Pilate. 2 They began to accuse Jesus, saying, "We caught this man telling things that mislead our people. He says that we should not pay taxes to Caesar, and he calls himself the Christ, a king." 3 Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Those are your words." 4 Pilate said to the leading priests and the people, "I find nothing against this man." 5 They were insisting, saying, "But Jesus makes trouble with the people, teaching all around Judea. He began in Galilee, and now he is here." 6 Pilate heard this and asked if Jesus was from Galilee.7 Since Jesus was under Herod's authority, Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at that time.8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, because he had heard about Jesus and had wanted to meet him for a long time. He was hoping to see Jesus work a miracle.9 Herod asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus said nothing.10 The leading priests and teachers of the law were standing there, strongly accusing Jesus.11 After Herod and his soldiers had made fun of Jesus, they dressed him in a kingly robe and sent him back to Pilate.12 In the past, Pilate and Herod had always been enemies, but on that day they became friends. 13 Pilate called the people together with the leading priests and the rulers.14 He said to them, "You brought this man to me, saying he makes trouble among the people. But I have questioned him before you all, and I have not found him guilty of what you say.15 Also, Herod found nothing wrong with him; he sent him back to us. Look, he has done nothing for which he should die. 16 So, after I punish him, I will let him go free." [ 17 Every year at the Passover Feast, Pilate had to release one prisoner to the people.] 18 But the people shouted together, "Take this man away! Let Barabbas go free!"19 (Barabbas was a man who was in prison for his part in a riot in the city and for murder.) 20 Pilate wanted to let Jesus go free and told this to the crowd.21 But they shouted again, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" 22 A third time Pilate said to them, "Why? What wrong has he done? I can find no reason to kill him. So I will have him punished and set him free." 23 But they continued to shout, demanding that Jesus be crucified. Their yelling became so loud that24 Pilate decided to give them what they wanted.25 He set free the man who was in jail for rioting and murder, and he handed Jesus over to them to do with him as they wished. 26 As they led Jesus away, Simon, a man from Cyrene, was coming in from the fields. They forced him to carry Jesus' cross and to walk behind him. 27 A large crowd of people was following Jesus, including some women who were sad and crying for him. 28 But Jesus turned and said to them, "Women of Jerusalem, don't cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children. 29 The time is coming when people will say, 'Blessed are the women who cannot have children and who have no babies to nurse.' 30 Then people will say to the mountains, 'Fall on us!' And they will say to the hills, 'Cover us!'
Luke 24 - New Century
1 Very early on the first day of the week, at dawn, the women came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.2 They found the stone rolled away from the entrance of the tomb,3 but when they went in, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.4 While they were wondering about this, two men in shining clothes suddenly stood beside them.5 The women were very afraid and bowed their heads to the ground. The men said to them, "Why are you looking for a living person in this place for the dead?6 He is not here; he has risen from the dead. Do you remember what he told you in Galilee?7 He said the Son of Man must be handed over to sinful people, be crucified, and rise from the dead on the third day."8 Then the women remembered what Jesus had said. 9 The women left the tomb and told all these things to the eleven apostles and the other followers.10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and some other women who told the apostles everything that had happened at the tomb.11 But they did not believe the women, because it sounded like nonsense.12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Bending down and looking in, he saw only the cloth that Jesus' body had been wrapped in. Peter went away to his home, wondering about what had happened. 13 That same day two of Jesus' followers were going to a town named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.14 They were talking about everything that had happened.15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and began walking with them,16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 Then he said, "What are these things you are talking about while you walk?" The two followers stopped, looking very sad. 18 The one named Cleopas answered, "Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who does not know what just happened there?" 19 Jesus said to them, "What are you talking about?" They said, "About Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet who said and did many powerful things before God and all the people. 20 Our leaders and the leading priests handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him.21 But we were hoping that he would free Israel. Besides this, it is now the third day since this happened.22 And today some women among us amazed us. Early this morning they went to the tomb,23 but they did not find his body there. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels who said that Jesus was alive!24 So some of our group went to the tomb, too. They found it just as the women said, but they did not see Jesus." 25 Then Jesus said to them, "You are foolish and slow to believe everything the prophets said. 26 They said that the Christ must suffer these things before he enters his glory." 27 Then starting with what Moses and all the prophets had said about him, Jesus began to explain everything that had been written about himself in the Scriptures. 28 They came near the town of Emmaus, and Jesus acted as if he were going farther.29 But they begged him, "Stay with us, because it is late; it is almost night." So he went in to stay with them. 30 When Jesus was at the table with them, he took some bread, gave thanks, divided it, and gave it to them.
No comments:
Post a Comment