17 were fishermen. And Jesus said unto them, Come after me, and I will make you to become 18 fishers of men. And straightway they forsook 19 their nets, and followed him.* And when he

had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. 20 And immediately he called them and they left their father Zebedee in the ship, with the 21 hired servants, and went after him. And they went into Capernaum; and immediately on the sabbath-day he entered into the synago22 gue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And there was in their synagogue a man with 24 an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the 25 Holy One of God.§ And Jesus rebuked

him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out 26 of him. And when the unclean spirit had

They had probably heard John's declaration concerning Christ. Besides, there was a general expectation at that time of the coming of the Messiah.

We are not to consider the apostles as of the lowest of the people. They were of the common rank, but not learned, or belonging to powerful families.

It will be remembered, the Jews assembled in their synagogues every sabbath to worship, and hear the law of Moses read and explained.

The Jews despised and hated the people of Galilee; and had a tradition, that the Messiah, when he should appear would destroy them, alluded to here probably.

torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came 27 out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned one another, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they 28 obey him. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about 29 Galilee. As soon as they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and 30 John. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a

fever; and immediately they tell him of her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up and immediately the fever left 32 her, and she ministered unto them.

And at evening, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all who were diseased, and them 33 who were possessed with devils. And all the 34 city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew 35 him. And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out and departed 36 into a solitary, place and there prayed. And

Simon, and they that were with him, followed 37 after him. And when they had found him, 38 they said unto him, All men seek for thee. And

he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also; for there39 fore came I forth. And he preached in their

* Or had thrown him into convulsions.

synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast 40 out devils. And there came a leper to him, beseeching him and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst 41 make me clean. And Jesus moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 42 And immediately the leprosy departed from 43 him, and he was cured. And he strictly

charged him, and forthwith sent him away; 44 and saith unto him, see thou say nothing to any man but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for the cleansing those things which Moses commanded for a testi45 mony unto them. But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places and they came to him from every quarter.

CHAP. II.

1 AND again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised* that he 2 was in the house. And immediately many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no not even about the door: and he preached, the word 3 unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, who was borne of 4 four. And when they could not come nigh

*It was reported or said.

unto him for the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the 5 sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, 6 thy sins are forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and rea7 soning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins, 8 but God only? And immediately, when Jesus perceived in his spirit, that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, 10 Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk ;* but that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins? He saith to 11 the sick of the palsy, I say unto thee, Arise,

and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine 12 house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw any thing like this. 13 And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he 14 taught them. And as he passed along, he saw Levit the son of Alpheus, sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. 15 And he arose, and followed him. And it came to pass, that as Jesus sat at meat in his

* Neither could be done without divine power. † Levi is the same as Matthew.

house, many publicans and sinners* sat also together with Jesus and his disciples; for there 16 were many, and they followed him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and 17 drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick; I came not to call the 18 righteous, but sinners to repentance.† Now the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: And they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Phar19 isees fast, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bride20 groom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they 21 fast in those days. No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the

* Publicans and sinners; that is, men who made no particular profession of religion.

+ That is, I come to instruct and reform, to seek and to save the ignorant.

It would seem by this remark, that John's disciples joined with the Pharisees in objecting to the conduct of Jesus and it is believed by the learned, that the disciples of John formed a sect, which looked for another to come as the true Messiah.

§ It would not be proper for them to fast.

row.

They shall then fast-they will be in trouble and sor