So John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

John answered them, “The person who has two tunics must share with the person who has none, and the person who has food must do likewise.”

But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!”

So he stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing. Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

Then astonishment seized them all, and they glorified God. They were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen incredible things today.”

But the Pharisees and their experts in the law complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God belongs to you.

“Woe to you when all people speak well of you, for their ancestors did the same things to the false prophets.

When they came to Jesus, they urged him earnestly, “He is worthy to have you do this for him,

Then he came up and touched the bier, and those who carried it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”

When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he is.”

The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which were many, are forgiven, thus she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little loves little.”

The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,

While he was still speaking, someone from the synagogue ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.”

Now Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was happening, and he was thoroughly perplexed, because some people were saying that John had been raised from the dead,

They answered, “John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others that one of the prophets of long ago has risen.”

Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

Then he said to them all, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me.