Then ¹  Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, ²  returned to Galilee, and news about him spread ³  throughout the surrounding countryside. ⁴ 

But the news about him spread even more, ¹  and large crowds were gathering together to hear him ²  and to be healed of their illnesses.

When the centurion ¹  heard ²  about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders ³  to him, asking him to come ⁴  and heal his slave.

When ¹  John’s messengers had gone, Jesus ²  began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness ³  to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁴ 

This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, ¹  who will prepare your way before you.’ ² 

Herod said, “I had John ¹  beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” So Herod wanted to learn about Jesus. ² 

Now ¹  there were some present on that occasion who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. ² 

But the worker ¹  answered him, ‘Sir, leave it alone this year too, until I dig around it and put fertilizer ²  on it.

It would be better for him to have a millstone ¹  tied around his neck and be thrown into the sea ²  than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. ³ 

but I have prayed for you, Simon, ¹  that your faith may not fail. ²  When ³  you have turned back, ⁴  strengthen ⁵  your brothers.”

While ¹  they were perplexed ²  about this, suddenly ³  two men stood beside them in dazzling ⁴  attire.

So ¹  Simeon, ²  directed by the Spirit, ³  came into the temple courts, ⁴  and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, ⁵ 

After Jesus left ¹  the synagogue, he entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus ²  to help her. ³ 

Then ¹  he ordered the man ²  to tell no one, ³  but commanded him, ⁴  “Go ⁵  and show yourself to a priest, and bring the offering ⁶  for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, ⁷  as a testimony to them.” ⁸ 

But when the crowds found out, they followed him. He ¹  welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, ²  and cured those who needed healing. ³ 

But they did not understand this statement; its meaning ¹  had been concealed ²  from them, so that they could not grasp it. Yet ³  they were afraid to ask him about this statement.

But Martha was distracted ¹  with all the preparations she had to make, ²  so ³  she came up to him and said, “Lord, don’t you care ⁴  that my sister has left me to do all the work ⁵  alone? Tell ⁶  her to help me.”

So ¹  he called the manager ²  in and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? ³  Turn in the account of your administration, ⁴  because you can no longer be my manager.’

As he approached the road leading down from ¹  the Mount of Olives, ²  the whole crowd of his ³  disciples began to rejoice ⁴  and praise ⁵  God with a loud voice for all the mighty works ⁶  they had seen: ⁷ 

For I tell you that this scripture must be ¹  fulfilled in me, ‘And he was counted with the transgressors.’ ²  For what is written about me is being fulfilled.” ³