and said to them, &#8220;You brought me this man as one who was misleading<n id="1" /> the people. When I examined him before you, I<n id="2" /> did not find this man guilty<n id="3" /> of anything you accused him of doing.

<p class="bodytext">After some time<n id="1" /> his wife Elizabeth became pregnant,<n id="2" /> and for five months she kept herself in seclusion.<n id="3" /> She said,<n id="4" />

But<n id="1" /> she was greatly troubled<n id="2" /> by his words and began to wonder about the meaning of this greeting.<n id="3" />

Mary<n id="1" /> said to the angel, &#8220;How will this be, since I have not had sexual relations with<n id="2" /> a man?&#8221;

<t /><p class="bodytext">In those days<n id="1" /> Mary got up and went hurriedly into the hill country, to a town of Judah,<n id="2" />

They<n id="1" /> said to her, &#8220;But<n id="2" /> none of your relatives bears this name.&#8221;<n id="3" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Now<n id="1" /> in those days a decree<n id="2" /> went out from Caesar<n id="3" /> Augustus<n id="4" /> to register<n id="5" /> all the empire<n id="6" /> for taxes.

When<n id="1" /> they saw him,<n id="2" /> they related what they had been told<n id="3" /> about this child,

But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean.<n id="1" />

Then<n id="1" /> he began to tell them, &#8220;Today<n id="2" /> this scripture has been fulfilled even as you heard it being read.&#8221;<n id="3" />

But those days are coming, and when the bridegroom is taken from them,<n id="1" /> at that time<n id="2" /> they will fast.&#8221;

This<n id="1" /> report<n id="2" /> about Jesus<n id="3" /> circulated<n id="4" /> throughout<n id="5" /> Judea and all the surrounding country.p>

But<n id="1" /> those who were at the table<n id="2" /> with him began to say among themselves, &#8220;Who is this, who even forgives sins?&#8221;

But whenever<n id="1" /> you enter a town<n id="2" /> and the people<n id="3" /> do not welcome<n id="4" /> you, go into its streets<n id="5" /> and say,

Now by chance<n id="1" /> a priest was going down that road, but<n id="2" /> when he saw the injured man<n id="3" /> he passed by<n id="4" /> on the other side.<n id="5" />

Which of these three do you think became a neighbor<n id="1" /> to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">One of the experts in religious law<n id="1" /> answered him, &#8220;Teacher, when you say these things you insult<n id="2" /> us too.&#8221;

so that this generation may be held accountable<n id="1" /> for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning<n id="2" /> of the world,<n id="3" />

Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night<n id="1" /> and finds them alert,<n id="2" /> blessed are those slaves!<n id="3" />

<p class="bodytext">Then<n id="1" /> Peter said, &#8220;Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for everyone?&#8221;<n id="2" />