Then<n id="1" /> they said, &#8220;Why do we need further testimony? We have heard it ourselves<n id="2" /> from his own lips!&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

But they were insistent,<n id="1" /> demanding with loud shouts that he be crucified. And their shouts prevailed.

Then<n id="1" /> he said to them, &#8220;What are these matters<n id="2" /> you are discussing so intently<n id="3" /> as you walk along?&#8221; And they stood still, looking sad.

At this point<n id="1" /> their eyes were opened and they recognized<n id="2" /> him.<n id="3" /> Then<n id="4" /> he vanished out of their sight.

for he will be great in the sight of<n id="1" /> the Lord. He<n id="2" /> must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.<n id="3" />

So<n id="1" /> the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising<n id="2" /> God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told.<n id="3" />p>

But<n id="1" /> when the feast was over,<n id="2" /> as they were returning home,<n id="3" /> the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His<n id="4" /> parents<n id="5" /> did not know it,

<p class="bodytext">Then<n id="1" /> he rolled up<n id="2" /> the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on<n id="3" /> him.

He<n id="1" /> saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets.

<p class="bodytext">Then<n id="1" /> Levi gave a great banquet<n id="2" /> in his house for Jesus,<n id="3" /> and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others sitting<n id="4" /> at the table with them.

<t /><p class="bodytext">Jesus<n id="1" /> was going through the grain fields on<n id="2" /> a Sabbath,<n id="3" /> and his disciples picked some heads of wheat,<n id="4" /> rubbed them in their hands, and ate them.<n id="5" />

Jesus<n id="1" /> answered them,<n id="2" /> &#8220;Haven&#8217;t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry &#8211;

<p class="bodytext">Then<n id="1" /> he looked up<n id="2" /> at his disciples and said:p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Blessed<n id="3" /> are you who are poor,<n id="4" /> for the kingdom of God belongs<n id="5" /> to you.p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;If<n id="1" /> you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners<n id="2" /> love those who love them.<n id="3" />

And<n id="1" /> if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even<n id="2" /> sinners<n id="3" /> do the same.

When<n id="1" /> they came<n id="2" /> to Jesus, they urged<n id="3" /> him earnestly,<n id="4" /> &#8220;He is worthy<n id="5" /> to have you do this for him,

<t /><p class="bodytext">Soon<n id="1" /> afterward<n id="2" /> Jesus<n id="3" /> went to a town<n id="4" /> called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him.

Then<n id="1" /> he came up<n id="2" /> and touched<n id="3" /> the bier,<n id="4" /> and those who carried it stood still. He<n id="5" /> said, &#8220;Young man, I say to you, get up!&#8221;

What<n id="1" /> did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy<n id="2" /> clothes?<n id="3" /> Look, those who wear fancy clothes and live in luxury<n id="4" /> are in kings&#8217; courts!<n id="5" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Some time<n id="1" /> afterward<n id="2" /> he went on through towns<n id="3" /> and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news<n id="4" /> of the kingdom of God.<n id="5" /> The<n id="6" /> twelve were with him,