and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove.<n id="1" /> And a voice came from heaven, &#8220;You are my one dear Son;<n id="2" /> in you I take great delight.&#8221;<n id="3" />p>

So<n id="1" /> they motioned<n id="2" /> to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they were about to sink.<n id="3" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">On<n id="1" /> another Sabbath, Jesus<n id="2" /> entered the synagogue<n id="3" /> and was teaching. Now<n id="4" /> a man was there whose right hand was withered.<n id="5" />

But<n id="1" /> other seed fell on good soil and grew,<n id="2" /> and it produced a hundred times as much grain.&#8221;<n id="3" /> As he said this,<n id="4" /> he called out, &#8220;The one who has ears to hear had better listen!&#8221;<n id="5" />p>

For Jesus<n id="1" /> had started commanding<n id="2" /> the evil<n id="3" /> spirit to come out of the man. (For it had seized him many times, so<n id="4" /> he would be bound with chains and shackles<n id="5" /> and kept under guard. But<n id="6" /> he would break the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted<n id="7" /> places.)<n id="8" />

Then<n id="1" /> all the people of the Gerasenes<n id="2" /> and the surrounding region<n id="3" /> asked Jesus<n id="4" /> to leave them alone,<n id="5" /> for they were seized with great fear.<n id="6" /> So<n id="7" /> he got into the boat and left.<n id="8" />

saying, &#8220;The Son of Man must suffer<n id="1" /> many things and be rejected by the elders,<n id="2" /> chief priests, and experts in the law,<n id="3" /> and be killed, and on the third day be raised.&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

Look, I have given you authority to tread<n id="1" /> on snakes and scorpions<n id="2" /> and on the full force of the enemy,<n id="3" /> and nothing will<n id="4" /> hurt you.

For I tell you that many prophets and kings longed to see<n id="1" /> what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.&#8221;p>

If you then, although you are<n id="1" /> evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit<n id="2" /> to those who ask him!&#8221;p>

But Jesus<n id="1" /> replied,<n id="2" /> &#8220;Woe to you experts in religious law as well!<n id="3" /> You load people<n id="4" /> down with burdens difficult to bear, yet you yourselves refuse to touch<n id="5" /> the burdens with even one of your fingers!

But when you are invited, go and take the least important place, so that when your host<n id="1" /> approaches he will say to you, &#8216;Friend, move up here to a better place.&#8217;<n id="2" /> Then you will be honored in the presence of all who share the meal with you.

But one after another they all<n id="1" /> began to make excuses.<n id="2" /> The first said to him, &#8216;I have bought a field,<n id="3" /> and I must go out and see it. Please excuse me.&#8217;<n id="4" />

Then<n id="1" /> his son said to him, &#8216;Father, I have sinned against heaven<n id="2" /> and against you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.&#8217;<n id="3" />

Then he said to another, &#8216;And how much do you owe?&#8217; The second man<n id="1" /> replied, &#8216;A hundred measures<n id="2" /> of wheat.&#8217; The manager<n id="3" /> said to him, &#8216;Take your bill, and write eighty.&#8217;<n id="4" />

The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this:<n id="1" /> &#8216;God, I thank<n id="2" /> you that I am not like other people:<n id="3" /> extortionists,<n id="4" /> unrighteous people,<n id="5" /> adulterers &#8211; or even like this tax collector.<n id="6" />

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, &#8220;One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have<n id="1" /> and give the money<n id="2" /> to the poor,<n id="3" /> and you will have treasure<n id="4" /> in heaven. Then<n id="5" /> come, follow me.&#8221;

But Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, &#8220;Look, Lord, half of my possessions I now give<n id="1" /> to the poor, and if<n id="2" /> I have cheated anyone of anything, I am paying back four times as much!&#8221;

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

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" />