As ¹  he rode along, they ²  spread their cloaks on the road.

And you, child, ¹  will be called the prophet ²  of the Most High. ³  For you will go before ⁴  the Lord to prepare his ways, ⁵ 

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, ¹  to guide our feet into the way ²  of peace.”

As ¹  they were walking ²  along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” ³ 

Do not carry ¹  a money bag, ²  a traveler’s bag, ³  or sandals, and greet no one on the road. ⁴ 

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

because a friend of mine has stopped here while on a journey, ¹  and I have nothing to set before ²  him.’

As ¹  Jesus ²  approached ³  Jericho, ⁴  a blind man was sitting by the road begging.

Then they told what had happened on the road, ¹  and how they recognized him ²  when he broke the bread.

but (because they assumed that he was in their group of travelers) ¹  they went a day’s journey. Then ²  they began to look for him among their relatives and acquaintances. ³ 

Every valley will be filled, ¹  and every mountain and hill will be brought low, and the crooked will be made straight, and the rough ways will be made smooth,

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 

He ¹  said to them, “Take nothing for your ²  journey – no staff, ³  no bag, ⁴  no bread, no money, and do not take an extra tunic. ⁵ 

So ¹  the master said to his ²  slave, ‘Go out to the highways ³  and country roads ⁴  and urge ⁵  people ⁶  to come in, so that my house will be filled. ⁷ 

They ¹  said to each other, “Didn’t ²  our hearts ³  burn within us ⁴  while he was speaking with us on the road, while he was explaining ⁵  the scriptures to us?”

As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice ¹  of one shouting in the wilderness: ²  ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make ³  his paths straight.

“A sower went out to sow ¹  his seed. ²  And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled on, and the wild birds ³  devoured it.

Those along the path are the ones who have heard; then the devil ¹  comes and takes away the word ²  from their hearts, so that they may not believe ³  and be saved.

Thus ¹  they asked him, “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach correctly, ²  and show no partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. ³ 

As you are going with your accuser before the magistrate, ¹  make an effort to settle with him on the way, so that he will not drag you before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, ²  and the officer throw you into prison.