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With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
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The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.
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Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.
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He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,
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to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.
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and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
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He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
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to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”
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to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
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The Birth of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
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Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
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Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,
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and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
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where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
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The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
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The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
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The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here.
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When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
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In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice,
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“Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
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“Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.
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Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.
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When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
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Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”
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When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles:
