And after these things Jesus went out, and saw a tax collector, named Levi Matthew, sitting at the tax booth: and he said unto him, "Follow me." And Matthew left all, rose up, and followed him.

After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.) In these lay a great crowd of disabled folk, of blind, lame, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty-eight years.

When Jesus saw the infirmed man lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he said unto him, "Will you be made whole?"

The invalid…answered him, "Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steps down before me."

Jesus said unto him, "Rise, take up your bed, and walk." And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

The Jews therefore said unto the man that was cured, "It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for you to carry your bed."

The man answered them, "He that made me whole, the same said unto me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’"

Then asked they him, "What man is that which said unto you, ‘Take up your bed, and walk?’" And he that was healed knew not who it was: for Jesus had slipped…away, a crowd being in that place.

Afterward Jesus found the man in the temple, and said unto him, "Look, you are made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto you." The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, "My Father works until now, and I work." Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, "Truly, truly, I say unto you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for whatever…the Father does, these also does the Son likewise. For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all things that himself does: and the Father will show him greater works than these that you may marvel. For as the Father raises up the dead, and gives life to them; even so the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father, which has sent him.

"Truly, truly, I say unto you, he that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Truly, truly, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father has life in himself; so has he given to the Son to have life in himself; and has given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

"I can of my own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which has sent me. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. There is another that bears witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesses of me is true.

"You sent unto John, and he bore witness unto the truth. …I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that you might be saved. John was a burning and a shining light: and you were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works, which the Father has given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me. And the Father himself, which has sent me, has borne witness of me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And you have not his word abiding in you: for whom the Father has sent, him you believe not.

"You search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. But you will not come to me, that you might have life.

"I receive not honor from men. But I know you, that you have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father's name, and you receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him you will receive. How can you believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that comes from God only?

"Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuses you, even Moses, in whom you trust. For had you believed Moses, you would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words?

And it came to pass, that Jesus went through the cornfields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. And the Pharisees said unto Jesus," Look, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?"

And Jesus said unto them, "Have you never read what David did, when he had need, and was…hungry, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?"

And Jesus said unto them, "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath."

And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that Jesus entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and Pharisees watched Jesus, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him. But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, "Rise up, and stand…in the center." And the man arose and stood….

Then said Jesus unto the scribes and Pharisees, "I will ask you one thing; is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? To save life, or to destroy it? What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days." But they held their silence.

And when Jesus had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he said unto the man, "Stretch out your hand." And the man stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. And the scribes and Pharisees were filled with fury…. And they went out, and immediately took counsel with the Herodians against Jesus, how they might destroy him.

But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great crowd from Galilee followed him, and from Judea, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and those about Tyre and Sidon, a great number, when they had heard what great things Jesus did, came unto him.

And Jesus spoke to his disciples, that a small boat should wait on him because of the crowd, lest they should crush him. For he had healed many; so much that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.

And evil spirits, when they saw Jesus, fell down before him, and cried, saying, ‘You are the Son of God.’ And he strictly charged them that they should not make him known.

And it came to pass, that, as Jesus and his followers went in the way, a certain man said unto him, "Lord, I will follow you wherever you go."

And Jesus said unto him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has not where to lay his head." And Jesus said unto another, "Follow me."

But the other said, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father."

Jesus said unto him, "Let the dead bury their dead: but go you and preach the kingdom of God."

And another also said, "Lord, I will follow you; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house."

And Jesus said unto him, "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

And it came to pass in those days that Jesus went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, …Judas the brother of James…. And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him….

REFERENCES

Luke 5:27-28; John 5:1-47; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 6:6-9; Matthew 12:11-12; Mark 3:4b-5; Luke 6:11a; Mark 3:6-12; Luke 9:57-62; Luke 6:12-16a; Mark 3:19a.

CHAPTER 66