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THE GOSPEL OF JESUS

CHAPTER I

THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS THE MESSIAH

N the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Cæsar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judæa, and Herod Antipas being tetrarch of Galilee, in the high-priesthood of Caiaphas, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness of Judæa. And he came into all the region round about the Jordan, crying, Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand. Even as it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

A voice of one crying in the wilderness,
Prepare ye the way of the Lord,

Make straight his paths.

And John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey. And he preached a baptism of repentance unto forgiveness of sins. And there went out unto him Jerusalem and all Judæa and all the region round about the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river

Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham as our father, for I say unto you that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Therefore bring forth fruit worthy of repentance. Already the axe is laid at the root of the trees; every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

2. And the multitudes which were baptized inquired of John, saying, What then should we do? And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two tunics, let him share with him that hath none, and he that hath food, let him do likewise. And there came also tax-gatherers to be baptized, and they said unto him, Teacher, what should we do? And he said unto them, Extort no more than that which is appointed you. And soldiers also questioned him, saying, And we, what should we do? And he said unto them, Take no man's goods by force, neither accuse any one falsely, and be content with your wages. 3. And in his preaching John proclaimed, say

ing, There cometh after me one mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I baptize you in water, but he shall baptize you in holy spirit and in fire. His fan is in his hand, thor

oughly to cleanse his threshing-floor; and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire. And with many other such exhortations he preached the Message unto the people.

4. And it came to pass in those days that Jesus,

being now about thirty years of age, came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. And as he came up out of the water, praying, he saw the heavens rent asunder, and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove. And a Voice came to him out of the heavens,

Thou art my beloved son, in thee I am well pleased. 5. And straightway the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days being tested by Satan; and he was among the wild beasts, and did eat nothing in those days. Then the tempter came and said unto him, If thou art the son of God, bid that these stones become bread. But he answered and said, It is written,

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Then the devil took him into the holy city; and he set him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou art the son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written,

He shall give his angels charge concerning thee,

and,

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