The birth of Jesus Christ took place as follows:--His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but, before the marriage took place, she found herself to be with child by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Be glad and rejoice, because your reward in Heaven will be great; for so men persecuted the Prophets who lived before you.

Let your light so shine before the eyes of your fellow men, that, seeing your good actions, they may praise your Father who is in Heaven.

Leave your gift there, before the altar, go and be reconciled to your brother, first, then come and present your gift.

Do not imitate them; for God, your Father, knows what you need before you ask him.

Do not give what is sacred to dogs; nor yet throw your pearls before pigs, lest they should trample them under their feet, and then turn and attack you.

And he saw a leper who came up, and bowed to the ground before him, and said: "Master, if only you are willing, you are able to make me clean."

Suddenly they shrieked out: "What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before our time?"

While Jesus was saying this, a President of a Synagogue came up and bowed to the ground before him. "My daughter," he said, "Has just died; but come and place your hand on her, and she will be restored to life."

And you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, that you may witness for me before them and the nations.

But, when they persecute you in one town, escape to the next; for, I tell you, you will not have come to the end of the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

Every one, therefore, who shall acknowledge me before his fellow men, I, too, will acknowledge before my Father who is in Heaven;

But, if any one disowns me before his fellow men, I, too, will disown him before my Father who is in Heaven.

This is the man of whom Scripture says--'Behold, I am myself sending my Messenger before thy face, And he shall prepare thy way before thee.'

But, when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before his guests, and so pleased Herod,

But the men in the boat threw themselves on their faces before him, and said: "You are indeed God's Son."

But the woman came, and, bowing to the ground before him, said: "Master, help me."

There his appearance was transformed before their eyes; his face shown like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.

When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, and, kneeling down before him, said:

"Yes," answered Peter. But, on going into the house, before he could speak, Jesus said: "What do you think, Simon? From whom do earthly kings take taxes or tribute? From their sons, or from others?"

Thereupon the servant threw himself down on the ground before him and said 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.'

When his fellow-servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and went to their master and laid the whole matter before him.

So the men went. Going out again about mid-day and about three o'clock, he did as before.

Which of the two sons did as his father wished?" " The second," they said. "I tell you," added Jesus, "that tax-gatherers and prostitutes are going into the Kingdom of God before you.

A second time the owner sent some servants, a larger number than before, and the tenants treated them in the same way.

Before the Pharisees separated, Jesus put this question to them--

In those days before the flood they went on eating and drinking, marrying and being married, up to the very day on which Noah entered the ark,

And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people--just as a shepherd separates sheep from goats- -

But, after I have risen, I shall go before you into Galilee."

"I tell you," replied Jesus, "that this very night, before the cock crows, you will disown me three times!"

But Peter denied it before them all. "I do not know what you mean," he replied.

and Peter remembered the words which Jesus had said-- 'Before a cock has crowed, you will disown me three times'; and he went outside, and wept bitterly.

Meanwhile Jesus was brought before the Roman Governor. "Are you the King of the Jews?" asked the Governor. "It is true," answered Jesus.

And having twisted some thorns into a crown, put it on his head, and a rod in his right hand, and then, going down on their knees before him, they mocked him. "Long life to you, King of the Jews!" they said.

And laid it in his newly-made tomb which he had cut in the rock; and, before he left, he rolled a great stone against the entrance of the tomb.

And then go quickly and say to him disciples 'He has risen from the dead, and is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him.' Remember, I have told you."

Suddenly Jesus met them. "Welcome!" he said. The women went up to him, and clasped his feet, bowing to the ground before him. Then Jesus said to them:

"And should this matter come before the Governor," they added, "we will satisfy him, and see that you have nothing to fear."

And, when they saw him, they bowed to the ground before him; although some felt doubtful.

It is said in the Prophet Isaiah--'Behold! I send my Messenger before thy face; He shall prepare thy way.'

In the morning, long before daylight, Jesus rose and went out, and, going to a lonely spot, there began to pray.

The man got up, and immediately took up his mat, and went out before them all; at which they were amazed, and, as they praised God, they said: "We have never seen anything like this!"

The foul spirits, too, whenever they caught sight of him, flung themselves down before him, and screamed out: "You are the Son of God"!

Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed to the ground before him,

Then the woman, in fear and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and threw herself down before him, and told him the whole truth.

Before he had finished speaking, some people from the house of the President of the Synagogue came and said: "Your daughter is dead! Why should you trouble the Teacher further?"

And many people saw them going, and recognized them, and from all the towns they flocked together to the place on foot, and got there before them.

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain alone by themselves. There his appearance was transformed before their eyes,

And, as Jesus was resuming his journey, a man came running up to him, and threw himself on his knees before him. "Good Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to gain Immortal Life?"

See to yourselves! They will betray you to courts of law; and you will be taken to Synagogues and beaten; and you will be brought up before governors and kings for my sake, that you may bear witness before them.

It was now two days before the Festival of the Passover and the Unleavened bread. The Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law were looking for an opportunity to arrest Jesus by stealth, and to put him to death;

Yet, after I have risen, I shall go before you into Galilee."

"I tell you," answered Jesus, "that you yourself today--yes, this very night--before the cock crows twice, will disown me three times."

At that moment, for the second time, a cock crowed; and Peter remembered the words that Jesus had said to him-- 'Before a cock has crowed twice, you will disown me three times'; and, as he thought of it, he began to weep.

And they kept striking him on the head with a rod, spitting at him, and bowing to the ground before him--going down on their knees;

The evening had already fallen, when, as it was the Preparation Day--the day before the Sabbath--

But go, and say to his disciples and to Peter 'He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.'"

One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his Division,

He shall go before him in the spirit and with the power of Elijah, 'to reconcile fathers to their children' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, and so make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him."

And thou, Child, shalt be called Prophet of the Most High, For thou shalt go before the Lord to make ready his way,

The child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the Wilds till the time came for his appearance before Israel.

Eight days after the birth of the child, when it was time to circumcise him, he received the name Jesus--the name given him by the angel before his conception.

Thinking that he was with their fellow-travelers, they went one day's journey before searching for him among their relations and acquaintances;

If you, therefore, will do homage before me, it shall all be yours."

And there some men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed. They tried to get him in and lay him before Jesus;

Instantly the man stood up before their eyes, took up what he had been lying on, and went to his home, praising God.

This is the very man of whom Scripture says--'Behold, I am sending my Messenger before thy face, And he shall prepare thy way before thee.'

Catching sight of Jesus, he shrieked out and threw himself down before him, and in a loud voice exclaimed: "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you not to torment me."

Then the woman, when she saw that she was discovered, came forward trembling, and threw herself down before him; and, in the presence of all the people, she told him her reason for touching him, and that she had been cured instantly.

Before he had finished speaking, some one came from the house of the President of the Synagogue and said: "Your daughter is dead! Do not trouble the Teacher further."

Taking the five loaves and the two fishes, Jesus looked up to Heaven and said the blessing over them. Then he broke them in pieces, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people.

Indeed, I tell you, some who are standing before me will not know death, till they have seen the Kingdom of God."

As the days before his being taken up to Heaven were growing few, Jesus set his face resolutely in the direction of Jerusalem; and he sent on messengers in advance.

Whatever town you visit, if the people welcome you, eat what is set before you;

The Pharisee noticed, to his astonishment, that Jesus omitted the ceremonial washing before breakfast.

Every one, I tell you, who shall acknowledge me before his fellow men, the Son of Man, also, will acknowledge before God's angels;

But he, who disowns me before his fellow men, will be altogether disowned before God's angels.

Whenever they take you before the Synagogue Courts or the magistrates or other authorities, do not be anxious as to how you will defend yourselves, or what your defense will be, or what you will say;

When, for instance, you are going with your opponent before a magistrate, on your way to the court do your best to be quit of him; for fear that he should drag you before the judge, when the judge will hand you over to the bailiff of the court, and the bailiff throw you into prison.

And he saw before him a woman who for eighteen years had suffered from weakness owing to her having an evil spirit in her. She was bent double, and was wholly unable to raise herself.

There he saw before him a man who was suffering from dropsy.

"You," said Jesus, "are the men who justify themselves before the world, but God can read your hearts; and what is highly esteemed among men may be an abomination in the sight of God.

They could not lay hold of this answer before the people; and, in their wonder at his reply, they held their tongues.

Before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you, and they will betray you to Synagogues and put you in prison, when you will be brought before kings and governors for the sake of my Name.

"I have most earnestly wished," he said, "to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

And the Master turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the words that the Master had said to him-- "Before a cock has crowed to-day, you will disown me three times";

At daybreak the National Council met--both the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law--and took Jesus before their High Council.

Then they all rose in a body and led Jesus before Pilate.

And Herod and Pilate became friends that very day, for before that there had been ill-will between them.

And said to them: "You brought this man before me charged with misleading the people; and yet, for my part, though I examined him before you, I did not find this man to blame for any of the things of which you accuse him;

It was the Preparation Day, and just before the Sabbath began.

[He is not here; but he has risen.] Remember how he spoke to you before he left Galilee--

Was not the Christ bound to undergo this suffering before entering upon his Glory?"

And he took it and ate it before their eyes.

They [bowed to the ground before him and] returned to Jerusalem full of joy;

(John bears witness to him; he cried aloud--for it was he who spoke--"'He who is Coming' after me is now before me, for he was ever first");

It was of him that I spoke when I said 'After me there is coming a man who is now before me, for he was ever First.'

"How do you know me?" asked Nathanael. "Even before Philip called you," replied Jesus, "when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

You are yourselves witnesses that I said 'I am not the Christ,' but 'I have been sent before him as a Messenger.'

"Sir," said the officer, "come down before my child dies." And Jesus answered: "Go, your son is living."