48 The Miraculous Draught of Fishes.

they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken and so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

And Jesus, walking by the sea, said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and straightway he called them; and they immediately left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him 7.

'Matt. iv. 13-22. Mark i. 14-20. Luke v. 1-10.

Christ performs many Miraculous Cures, including the Cure of a Demoniac, and of Peter's Wife's Mother.

AND they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught them. And they were astonished at his doctrine, for his word was with power; for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. And there was in their synagogue a man which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and thrown him in the midst, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him, and hurt him not. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority and power he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him and come out. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region, into every place of the country round about Galilee.

E

50

Christ cureth

many Diseases.

And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon Peter and Andrew, with James and John. And Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a great fever, and anon they told him of her, and besought him for her. And he came and stood over her, and took her by the hand, and rebuked the fever; and immediately the fever left her, and she arose and ministered unto them. And at even, when the sun did set, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him, and they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door, and he cast out many devils with his word, and they cried out, saying, Thou art Christ, the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak for they knew him that he was Christ. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed. And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. And when they had found

Christ heals a Leper.

51

him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. And the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed by devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judæa, and from beyond Jordan ".

Christ heals a Leper.

8

AND it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold, there came a man full

8

Matt. iv. 23-25; viii. 14-17. Mark i. 21–39. Luke iv. 31-44.

52

Christ heals a Paralytic.

of leprosy; who seeing Jesus, and kneeling down to him, fell on his face, and worshipped him, and besought him, saying unto him, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; and saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, and so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, for great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. But he withdrew himself, and was without in desert places, and prayed, and they came to him from every quarter 9.

Christ heals a Paralytic.

AND again he entered into Capernaum after some days: and it was noised that he "Matt. viii. 2-4. Mark i. 40-45. Luke v. 12