₁At that time the Emperor Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Roman Empire. ₂When this first census took place, Quirinius was the governor of Syria. ₃Everyone, then, went to register himself, each to his own town.

₄Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to the town of Bethlehem in Judea, the birthplace of King David. Joseph went there because he was a descendant of David. ₅He went to register with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him. She was pregnant, ₆and while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have her baby. ₇She gave birth to her first son, wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger — there was no room for them to stay in the inn.

₁Some time later Jesus travelled through towns and villages, preaching the Good News about the Kingdom of God. The twelve disciples went with him, ₂and so did some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (who was called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had been driven out; ₃Joanna, whose husband Chuza was an officer in Herod's court; and Susanna, and many other women who used their own resources to help Jesus and his disciples.

₄People kept coming to Jesus from one town after another; and when a great crowd gathered, Jesus told this parable:

₅“Once there was a man who went out to sow corn. As he scattered the seed in the field, some of it fell along the path, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it up. ₆Some of it fell on rocky ground, and when the plants sprouted, they dried up because the soil had no moisture. ₇Some of the seed fell among thorn bushes, which grew up with the plants and choked them. ₈And some seeds fell in good soil; the plants grew and produced corn, a hundred each.”

And Jesus concluded, “Listen, then, if you have ears!”

₉His disciples asked Jesus what this parable meant, ₁₀and he answered, “The knowledge of the secrets of the Kingdom of God has been given to you, but to the rest it comes by means of parables, so that they may look but not see, and listen but not understand.

₁₁“This is what the parable means: the seed is the word of God. ₁₂The seeds that fell along the path stand for those who hear; but the Devil comes and takes the message away from their hearts in order to keep them from believing and being saved. ₁₃The seeds that fell on rocky ground stand for those who hear the message and receive it gladly. But it does not sink deep into them; they believe only for a while but when the time of testing comes, they fall away. ₁₄The seeds that fell among thorn bushes stand for those who hear; but the worries and riches and pleasures of this life crowd in and choke them, and their fruit never ripens. ₁₅The seeds that fell in good soil stand for those who hear the message and retain it in a good and obedient heart, and they persist until they bear fruit.

₁₆“People do not light a lamp and cover it with a bowl or put it under a bed. Instead, they put it on the lampstand, so that people will see the light as they come in.

₁₇“Whatever is hidden away will be brought out into the open, and whatever is covered up will be found and brought to light.

₁₈“Be careful, then, how you listen; because those who have something will be given more, but those who have nothing will have taken away from them even the little they think they have.”

₁₉Jesus' mother and brothers came to him, but were unable to join him because of the crowd. ₂₀Someone said to Jesus, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to see you.”