1 When he had completed all his words in the hearing of the people, he went into Capernaum.
2 There a centurion had a servant whom he valued highly, who was ill and near death.
3 Hearing about Jesus, the centurion sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and save his servant's life.
4 They came to Jesus and appealed to him urgently: "He deserves to have you grant him this,
5 for he loves our people, and it was he who built our synagogue for us."
6 So Jesus set off with them. He was already not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to tell him, "Lord, do not put yourself to trouble; I am not fit to have you come in under my roof.
7 That is why I did not count myself worthy even to come to you. Only speak a word, and my servant will be cured.
8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and off he goes; and another, 'Come,' and he comes; and my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
9 Hearing this, Jesus was amazed at him. He turned to the crowd following him and said, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found faith this great."
10 When the men who had been sent went back to the house, they found the sick servant well.
11 The next day he went on to a town called Nain, and a good number of his disciples and a large crowd were going with him.
12 Just as he came near the town gate, a dead man was being carried out, his mother's only begotten son, and she was a widow. A sizable crowd from the town was with her.
13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her, and he said to her, "Stop weeping."
14 He stepped forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. He said, "Young man, I tell you, get up."
15 The dead man sat up and started to speak, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16 Fear took hold of everyone, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has come to help his people!"
17 This word about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.
18 John's disciples reported all these things to him.
19 So John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to Jesus to ask, "Are you the Coming One, or are we to wait for someone else?"
20 When the men reached him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the Coming One, or are we to wait for someone else?'"
21 At that very hour he cured many people of diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and he gave sight as a gift to many who were blind.
22 Jesus answered them, "Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: blind people see again, lame people walk, lepers are made clean, deaf people hear, dead people are raised, poor people hear the gospel.
23 And blessed is anyone who does not stumble over me."
24 After John's messengers had left, he began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed swaying in the wind?
25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man wrapped in soft garments? Look, those who wear fine clothing and live in luxury are found in royal palaces.
26 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and far more than a prophet.
27 He is the one about whom it is written: 'Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of your face, who will make your way ready before you.'
28 I tell you, among those born of women no prophet is greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he is."
29 And all the people who heard, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God as just, since they had been baptized with John's baptism.
30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law set aside God's purpose for themselves, since they had not been baptized by him.
31 And the Lord said, "To what, then, shall I liken the people of this generation? What are they like?
32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another: 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a lament, and you did not weep.'
33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.'
34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a drinker of wine, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'
35 Yet wisdom is proved right by all her children."
36 One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him, so he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table.
37 And there was a woman in the town who was a sinner. When she found out that he was at table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfumed oil,
38 and she stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to wet his feet with her tears. She wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet again and again, and anointed them with the perfume.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would realize who and what kind of woman it is that is touching him—that she is a sinner."
40 Jesus responded, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Say it, Teacher," he replied.
41 "A lender had two men in his debt: one owed five hundred denarii, the other fifty.
42 Since neither of them could pay, he cancelled the debt for both. So tell me, which of them will love him more?"
43 Simon replied, "I take it the one for whom he cancelled the larger debt." Jesus said to him, "You have judged correctly."
44 Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.
45 You gave me no kiss, but since I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet.
46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfume.
47 For this reason I tell you, her sins, many as they are, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but whoever is forgiven little loves little."
48 Then he said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven."
49 Those at table with him began saying among themselves, "Who is this man, who even forgives sins?"
50 But he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."