Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/502

 “The Spirit  of  the  Lord  is  upon  me;  wherefore  He  hath  anointed me to  preach  the  gospel  to  the  poor. He hath  sent  me  to  heal the contrite  of  heart,  to  preach  deliverance  to  the  captives  and sight to  the  blind,  to  set  at  liberty  them  that  are  bruised,  to preach  the  acceptable  year  of  the  Lord  and  the  day  of  reward.”

When He  had  closed  the  book,  He  returned  it  to  the  minister and sat  down. But the  eyes  of  all  the  synagogue  were  fixed upon Him. He then  told  them: “This  day  is  fulfilled this  scripture in  your  ears.”

As He  thus  continued  His  discourse,  all  wondered  at  the words of  grace  that  fell  from  His  lips. Still they  did  not  believe in Him;  for  they  said  one  to  another:  “Is  not  this  the  son  of Joseph?”

But He,  answering  them,  said:  “Amen,  I say  to  you  that no prophet  is  accepted  in  his  own  country. There were  many widows in  the  days  of  Elias  in  Israel,  when  heaven  was  shut  three years and  six  months,  when  there  was  a great  famine  throughout