25But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they who are gorgeously appareled, and live delicately, are in kings' palaces.
26But what went ye out to see? A prophet? Yea, I say to you, and much more than a prophet. 27This is he, of whom it is written:
Behold, I send forth my messenger before thy face,
Who shall prepare thy way before thee.
28For I say to you, among those born of women, no one is a greater prophet than John; but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.
29And all the people, hearing it, and the publicans, justified God, having been immersed with John's immersion. 30But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God toward themselves, not having been immersed by him.
31To what then shall I liken the men of this generation? And to what are they like? 32They are like to children sitting in the market, and calling to one another, saying: We piped to you, and ye danced not; we sang the lament to you, and ye wept not. 33For John the Immerser has come, neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say: He has a demon. 34The Son of man has come eating and drinking; and ye say: Behold a glutton, and a wine-drinker, a friend of publicans and sinners. 35But wisdom was justified on the part of all her children.
36And one of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him. And entering into the house of the Pharisee, he reclined at table. 37And, behold, a woman who was a sinner in the city, learning that he is reclining at table in the house of the Pharisee, brought an alabaster box of ointment; 38and standing behind at his feet weeping, began to wet his feet with tears, and wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
39And seeing it, the Pharisee who had bidden him spoke within himself, saying: This man, if he were a prophet, would know who and what sort of woman this is that touches him; for she is a sinner. 40And Jesus answering said to him: Simon, I have somewhat to say to thee. And he says: Teacher, say on. 41A certain money-lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denáries[41], and the other fifty. 42And they having nothing to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore, tell me, will love him most? 43Simon answering said: I suppose he to whom he forgave most. And he said to him: Thou didst rightly judge. 44And turning to the woman, he said to Simon: Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house, thou gayest me no water for my feet; but she has wet my feet with tears, and wiped them with her hair. 45Thou gavest me no kiss; but she, from the time I came in, ceased not to kiss my feet. 46My head with oil thou didst not anoint; but she anointed my feet with ointment. 47Wherefore I say to thee, her many sins are forgiven; for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. 48And he said to her: Thy sins are forgiven. 49And they who reclined with him began to say within themselves: Who is this that also forgives sins? 50And he said to the woman: Thy faith has saved thee; go in peace.
VIII. And it came to pass afterward, that he journeyed through every city and village, preaching, and publishing the good news of the kingdom of God; and with him the twelve, 2and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called the Magdalene, from whom had gone out seven demons, 3and Joanna wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to them of their substance.