1 T he beginning of the good news (the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,

2 J ust as it is written in the prophet Isaiah: Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will make ready Your way—

begins with the words of the early preachers: “Listen! I will send My helper to carry the news ahead of you. He will make the way ready.

3 A voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make His beaten tracks straight (level and passable)!

His voice calls out in the desert, ‘Make the way ready for the Lord. Make the road straight for Him!’”

4 J ohn the Baptist appeared in the wilderness (desert), preaching a baptism '> obligating] repentance ( a change of one’s mind for the better, heartily amending one’s ways, with abhorrence of his past sins) in order to obtain forgiveness of and release from sins.

John the Baptist preached in the desert. He preached that people should be baptized because they were sorry for their sins and had turned from them. And they would be forgiven.

5 A nd there kept going out to him all the country of Judea and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, as they were confessing their sins.

People from over all the country of Judea and from Jerusalem came to him. They told of their sins and were baptized by John in the Jordan River.

6 A nd John wore clothing woven of camel’s hair and had a leather girdle around his loins and ate locusts and wild honey.

John wore clothes made of hair from camels. He had a leather belt around him. His food was locusts and wild honey.

7 A nd he preached, saying, After me comes He Who is stronger (more powerful and more valiant) than I, the strap of Whose sandals I am not worthy or fit to stoop down and unloose.

He preached, saying, “One is coming after me Who is greater than I. I am not good enough to get down and help Him take off His shoes.

8 I have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

I have baptized you with water. But He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” The Baptism of Jesus

9 I n those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

Jesus came to the Jordan River from the town of Nazareth in the country of Galilee. He was baptized by John.

10 A nd when He came up out of the water, at once he saw the heavens torn open and the Spirit like a dove coming down '> to enter] into Him.

As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw heaven open up. The Holy Spirit came down on Him like a dove.

11 A nd there came a voice out from within heaven, You are My Beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.

A voice came from heaven and said, “You are My much-loved Son. I am very happy with You.” Jesus Was Tempted

12 I mmediately the Spirit drove Him out into the wilderness (desert),

At once the Holy Spirit sent Jesus to a desert.

13 A nd He stayed in the wilderness (desert) forty days, being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels ministered to Him.

He was tempted by Satan for forty days there. He was with wild animals but angels took care of Him. Jesus Preaches in Galilee

14 N ow after John was arrested and put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom of God,

After John the Baptist was put in prison, Jesus came to the country of Galilee. He preached the Good News of God.

15 A nd saying, The time is fulfilled (completed), and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent ( have a change of mind which issues in regret for past sins and in change of conduct for the better) and believe (trust in, rely on, and adhere to) the good news (the Gospel).

He said, “The time has come. The holy nation of God is near. Be sorry for your sins, turn from them, and believe the Good News.” Jesus Calls Simon and Andrew

16 A nd passing along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea, for they were fishermen.

Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee. He saw Simon and his brother Andrew putting a net into the sea. They were fishermen.

17 A nd Jesus said to them, Come after Me and be My disciples, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

Jesus said to them, “Follow Me. I will make you fish for men!”

18 A nd at once they left their nets and '> yielding up all claim to them] followed Him '> joining Him as disciples and siding with His party].

At once they left their nets and followed Him. Jesus Calls James and John

19 H e went on a little farther and saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were in boat putting their nets in order.

Jesus went on a little farther. He saw James and his brother John who were sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat mending their nets.

20 A nd immediately He called out to them, and '> abandoning all mutual claims] they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and went off after Him '> to be His disciples, side with His party, and follow Him].

Jesus called them and they left their father Zebedee. He was in the boat with men who were working for him. Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon

21 A nd they entered into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He went into the synagogue and began to teach.

Jesus and His followers went to the city of Capernaum on the Day of Rest. They went to the Jewish place of worship where Jesus taught the people.

22 A nd they were completely astonished at His teaching, for He was teaching as One Who possessed authority, and not as the scribes.

The people were surprised and wondered about His teaching. He taught them as One Who had the right and the power to teach and not as the teachers of the Law.

23 J ust at that time there was in their synagogue a man of an unclean spirit; and now he raised a deep and terrible cry from the depths of his throat, saying,

There was a man in the Jewish place of worship who had a demon. The demon cried out,

24 W hat have You to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!

“What do You want of us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know Who You are. You are the Holy One of God.”

25 A nd Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hush up (be muzzled, gagged), and come out of him!

Jesus spoke sharp words to the demon and said, “Do not talk! Come out of the man!”

26 A nd the unclean spirit, throwing the man into convulsions and screeching with a loud voice, came out of him.

The demon threw the man down and gave a loud cry. Then he came out of him.

27 A nd they were all so amazed and almost terrified that they kept questioning and demanding one of another, saying, What is this? What new (fresh) teaching! With authority He gives orders even to the unclean spirits and they obey Him!

The people were all surprised and wondered. They asked each other, “What is this? Is this a new teaching? He speaks with power even to the demons and they obey Him!”

28 A nd immediately rumors concerning Him spread throughout all the region surrounding Galilee.

At once the news about Jesus went through all the country around Galilee. Peter’s Mother-In-law Healed

29 A nd at once He left the synagogue and went into the house of Simon and Andrew, accompanied by James and John.

Jesus and His followers came out of the Jewish place of worship. Then they went to the house of Simon and Andrew. James and John went with them.

30 N ow Simon’s mother-in-law had for some time been lying sick with a fever, and at once they told Him about her.

They told Jesus about Simon’s mother-in-law who was in bed, very sick.

31 A nd He went up to her and took her by the hand and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she began to wait on them.

He went and took her by the hand and raised her up. At once her sickness was gone. She got up and cared for them. Jesus Heals in Galilee

32 N ow when it was evening, after the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those under the power of demons,

In the evening as the sun went down, the people took all who were sick to Jesus. They took those who had demons to Him.

33 U ntil the whole town was gathered together about the door.

All the town gathered at the door.

34 A nd He cured many who were afflicted with various diseases; and He drove out many demons, but would not allow the demons to talk because they knew Him '> intuitively].

Jesus healed those who were sick of many kinds of diseases. He put out many demons. Jesus would not allow the demons to speak because they knew Who He was. Jesus Keeps On Preaching in Galilee

35 A nd in the morning, long before daylight, He got up and went out to a deserted place, and there He prayed.

In the morning before the sun was up, Jesus went to a place where He could be alone. He prayed there.

36 A nd Simon and those who were with him followed Him '> pursuing Him eagerly and hunting Him out],

Simon and the others looked for Jesus.

37 A nd they found Him and said to Him, Everybody is looking for You.

They found Him and said, “All the people are looking for You.”

38 A nd He said to them, Let us be going on into the neighboring country towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out.

Jesus said to the followers, “Let us go to the towns near here so I can preach there also. That is why I came.”

39 H e went throughout the whole of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

He went through Galilee. He preached in their places of worship and put out demons. Jesus Heals a Man with a Bad Skin Disease

40 A nd a leper came to Him, begging Him on his knees and saying to Him, If You are willing, You are able to make me clean.

A man came to Jesus with a bad skin disease. This man got down on his knees and begged Jesus, saying, “If You want to, You can heal me.”

41 A nd being moved with pity and sympathy, Jesus reached out His hand and touched him, and said to him, I am willing; be made clean!

Jesus put His hand on him with loving-pity. He said, “I want to. Be healed.”

42 A nd at once the leprosy left him and he was made clean.

At once the disease was gone and the man was healed.

43 A nd Jesus charged him sternly (sharply and threateningly, and with earnest admonition) and sent him away at once,

Jesus spoke strong words to the man before He sent him away.

44 A nd said to him, See that you tell nothing to anyone; but begone, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your purification what Moses commanded, as a proof (an evidence and witness) to the people.

He said to him, “Tell no one about this. Go and let the religious leader of the Jews see you. Give the gifts Moses has told you to give when a man is healed of a disease. Let the leaders know you have been healed.”

45 B ut he went out and began to talk so freely about it and blaze abroad the news that could no longer openly go into a town but was outside in desert places. But the people kept on coming to Him from all sides and every quarter.

But the man went out and talked about it everywhere. After this Jesus could not go to any town if people knew He was there. He had to stay in the desert. People came to Him from everywhere.