1 T he beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 A s it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “ Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way;

3 T he voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘ Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight.’”

4 J ohn the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

5 A nd all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

6 J ohn was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.

7 A nd he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.

8 I 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 in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

10 I mmediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him;

11 a nd a voice came out of the heavens: “ You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

12 I mmediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness.

13 A nd He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him. Jesus Preaches in Galilee

14 N ow after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,

15 a nd saying, “ The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

16 A s He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.

17 A nd Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

18 I mmediately they left their nets and followed Him.

19 G oing on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.

20 I mmediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.

21 T hey went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach.

22 T hey were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

23 J ust then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

24 s aying, “ What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are— the Holy One of God!”

25 A nd Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”

26 T hrowing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him.

27 T hey were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”

28 I mmediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee. Crowds Healed

29 A nd immediately after they came out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

30 N ow Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they spoke to Jesus about her.

31 A nd He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she waited on them.

32 W hen evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed.

33 A nd the whole city had gathered at the door.

34 A nd He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.

35 I n the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.

36 S imon and his companions searched for Him;

37 t hey found Him, and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”

38 H e said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.”

39 A nd He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons.

40 A nd a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

41 M oved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

42 I mmediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

43 A nd He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away,

44 a nd He said to him, “ See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

45 B ut he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere.