1 T he Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 b egins 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.

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

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

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘ Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight.’”

4 J ohn 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.

John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

5 P eople 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.

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

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

7 H e 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.

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

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

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

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

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

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

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

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

12 A t once the Holy Spirit sent Jesus to a desert.

Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness.

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

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

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

15 H e 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

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

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

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

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

18 A t once they left their nets and followed Him. Jesus Calls James and John

Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

19 J esus 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.

Going 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 J esus 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

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

21 J esus 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.

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

22 T he 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.

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

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

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

24 “ 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.”

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

And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”

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

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

27 T he 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!”

They 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 A t once the news about Jesus went through all the country around Galilee. Peter’s Mother-In-law Healed

Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee. Crowds Healed

29 J esus 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.

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

30 T hey told Jesus about Simon’s mother-in-law who was in bed, very sick.

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

31 H e 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

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

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

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

33 A ll the town gathered at the door.

And the whole city had gathered at the door.

34 J esus 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

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

In 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 the others looked for Jesus.

Simon and his companions searched for Him;

37 T hey found Him and said, “All the people are looking for You.”

they found Him, and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”

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

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

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

40 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.”

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

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

42 A t once the disease was gone and the man was healed.

Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

43 J esus spoke strong words to the man before He sent him away.

And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away,

44 H e 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.”

and 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 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.

But 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.