1 A beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, Son of God.

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

2 A s it hath been written in the prophets, `Lo, I send My messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee,' --

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 calling in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, straight make ye his paths,' --

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

4 J ohn came baptizing in the wilderness, and proclaiming a baptism of reformation -- to remission of 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 were going forth to him all the region of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and they were all baptized by him in the river Jordan, 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 was clothed with camel's hair, and a girdle of skin around his loins, and eating locusts and honey of the field,

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 proclaimed, saying, `He doth come -- who is mightier than I -- after me, of whom I am not worthy -- having stooped down -- to loose the latchet of his sandals;

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 indeed did baptize you with water, but he shall 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 A nd it came to pass in those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John at 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 immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens dividing, and the Spirit as a dove coming down upon 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 a voice came out of the heavens, `Thou art My Son -- the Beloved, in whom I did delight.'

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

12 A nd immediately doth the Spirit put him forth to the wilderness,

At once the Holy Spirit sent Jesus to a desert.

13 a nd he was there in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by the Adversary, and he was with the beasts, and the messengers were ministering 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 A nd after the delivering up of John, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of the reign 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 -- `Fulfilled hath been the time, and the reign of God hath come nigh, reform ye, and believe in the good news.'

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, walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon, and Andrew his brother, casting a drag into the sea, for they were fishers,

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 ye after me, and I shall make you to become fishers of men;'

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

18 a nd immediately, having left their nets, they followed him.

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

19 A nd having gone on thence a little, he saw James of Zebedee, and John his brother, and they were in the boat refitting the nets,

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 them, and, having left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, they went away after 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 go on to Capernaum, and immediately, on the sabbaths, having gone into the synagogue, he was teaching,

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 astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as having 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 A nd there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,

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

24 s aying, `Away! what -- to us and to thee, Jesus the Nazarene? thou didst come to destroy us; I have known thee who thou art -- 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, `Be silenced, and come forth 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 having torn him, and having cried with a great voice, came forth 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 amazed, so as to reason among themselves, saying, `What is this? what new teaching this? that with authority also the unclean spirits he commandeth, 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 the fame of him went forth immediately to all the region, round about, of Galilee.

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

29 A nd immediately, having come forth out of the synagogue, they went to the house of Simon and Andrew, with 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 a nd the mother-in-law of Simon was lying fevered, and immediately they tell him about her,

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

31 a nd having come near, he raised her up, having laid hold of her hand, and the fever left her immediately, and she was ministering to 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 A nd evening having come, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all who were ill, and who were demoniacs,

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 a nd the whole city was gathered together near the door,

All the town gathered at the door.

34 a nd he healed many who were ill of manifold diseases, and many demons he cast forth, and was not suffering the demons to speak, because they knew him.

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 very early, it being yet night, having risen, he went forth, and went away to a desert place, and was there praying;

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 with him went in quest of him,

Simon and the others looked for Jesus.

37 a nd having found him, they say to him, -- `All do seek thee;'

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

38 a nd he saith to them, `We may go to the next towns, that there also I may preach, for for this I came forth.'

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 A nd he was preaching in their synagogues, in all Galilee, and is casting out the 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 there doth come to him a leper, calling on him, and kneeling to him, and saying to him -- `If thou mayest will, thou art able to cleanse me.'

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 Jesus having been moved with compassion, having stretched forth the hand, touched him, and saith to him, `I will; be thou cleansed;'

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

42 a nd he having spoken, immediately the leprosy went away from him, and he was cleansed.

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

43 A nd having sternly charged him, immediately he put him forth,

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

44 a nd saith to him, `See thou mayest say nothing to any one, but go away, thyself shew to the priest, and bring near for thy cleansing the things Moses directed, for a testimony to them.'

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 A nd he, having gone forth, began to proclaim much, and to spread abroad the thing, so that no more he was able openly to enter into the city, but he was without in desert places, and they were coming unto him from 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.