[1] The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
[2] As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY;
[3] THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.’”
[4] John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
[5] 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] John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.
[7] 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 baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
[9] In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
[10] Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him;
[11] and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”
[12] Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness.
[13] 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.
[14] Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,
[15] and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
[16] 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] And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
[18] Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.
[19] 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] Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.
[21] They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach.
[22] They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
[23] Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
[24] 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] And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”
[26] Throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him.
[27] 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] Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee.
[29] And immediately after they came out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
[30] Now Simon's mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they spoke to Jesus about her.
[31] 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] When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed.
[33] And the whole city had gathered at the door.
[34] 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] 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] Simon and his companions searched for Him;
[37] they found Him, and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”
[38] 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] And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons.
[40] 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] Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”
[42] Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
[43] And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away,
[44] 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] 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.