Jesus Begins His Ministry

^14 (A)Now after John was arrested, Jesus ^(B)came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, ¹⁵ and saying, ^(C)“The time is fulfilled, and ^(D)the kingdom of God is at hand;^{[a] (E)}repent and believe in the gospel.”

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

^16 (F)Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become ^(G)fishers of men.”^{[b] 18} And immediately they left their nets and followed him. ¹⁹ And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. ²⁰ And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Spirit

^21 (H)And they went into Capernaum, and immediately ^(I)on the Sabbath ^(J)he entered the synagogue and was teaching. ²² And ^(K)they were astonished at his teaching, ^(L)for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. ²³ And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, ^24 (M)“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? ^(N)I know who you are—^(O)the Holy One of God.” ²⁵ But Jesus ^(P)rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” ²⁶ And the unclean spirit, ^(Q)convulsing him and ^(R)crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. ²⁷ And they were all ^(S)amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? ^(T)A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” ²⁸ And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

^34 (A)And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And ^(B)he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

Jesus Preaches in Galilee

^35 (C)And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and ^(D)there he prayed. ³⁶ And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, ³⁷ and they found him and said to him, ^(E)“Everyone is looking for you.” ³⁸ And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for ^(F)that is why I came out.” ^39 (G)And ^(H)he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Jesus Cleanses a Leper

^40 (I)And a leper^[a] came to him, imploring him, and ^(J)kneeling said to him, ^(K)“If you will, you can make me clean.” ⁴¹ Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” ⁴² And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.