²³ Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, ²⁴ “What do you want with us,^(A) Jesus of Nazareth?^(B) Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”^(C)

²⁵ “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”^{(D) 26} The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.^(E)

²⁷ The people were all so amazed^(F) that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” ²⁸ News about him spread quickly over the whole region^(G) of Galilee.

Jesus Heals Many^(H)(I)

²⁹ As soon as they left the synagogue,^(J) they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. ³⁰ Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. ³¹ So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up.^(K) The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

³² That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.^{(L) 33} The whole town gathered at the door, ³⁴ and Jesus healed many who had various diseases.^(M) He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.^(N)

Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place^(O)

³⁵ Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.^{(P) 36} Simon and his companions went to look for him, ³⁷ and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

³⁸ Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”^{(Q) 39} So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues^(R) and driving out demons.^(S)

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy^(T)

⁴⁰ A man with leprosy^[a] came to him and begged him on his knees,^(U) “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

⁴¹ Jesus was indignant.^[b] He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” ⁴² Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

⁴³ Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: ⁴⁴ “See that you don’t tell this to anyone.^(V) But go, show yourself to the priest^(W) and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing,^(X) as a testimony to them.” ⁴⁵ Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places.^(Y) Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.^(Z)