The Messiah’s Herald

1 The beginning^(A) of the gospel^(B) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.^{(C) 2} As it is written in Isaiah^(D) the prophet:^[a](E)

⁴ John came baptizing^[d](J) in the wilderness^(K) and preaching a baptism of repentance^[e](L) for the forgiveness^(M) of sins.^{(N) 5} The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem^(O) were flocking to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan^(P) River as they confessed^(Q) their sins.^{(R) 6} John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts^(S) and wild honey.^{(T) 7} He was preaching: “Someone more powerful^(U) than I will come after me.^(V) I am not worthy^(W) to stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals.^{(X) 8} I have baptized you with^[f] water,^(Y) but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”^(Z)

The Baptism of Jesus

⁹ In^(AA) those days Jesus came from Nazareth^(AB) in Galilee^(AC) and was baptized in the Jordan by John. ¹⁰ As soon as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavens^(AD) being torn open and the Spirit descending to Him like a dove. ¹¹ And a voice^(AE) came from heaven:^(AF)

The Temptation of Jesus

¹² Immediately^(AJ) the Spirit^(AK) drove^(AL) Him into the wilderness.^{(AM) 13} He was in the wilderness 40 days, being tempted^(AN) by Satan.^(AO) He was with the wild animals,^(AP) and the angels^(AQ) began to serve Him.

Ministry in Galilee

¹⁴ After^(AR) John was arrested,^(AS) Jesus went to Galilee,^(AT) preaching^(AU) the good news^[h][i](AV) of God:^{[j](AW) 15} “The time^(AX) is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God^(AY) has come^(AZ) near.^(BA) Repent^(BB) and believe^(BC) in the good news!”

The First Disciples

¹⁶ As^(BD) He was passing along by the Sea of Galilee,^(BE) He saw Simon^(BF) and Andrew,^(BG) Simon’s brother. They were casting a net into the sea,^(BH) since they were fishermen.

¹⁷ “Follow Me,”^(BI) Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for^[k](BJ) people!”^{(BK) 18} Immediately they left their nets and followed^(BL) Him.^{(BM) 19} Going on a little farther, He saw James^(BN) the son of Zebedee^(BO) and his brother John.^(BP) They were in their boat mending their nets. ²⁰ Immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.^(BQ)

Driving Out an Unclean Spirit

²¹ Then^(BR) they went into Capernaum,^(BS) and right away He entered the synagogue^(BT) on the Sabbath^(BU) and began to teach.^{(BV) 22} They were astonished^(BW) at His teaching^(BX) because, unlike the scribes,^(BY) He was teaching them as one having authority.

²³ Just then a man with an unclean^(BZ) spirit^(CA) was in their synagogue.^(CB) He cried out,^{[l] 24} “What do You have to do with us,^[m] Jesus—Nazarene?^(CC) Have You come to destroy^(CD) us? I know who You are—the Holy^(CE) One of God!”^(CF)

²⁵ But Jesus rebuked^(CG) him and said, “Be quiet,^[n](CH) and come out of him!” ²⁶ And the unclean spirit convulsed him,^(CI) shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him.

²⁷ Then they were all amazed,^(CJ) so they began to argue^(CK) with one another, saying, “What is this? A new teaching^(CL) with authority!^[o](CM) He commands even the unclean^(CN) spirits,^(CO) and they obey Him.” ²⁸ News about Him then spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.^(CP)

Healings at Capernaum

²⁹ As^(CQ) soon as they left the synagogue,^(CR) they went into Simon^(CS) and Andrew’s^(CT) house^(CU) with James^(CV) and John.^{(CW) 30} Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. ³¹ So He went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up.^(CX) The fever^(CY) left her,^[p] and she began to serve^(CZ) them.^(DA)

³² When^(DB) evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all those who were sick^(DC) and those who were demon-possessed.^{(DD) 33} The whole town was assembled at the door, ³⁴ and He healed^(DE) many who were sick with various diseases^(DF) and drove out^(DG) many demons.^(DH) But He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him.^(DI)

Preaching in Galilee

³⁵ Very^(DJ) early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place.^(DK) And He was praying^(DL) there. ³⁶ Simon^(DM) and his companions went searching for Him. ³⁷ They found Him and said, “Everyone’s looking for You!”

³⁸ And He said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach^(DN) there too. This is why I have come.” ³⁹ So He went into all of Galilee,^(DO) preaching in their synagogues^(DP) and driving out demons.

A Man Cleansed

⁴⁰ Then^(DQ) a man with a serious skin disease^(DR) came to Him and, on his knees,^[q](DS) begged Him: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”^(DT)

⁴¹ Moved with compassion,^(DU) Jesus reached out His hand and touched^(DV) him. “I am willing,” He told him. “Be made clean.” ⁴² Immediately the disease^(DW) left him, and he was healed.^{[r] 43} Then He sternly warned^(DX) him and sent him away^(DY) at once, ⁴⁴ telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone;^(DZ) but go and show^(EA) yourself to the priest,^(EB) and offer^(EC) what Moses prescribed for your cleansing,^(ED) as a testimony^(EE) to them.” ⁴⁵ Yet he went out and began to proclaim^(EF) it widely and to spread the news,^(EG) with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But He was out in deserted places, and they would come to Him from everywhere.