John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ² This is how it is written in the prophet Isaiah:^[a]

⁴ John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

⁵ The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. ⁶ John was clothed in camel’s hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ He preached, “One more powerful than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals! ⁸ I baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

John Baptizes Jesus

⁹ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ Just as Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love. I am well pleased with you.”

Satan Tempts Jesus

¹² The Spirit immediately sent Jesus out into the wilderness. ¹³ He was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels were serving him.

“Come, Follow Me”

¹⁴ After John was put in prison, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom^[c] of God. ¹⁵ “The time is fulfilled,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near! Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

¹⁶ As Jesus was going along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen. ¹⁷ Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you 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 his brother John. They were in a boat mending the nets. ²⁰ Immediately Jesus called them. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. ²¹ Then they went into Capernaum.

Jesus Drives Out a Demon

On the next Sabbath day, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. ²² They were amazed at his teaching, because he was teaching them as one who has authority and not as the experts in the law. ²³ Just then there was a man with an unclean spirit in their synagogue. It cried out, ²⁴ “What do we have to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

²⁵ Jesus rebuked the spirit, saying, “Be quiet! Come out of him!”

²⁶ The unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions, and after crying out with a loud voice, it came out of him. ²⁷ Everyone was so amazed that they began to discuss this with each other. They said, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits, and they obey him!” ²⁸ News about him spread quickly through all the region of Galilee.

Jesus Heals Many

²⁹ They left the synagogue and went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. ³⁰ Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed, sick with a fever. Without delay they told Jesus about her. ³¹ He went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them. ³² That evening, when the sun had set, the people kept bringing to him all who were sick and demon-possessed. ³³ The whole town gathered at the door. ³⁴ He healed many people who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. But he did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who he was.^[d]

Jesus Preaches in Galilee

³⁵ Jesus got up early in the morning, while it was still dark, and went out. He withdrew to a solitary place and was praying there. ³⁶ Simon and his companions searched for him, ³⁷ and, when they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is looking for you!”

³⁸ He told them, “Let’s go somewhere else, to the neighboring villages, so that I can preach there too. In fact, that is why I have come.” ³⁹ Then he went throughout the whole region of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

Jesus Heals a Leper

⁴⁰ A leper came to Jesus. He knelt down and begged him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

⁴¹ Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. “I am willing,” he told him. “Be clean.” ⁴² Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was healed. ⁴³ Then Jesus gave him a stern warning and immediately sent him away. ⁴⁴ He told him, “See that you do not say anything to anyone. Instead go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the sacrifices for your cleansing that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

⁴⁵ But after the man left, he began to proclaim it widely. He spread the word so much that Jesus was no longer able to enter a town openly but stayed outside in deserted places. Yet people kept coming to him from all directions.