³⁴ Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism^{(A) 35} but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.^{(B) 36} You know the message^(C) God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news^(D) of peace^(E) through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.^{(F) 37} You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— ³⁸ how God anointed^(G) Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing^(H) all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.^(I)

³⁹ “We are witnesses^(J) of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross,^{(K) 40} but God raised him from the dead^(L) on the third day and caused him to be seen. ⁴¹ He was not seen by all the people,^(M) but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate^(N) and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people^(O) and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.^{(P) 43} All the prophets testify about him^(Q) that everyone^(R) who believes^(S) in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”^(T)

Jesus Begins to Preach

¹² When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison,^(A) he withdrew to Galilee.^{(B) 13} Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum,^(C) which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— ¹⁴ to fulfill^(D) what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁷ From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven^(F) has come near.”

Jesus Calls His First Disciples^(G)

¹⁸ As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee,^(H) he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter^(I) and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ “Come, follow me,”^(J) Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ²⁰ At once they left their nets and followed him.^(K)

²¹ Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John.^(L) They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, ²² and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.^(M)

Jesus Heals the Sick

²³ Jesus went throughout Galilee,^(N) teaching in their synagogues,^(O) proclaiming the good news^(P) of the kingdom,^(Q) and healing every disease and sickness among the people.^{(R) 24} News about him spread all over Syria,^(S) and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed,^(T) those having seizures,^(U) and the paralyzed;^(V) and he healed them. ²⁵ Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,^[b] Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.^(W)