John the Baptist Prepares the Way^(A)

1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,^[a] the Son of God,^{[b](B) 2} as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

⁴ And so John the Baptist^(E) appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance^(F) for the forgiveness of sins.^{(G) 5} The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. ⁶ John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist,^(H) and he ate locusts^(I) and wild honey. ⁷ And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.^{(J) 8} I baptize you with^[e] water, but he will baptize you with^[f] the Holy Spirit.”^(K)

The Baptism and Testing of Jesus^(L)(M)

⁹ At that time Jesus came from Nazareth^(N) in Galilee and was baptized by John^(O) in the Jordan. ¹⁰ Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.^{(P) 11} And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son,^(Q) whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”^(R)

¹² At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, ¹³ and he was in the wilderness forty days,^(S) being tempted^[g] by Satan.^(T) He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Jesus Announces the Good News^(U)

¹⁴ After John^(V) was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee,^(W) proclaiming the good news of God.^{(X) 15} “The time has come,”^(Y) he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe^(Z) the good news!”^(AA)

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

¹⁶ As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ¹⁸ At once they left their nets and followed him.^(AB)

¹⁹ When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. ²⁰ Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit^(AC)

²¹ They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.^{(AD) 22} The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.^{(AE) 23} Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, ²⁴ “What do you want with us,^(AF) Jesus of Nazareth?^(AG) Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”^(AH)

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

²⁷ The people were all so amazed^(AK) 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^(AL) of Galilee.

Jesus Heals Many^(AM)(AN)

²⁹ As soon as they left the synagogue,^(AO) 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.^(AP) 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.^{(AQ) 33} The whole town gathered at the door, ³⁴ and Jesus healed many who had various diseases.^(AR) He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.^(AS)

Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place^(AT)

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.^{(AU) 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.”^{(AV) 39} So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues^(AW) and driving out demons.^(AX)

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy^(AY)

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

⁴¹ Jesus was indignant.^[i] 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.^(BA) But go, show yourself to the priest^(BB) and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing,^(BC) 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.^(BD) Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.^(BE)

Psalm 24

Of David. A psalm.

The Census

1 The Lord spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting^(A) in the Desert of Sinai^(B) on the first day of the second month^(C) of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt.^(D) He said: ² “Take a census^(E) of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families,^(F) listing every man by name,^(G) one by one. ³ You and Aaron^(H) are to count according to their divisions all the men in Israel who are twenty years old or more^(I) and able to serve in the army.^{(J) 4} One man from each tribe,^(K) each of them the head of his family,^(L) is to help you.^{(M) 5} These are the names^(N) of the men who are to assist you:

¹⁶ These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders^(AM) of their ancestral tribes.^(AN) They were the heads of the clans of Israel.^(AO)

¹⁷ Moses and Aaron took these men whose names had been specified, ¹⁸ and they called the whole community together on the first day of the second month.^(AP) The people registered their ancestry^(AQ) by their clans and families,^(AR) and the men twenty years old or more^(AS) were listed by name, one by one, ¹⁹ as the Lord commanded Moses. And so he counted^(AT) them in the Desert of Sinai:

⁴⁴ These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron^(BV) and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family. ⁴⁵ All the Israelites twenty years old or more^(BW) who were able to serve in Israel’s army were counted according to their families.^{(BX) 46} The total number was 603,550.^(BY)

⁴⁷ The ancestral tribe of the Levites,^(BZ) however, was not counted^(CA) along with the others. ⁴⁸ The Lord had said to Moses: ⁴⁹ “You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. ⁵⁰ Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle^(CB) of the covenant law^(CC)—over all its furnishings^(CD) and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. ⁵¹ Whenever the tabernacle^(CE) is to move,^(CF) the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it.^(CG) Anyone else who approaches it is to be put to death.^{(CH) 52} The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each of them in their own camp under their standard.^{(CI) 53} The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle^(CJ) of the covenant law so that my wrath will not fall^(CK) on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the covenant law.^(CL)”

⁵⁴ The Israelites did all this just as the Lord commanded Moses.

The Arrangement of the Tribal Camps

2 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: ² “The Israelites are to camp around the tent of meeting some distance from it, each of them under their standard^(CM) and holding the banners of their family.”

³⁴ So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family.

The Levites

3 This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses^(DT) at the time the Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.^(DU)

² The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn^(DV) and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.^{(DW) 3} Those were the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests,^(DX) who were ordained to serve as priests. ⁴ Nadab and Abihu, however, died before the Lord^(DY) when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai.^(DZ) They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar^(EA) served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.^(EB)

⁵ The Lord said to Moses, ⁶ “Bring the tribe of Levi^(EC) and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.^{(ED) 7} They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community^(EE) at the tent of meeting by doing the work^(EF) of the tabernacle. ⁸ They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. ⁹ Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons;^(EG) they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.^{[b] 10} Appoint Aaron^(EH) and his sons to serve as priests;^(EI) anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”^(EJ)

¹¹ The Lord also said to Moses, ¹² “I have taken the Levites^(EK) from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring^(EL) of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,^{(EM) 13} for all the firstborn are mine.^(EN) When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.”^(EO)

¹⁴ The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,^{(EP) 15} “Count^(EQ) the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.”^{(ER) 16} So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

These were the Levite clans, according to their families.

²¹ To Gershon^(FA) belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;^(FB) these were the Gershonite clans. ²² The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 7,500. ²³ The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle.^{(FC) 24} The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael. ²⁵ At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle^(FD) and tent, its coverings,^(FE) the curtain at the entrance^(FF) to the tent of meeting,^{(FG) 26} the curtains of the courtyard^(FH), the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,^(FI) and the ropes^(FJ)—and everything^(FK) related to their use.

²⁷ To Kohath^(FL) belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites;^(FM) these were the Kohathite^(FN) clans. ²⁸ The number of all the males a month old or more^(FO) was 8,600.^[c] The Kohathites were responsible^(FP) for the care of the sanctuary.^{(FQ) 29} The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side^(FR) of the tabernacle. ³⁰ The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan^(FS) son of Uzziel. ³¹ They were responsible for the care of the ark,^(FT) the table,^(FU) the lampstand,^(FV) the altars,^(FW) the articles^(FX) of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain,^(FY) and everything related to their use.^{(FZ) 32} The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar^(GA) son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible^(GB) for the care of the sanctuary.^(GC)

³³ To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;^(GD) these were the Merarite clans.^{(GE) 34} The number of all the males a month old or more^(GF) who were counted was 6,200. ³⁵ The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.^{(GG) 36} The Merarites were appointed^(GH) to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,^(GI) its crossbars,^(GJ) posts,^(GK) bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,^{(GL) 37} as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard^(GM) with their bases, tent pegs^(GN) and ropes.

³⁸ Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east^(GO) of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the tent of meeting.^(GP) They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary^(GQ) on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.^(GR)

³⁹ The total number of Levites counted^(GS) at the Lord’s command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.^(GT)

⁴⁰ The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more^(GU) and make a list of their names.^{(GV) 41} Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites,^(GW) and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord.”^(GX)

⁴² So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him. ⁴³ The total number of firstborn males a month old or more,^(GY) listed by name, was 22,273.^(GZ)

⁴⁴ The Lord also said to Moses, ⁴⁵ “Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites are to be mine.^(HA) I am the Lord.^{(HB) 46} To redeem^(HC) the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, ⁴⁷ collect five shekels^[d](HD) for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel,^(HE) which weighs twenty gerahs.^{(HF) 48} Give the money for the redemption^(HG) of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.”^(HH)

⁴⁹ So Moses collected the redemption money^(HI) from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. ⁵⁰ From the firstborn of the Israelites^(HJ) he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels,^[e](HK) according to the sanctuary shekel. ⁵¹ Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.