Mark 1:14-28

New Testament for Everyone

The calling of the disciples

¹⁴ After John’s arrest, Jesus came into Galilee, announcing God’s good news.

¹⁵ “The time is fulfilled!” he said; “God’s kingdom is arriving! Turn back, and believe the good news!”

¹⁶ As he went along beside the sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were fishermen, and were casting nets into the sea.

¹⁷ “Follow me!” said Jesus to them. “I’ll have you fishing for people!”

¹⁸ Straight away they left their nets and followed him. ¹⁹ He went on a bit, and saw James, Zebedee’s son, and John his brother. They were in the boat mending their nets, ²⁰ and he called them then and there. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went off after him.

Exorcism and healings

²¹ They went to Capernaum. At once, on the sabbath, Jesus went into the synagogue and taught. ²² They were astonished at his teaching. He wasn’t like the legal teachers; he said things on his own authority.

²³ All at once, in their synagogue, there was a man with an unclean spirit.

²⁴ “What business have you got with us, Jesus of Nazareth?” he yelled. “Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: you’re God’s Holy One!”

²⁵ “Be quiet!” ordered Jesus. “And come out of him!”

²⁶ The unclean spirit convulsed the man, gave a great shout, and came out of him. ²⁷ Everyone was astonished.

“What’s this?” they started to say to each other. “New teaching—with real authority! He even tells the unclean spirits what to do, and they do it!”

²⁸ Word about Jesus spread at once, all over the surrounding district of Galilee.