The Messiah’s Herald

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

⁴ John came baptizing^[f](K) in the wilderness^(L) and proclaiming a baptism of repentance^(M) for the forgiveness^(N) of sins.^{(O) 5} The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem^(P) were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan^(Q) River, confessing^(R) their sins.^{(S) 6} John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts^(T) and wild honey.^(U)

⁷ He proclaimed, “One who is more powerful^(V) than I am is coming after me.^(W) I am not worthy^(X) to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals.^{(Y) 8} I baptize you with^[g] water,^(Z) but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”^(AA)

The Baptism of Jesus

⁹ In^(AB) those days Jesus came from Nazareth^(AC) in Galilee^(AD) and was baptized in the Jordan by John. ¹⁰ As soon as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens^(AE) being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹ And a voice^(AF) came from heaven:^(AG) “You are my beloved^(AH) Son;^(AI) with you I am well-pleased.”^(AJ)

The Temptation of Jesus

¹² Immediately^(AK) the Spirit^(AL) drove^(AM) him into the wilderness.^{(AN) 13} He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted^(AO) by Satan.^(AP) He was with the wild animals,^(AQ) and the angels^(AR) were serving him.

Ministry in Galilee

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

The First Disciples

¹⁶ As^(BE) he passed alongside the Sea of Galilee,^(BF) he saw Simon^(BG) and Andrew,^(BH) Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea^(BI)—for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ “Follow me,”^(BJ) Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for^[j](BK) people.”^{(BL) 18} Immediately they left their nets and followed^(BM) him.^{(BN) 19} Going on a little farther, he saw James^(BO) the son of Zebedee^(BP) and his brother John^(BQ) in a boat putting their nets in order. ²⁰ Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.^(BR)

Driving Out an Unclean Spirit

²¹ They^(BS) went into Capernaum,^(BT) and right away he entered the synagogue^(BU) on the Sabbath^(BV) and began to teach.^{(BW) 22} They were astonished^(BX) at his teaching^(BY) because he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not like the scribes.

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

²⁵ Jesus rebuked^(CG) him saying, “Be silent,^(CH) and come out of him!” ²⁶ And the unclean spirit threw him into convulsions,^(CI) shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him.

²⁷ They were all amazed,^(CJ) and so they began to ask^(CK) each other, “What is this? A new teaching^(CL) with authority!^[k](CM) He commands even the unclean^(CN) spirits,^(CO) and they obey him.” ²⁸ At once the news about him 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,^[l] and she began to serve^(CZ) them.^(DA)

³² When^(DB) evening came, after the sun had set, they brought to him all those who were sick^(DC) and 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) And 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 there he was praying.^{(DL) 36} Simon^(DM) and his companions searched for him, ³⁷ and when they found him they said, “Everyone is 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.”

A Man Cleansed

³⁹ He went into all of Galilee,^(DO) preaching in their synagogues^(DP) and driving out demons. ⁴⁰ Then^(DQ) a man with leprosy^[m](DR) came to him and, on his knees,^[n](DS) begged him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”^{(DT) 41} Moved with compassion,^[o](DU) Jesus reached out his hand and touched^(DV) him. “I am willing,” he told him. “Be made clean.” ⁴² Immediately the leprosy^(DW) left him, and he was made clean. 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 commanded for your cleansing,^(ED) as a testimony^(EE) to them.”^{[p] 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 came to him from everywhere.