The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;

And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

12 And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

19 And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.

20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.

29 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.

31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

33 And all the city was gathered together at the door.

34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.

37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

43 And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;

44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

The Kingdom Is Coming Now

The beginning of the Good News of Yeshua ha-Mashiach, Ben-Elohim. As Isaiah the prophet has written,

“Behold, I send My messenger before You,
who will prepare Your way.[a]
The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way of Adonai,
and make His paths straight.’”[b]

John appeared, immersing in the wilderness, proclaiming an immersion involving repentance for the removal of sins. All the Judean countryside was going out to him, and all the Jerusalemites. As they confessed their sins, they were being immersed by him in the Jordan River.

John wore clothes made from camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. “After me comes One who is mightier than I am,” he proclaimed. “I’m not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals! I immersed you with water, but He will immerse you in the Ruach ha-Kodesh.”[c]

The Spirit Rests on Yeshua

In those days, Yeshua came from Natzeret in the Galilee and was immersed by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as He was coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens ripping open and the Ruach as a dove coming down upon Him. 11 And there came a voice from the heavens: “You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased!”[d]

12 That instant, the Ruach drives Him into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by satan. And He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were taking care of Him.

Fishermen Follow Him

14 Now after John was put in jail, Yeshua came into the Galilee, proclaiming the Good News of God. 15 “Now is the fullness of time,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near! Turn away from your sins, and believe in the Good News!”

16 Passing along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Simon’s brother Andrew casting a net in the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Yeshua said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

19 Going a little farther, He saw Jacob the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired hands and followed Him.

Demons Flee at His Command

21 And they went into Capernaum. Right away, on Shabbat, He entered the synagogue and began to teach. 22 And they were astounded at His teaching, for He was teaching them as one having authority[e] and not as the Torah scholars.

23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have we to do with You, Yeshua of Natzeret? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are! You’re the Holy One of God!”

25 Yeshua rebuked him, saying, “Quiet! Come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, after throwing the man into convulsions and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.

27 They were all so amazed that they asked among themselves, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!” 28 And immediately news about Him spread throughout the region surrounding Galilee.

The Hurting Become Whole

29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with Jacob and John to the house of Simon and Andrew. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever. Right away, they told Yeshua about her. 31 He came and raised her up by taking her hand. The fever left her, and she began to take care of them.

32 When evening came, at sunset, the people brought to Him all the sick and those who were afflicted by demons. 33 The whole town gathered together at the door. 34 He healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. And He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.

35 Very early, while it was still night, Yeshua got up, left, and went away to a place in the wilderness; and there He was praying. 36 Then Simon and those with him hunted for Yeshua. 37 And when they found Him, they said to Him, “Everybody’s looking for You.”

38 He said to them, “Let’s go somewhere else, to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also—this is what I came for.” 39 And He went throughout all the Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and driving out demons.

40 A man with tzara’at comes to Him, begging Him and falling on his knees, saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

41 Moved with compassion, Yeshua stretched out His hand and touched him. He said, “I am willing. Be cleansed.” 42 Immediately, the tzara’at left him, and he was cleansed.

43 Yeshua sent him away at once, sternly warning him. 44 He said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go show yourself to the kohen.[f] Then, for your cleansing, offer what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 45 But he went out and began to proclaim and spread the word, so much that Yeshua could no longer enter a town openly but had to stay out in wilderness areas. Still, they kept on coming to Him from everywhere.