Preaching of John the Baptist

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

just as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I am sending My messenger before You, Who will prepare Your way;

The voice of one calling out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight!’”

John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

And he was preaching, saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to bend down and untie the straps of His sandals.

I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him;

and a voice came from the heavens: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

And immediately the Spirit *brought Him out into the wilderness.

And He was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving Him.

and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

As He was going along the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.

And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will have you become fishers of people.”

And going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, who were also in the boat mending the nets.

They *went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and began to teach.

And they were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

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

saying, “What business do you have with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are: the Holy One of God!”

And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”

After throwing him into convulsions and crying out with a loud voice, the unclean spirit came out of him.

And they were all amazed, so they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”

Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Crowds Healed

And immediately after they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and they immediately *spoke to Jesus about her.