Chronological
3 Now in those days Yochanan of the tevilah of teshuva appears, preaching, crying out as a maggid (preacher) [for the Moshiach] in the midbar (wilderness) of Yehudah,
2 saying, Make teshuva, for the Malchut HaShomayim has come near.
3 For this [Yochanan] is the one spoken of through Yeshayah the Navi, saying, KOL KOREY BAMIDBAR (A voice of one shouting in the wilderness, Isa 40:3): Prepare the Derech Hashem (the way of the L-rd). Make his paths straight!
4 Now Yochanan himself had camel-hair clothing and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was arbe (locusts) and devash (wild honey).
5 Then all Yerushalayim and all Yehudah and the whole region of the Yarden were going out to him.
6 Making vidduy (confession of sin) [to Hashem] of their averos (sins), they were submitted to a tevilah (immersion) by him, using the Yarden River as a mikveh mayim (gathering of water).
7 But when he saw many of the Perushim and Tzedukim coming to where he was using the Yarden as a mikveh mayim, Yochanan said to them, You banim (sons) of nachashim (snakes)! Who warned you to flee from the charon af [Hashem] habah (the coming burning wrath of Hashem)?
8 Produce pri tov l’teshuva (fruit worthy of repentance)!
9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, We have the yichus (proud lineage), we have the zechut Avot (merit of the Fathers) of Avraham Avinu (our father Abraham). For I say to you that Hashem is able to raise up from these avanim (stones) banim (sons) of Avraham.
10 And already the ax is laid at the shoresh haetzim (the root of the trees); therefore, every etz not producing pri tov (good fruit) is cut down and thrown into the eish (fire).
11 I give you a tevilah (immersion) in a mikveh mayim for teshuva, but Hu Habah (He who Comes; T.N. i.e., the Moshiach) after me has more chozek (strength) than me. I am not worthy to remove his sandals. He will give you a tevilah (immersion) with the Ruach Hakodesh and eish (fire).
12 The winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear out his threshing floor, and he will gather his wheat into the storehouse; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable eish (fire).
13 Then Yehoshua comes from the Galil to the Yarden to Yochanan, to submit to Yochanan’s tevilah.
14 But Yochanan would have deterred him, saying, I have need to submit to your tevilah [T.N. i.e., Moshiach’s tevilah], and yet you come to me?
15 But answering him, Yehoshua said, Permit it now, for thus it is proper to fulfill all Tzidkat Hashem [Dan 9:24].
16 And having received the tevilah in the Yarden’s mikveh mayim, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach immediately came up. And, hinei! The Shomayim were opened to him, and he saw the Ruach Hakodesh of Hashem descending like a yonah (dove) and coming upon him.
17 And, hinei, a bat kol (a voice from heaven) came out of Shomayim, saying, ZEH BNI AHUVI ASHER BO CHAFATZTI (This is my Son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased).
1 The Beginning of the Besuras HaGeulah (the Good News of Redemption) of Yehoshua, Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach [the] Ben HaElohim.
2 Just as it has been written in Yeshayah HaNavi, HINNENI SHOLEIACH MALACHI (Behold, I send my messenger) before your face, UPINNAH DERECH LEFANAI (and he will prepare the way before me, [SHEMOT 23:20; MALACHI 3:1]), he will prepare your way.
3 KOL KOREY BAMIDBAR (A voice of one shouting in the wilderness, TARGUM HASHIVIM YESHAYAH 40:3): Prepare the Derech Hashem (the way of the L-rd). Make his paths yashar (straight)!
4 Yochanan came with a mikveh mayim in the midbar, preaching a tevilah of teshuva for the selichat avon.
5 And all Yehudah and all Yerushalayim were going out to him, and they were submitted to a tevilah using the Yarden River as a mikveh mayim, making vidduy [to Hashem] of their averos (sins).
6 And Yochanan had camel hair clothing and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was arbe and devash. [MELACHIM BAIS 1:8; VAYIKRA 11:22]
7 And he was preaching, crying out as a maggid [for the Moshiach], saying, Hu Habah (He who Comes, i.e. Moshiach) after me has more chozek (strength) than me. I am not worthy to stoop down and remove his sandals.
8 I give you a tevilah in a mikveh mayim, but he [Moshiach] will give you a tevilah in the Ruach Hakodesh.
9 And it was during that period that Yehoshua from Natzeret of the Galil came and submitted to Yochanan’s tevilah in the mikveh mayim of the Yarden.
10 And ofen ort Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach came up out of the mikveh mayim, and he saw Shomayim being torn open, the Ruach Hakodesh of Hashem descending like a yonah on him.
11 And there was a bat kol out of Shomayim, ATAH BNI AHUVI ASHER BCHA CHAFATSTI (You are my Son, the beloved, with whom I am well pleased).
12 Then the Ruach Hakodesh ofen ort thrusts him out into the midbar.
13 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was in the midbar arbaim yom varbaim lailah, undergoing nisyonos by Hasatan; and he was with the chayyat hassadeh (wild beasts, IYOV 5:23), and the malachim were the meshartei Hashem ministering to Moshiach.
14 Now after Yochanan was arrested, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach came to the Galil, proclaiming the Besuras HaGeulah of Hashem,
15 And saying, The appointed time has been fulfilled and the Malchut Hashem has come near. Make teshuva, and have emunah in the Besuras HaGeulah.
16 And passing along beside Lake Kinneret, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach saw Shimon and Andrew, the brother of Shimon, casting a reshet into the sea, for they were daiyagim (fishermen).
17 And he said to them, Come, follow me [as my talmidim], and I will make you to become daiyagei adam
18 And ofen ort, leaving their nets, they followed Moshiach.
19 And going on a little, he saw Yaakov Ben Zavdai and Yochanan his brother, who were also in the sirah (boat) repairing the nets.
20 And ofen ort he summoned them; and, leaving Zavdai their father in the sirah with the sachirim (hired workers), they went away to follow Moshiach.
21 And they enter into Kfar-Nachum, and ofen ort on Shabbos, entering into the shul, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach exercised the ministry of moreh (teacher).
22 And they were astounded at Moshiach’s torah (teaching), for he was teaching them as one having samchut, and not as the Sofrim.
23 And, ofen ort, there was in their shul a man with a ruach hatameh, and he shouted,
24 Saying, Yehoshua of Natzeret, mah lanu vlach? (What to us and to you?) Have you come to bring us churban (destruction)? I have daas [of the raz, secret, mystery of] who you are, HaKadosh of Hashem (the Holy One of G-d).
25 But he rebuked the shed, saying, Shekit! Gey zich! And come out of him.
26 And, the ruach hatumah, throwing him into convulsions, let out a shrai and came out of him.
27 And all were astounded so that they began to discuss with each other, saying, What is this? Torah Chadasha with samchut? He gives orders to the shedim and they obey him?
28 And the besuroh (news) of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach ofen ort (immediately) went forth everywhere into the surrounding region of the Galil.
29 And ofen ort (immediately), coming out of shul, they went into the bais (house) of Shimon and Andrew with Yaakov and Yochanan.
30 And the chamot (shviger, mother-in-law) of Shimon was bedridden and fever-stricken, and ofen ort (immediately) they tell Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach about her.
31 And approaching, holding her hand, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach lifted her up, and the kaddachat (fever, DEVARIM 28:22) left her, and she then began functioning as their mesharetet (servant, keli kodesh, lady minister), waiting on them.
32 When erev (evening) came, with the setting of the shemesh (sun), they brought to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach all the cholim (sick persons) and all those possessed by shedim (demons).
33 And the whole shtetl gathered together at the delet (door).
34 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach administered refuah (healing) to many cholim (sick persons) suffering from various machlot (illnessess), and he cast out many shedim (demons). And he did not permit the shedim to give utterance, for the shedim knew the raz (mystery, secret) of his identity, that he was the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.
35 And very early, while it was still dark, having got up, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach went out and away to a desolate place, and was davening shacharis there.
36 And Shimon and those with him searched for Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.
37 And they found Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach and they say to him, Everyone is seeking you [SHIR HASHIRIM 1:4; CHAGGAI 2:7].
38 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to them, Let us go elsewhere into the neighboring shtetlach, so that also there I may preach. For it was for this [purpose, tachlis] I came. [YESHAYAH 61:1]
39 And he came preaching in their shuls (synagogues) and casting out shedim in [the] whole [region of] the Galil.
40 And an ish metzorah (leper) comes to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach begging him and kneeling down and saying, If you are willing, you are able to make me tahor (clean).
41 And being filled with rachmei Shomayim [and] stretching out his hand, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach touched [the man] and says to him, I am willing. Be made tahor.
42 And ofen ort (immediately) the ish metzorah (leper) went away from Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach and he was made tahor.
43 And having sternly warned him, ofen ort (immediately) Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach sent him away.
44 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says to him, See [that] you say nothing to anyone, but rather go show yourself to the kohen and offer [the korban] for the tohorah (purification) of you which Moshe (Rabbeinu) gave mitzvah, for an edut (testimony) to them. [VAYIKRA 13:49, 14:1-32]
45 But the one having gone out began to preach many things and to spread the dvar, so that no longer was Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach able to openly enter into [the] shtetl, but he was outside in desolate places. And they were coming to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach from every direction. [T.N. Ac 12:12,25;15:37,39; Co 4:10; PM 24; 2Ti4:11 1K5:13 attest to Markos’ authorship credentials.]
3 In the shenat chamesh esreh (15th year) of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governing Yehudah, when Herod [Antipas] was tetrarch of the Galil, and when Philip the brother of Herod Antipas was tetrarch of Iturea and Trachonitis, and at the same time Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,
2 And when, during the same historical period, Anan and Caiapha were Kohanim Gedolim, then it was that the dvar Hashem came to [the kohen-navi] Yochanan Ben Zecharyah bamidbar (in the wilderness).
3 And Yochanan went into all the surrounding region of the Yarden preaching a tevilah of teshuva for the selichat avon,
4 As it has been written in the sefer divrei Yeshayah Hanavi, KOL KOREY BAMIDBAR (A voice of one shouting in the wilderness, YESHAYAH 40:3): Prepare the Derech Hashem (the Way of the L-rd). Make his paths straight!
5 KOL GEY YINNASE VKHOL HAR VGIVAH YISHPALU (Every valley will be filled in and every mountain and hill will be leveled off), VHAYAH HEAKOV LEMISHOR VHARKHASIM LVIKAH (The crooked will be made straight, the rough paths made into smooth roads);
6 VRAU CHOL BASAR ES YESHUAT ELOHEINU (and all basar will see the salvation of our G-d). [YESHAYAH 40:3-5; TEHILLIM 98:2; YESHAYAH 42:16; 52:10]
7 Therefore, Yochanan was saying to the multitudes coming out to have the mikveh mayim’s tevilah supervised by him, You banim of nachashim, who warned you to flee from the charon af [Hashem] habah (the coming burning wrath of Hashem)?
8 Therefore, produce p’ri tov l’teshuva (fruit worthy of repentance), and do not begin to presume within yourselves, saying, We have the zechut Avot (merit of the Fathers) of Avraham Avinu, for, I say to you, that Hashem is able from these avanim (stones) to raise up banim to Avraham Avinu.
9 And already the ax is laid at the shoresh haetzim (the root of the trees). Therefore, every etz not producing pri tov is cut down and is thrown into the Eish.
10 And the multitudes were questioning him, saying, What then should we do?
11 And in reply, Yochanan was saying to them, Let the one having two kaftans share with the one having none, and let the one having okhel (food) do likewise.
12 Now came also mochesim (tax collectors) to receive the tevilah of teshuva, and they said to him, Rabbi, what should we do?
13 And Yochanan said to them, Collect nothing more than the amount having been commanded you.
14 And chaiyalim (soldiers) as well were asking him, What should we do also? And Yochanan said to them, Extort kesef from no one, and let there be no lashon hora, and be satisfied with your loin (wages).
15 As the Am [Berit] were filled with expectation, and all were wondering in their levavot (hearts) concerning Yochanan, whether perhaps he might be the Moshiach,
16 Yochanan answered everyone, saying, I give you a tevilah with a mikveh mayim, but Hu HaBah (He Who Comes, i.e., Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach) has more chozek (strength) than me; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will give you a tevilah with the Ruach Hakodesh and with Eish.
17 The winnowing fork is in his hand to clean out his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his storehouse, but the MOTZ (chaff) he will burn up with an EISH LO TIKHBEH (fire not [ever] extinguished.
18 Therefore, with many other dvarim Yochanan was exhorting them, preaching the Besuras HaGeulah to the Am [Berit].
19 Now Herod the tetrarch, when he was reproved by Yochanan about Herodias, the wife of his brother, and about all reshaim (evil) which he did,
20 Herod added this above all: he locked up Yochanan in the beit hasohar (prison).
21 And it came about while all the Am [Berit] were receiving the tevilah, and when Yehoshua also had been given the tevilah and was davening, Shomayim was opened,
22 And the Ruach Hakodesh descended in demut gashmit as a yonah upon Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach; and then came a bat kol out of Shomayim, saying, ATAH BNI AHUVI ASHER BCHA CHAFATSTI
23 And Yehoshua himself was about shaloshim shanah, at the beginning of his avodas kodesh ministry, being the ben (as it was being thought of Yosef) ben Eli,
24 Ben Mattat, ben Levi, ben Malki, ben Yannai, ben Yosef,
25 Ben Mattityahu, ben Amotz, ben Nachum, ben Chesli, ben Naggai,
26 Ben Machat, ben Mattityahu, ben Shimi, ben Yosef, ben Yodah,
27 ben Yochanan, ben Reisha, ben Zerubavel, ben Shealtiel, ben Neri,
28 Ben Malki, ben Addi, ben Kosam, ben Elmadan, ben Er
29 Ben Yehoshua, ben Eliezer, ben Yorim, ben Mattat, ben Levi,
30 Ben Shimon, ben Yehudah, ben Yosef, ben Yonam, ben Elyakim,
31 Ben Malah, ben Manah, ben Mattatah, ben Natan, ben Dovid,
32 Ben Yishai, ben Oved, ben Boaz, ben Salmon, ben Nachshon,
33 ben Amminadav, ben Admin, ben Arni, ben Chetzron, ben Peretz, ben Yehudah,
34 Ben Yaakov, ben Yitzchak, ben Avraham, ben Terach, ben Nachor,
35 ben Serug, ben Reu, ben Peleg, ben Ever, ben Shelah,
36 Ben Keinan, ben Arpachshad, ben Shem, ben Noach, ben Lemekh,
37 Ben Metushelach, ben Chanoch, ben Yered, ben Mahalalel, ben Keinan,
38 Ben Enosh, ben Shet, ben Adam, ben HaElohim.
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