The Temptation of Jesus
1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. 2 For 40 days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days and when they had ended, he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered him and said, “It is written, ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word from God.’ ” a
5 The devil, leading him up on a high mountain, pointed out to him–all at once–all the kingdoms of the world. 6 The devil said to him, “I will give you all this authority and all this glory, for it has been given to me; and I can give it to whomever I want. 7 Therefore, if you will worship me, it will all be yours.”
8 Jesus answered him, “Get behind me Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ ” b
9 He led him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here, 10 for it is written,
‘He will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you;’
11 and, ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ” c
12 Jesus answered, “It has been said, ‘Do not test the Lord your God.’ ” d
13 When the devil had completed every temptation, he departed from him until another opportunity came.
Jesus Begins His Ministry
14 Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and news about him spread throughout all the surrounding regions. 15 He taught in their synagogues, and he was admired by everyone.
Rejection in Nazareth
16 He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the book and found the place where it was written,
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to heal the broken-hearted,
to proclaim release to the captives,
to recover sight to the blind,
to deliver those who are crushed,
19 and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” e
20 He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
22 Everyone spoke well of him, and marveled at the gracious words that flowed from his mouth, and they said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
23 He said to them, “Doubtless you will tell me this parable, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard you have done at Capernaum, do also here in your hometown.’ ” 24 He said, “Most certainly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 I assure you, in the days of Elijah, when there was no rain for three and a half years and a great famine came over the land, there were many widows in Israel. 26 Elijah was sent to none of them. Instead, he was sent to a widow in Zarephath, in the land of Sidon. 27 At the time of the prophet Elisha, there were many lepers in Israel, yet not one of them was cleansed. Instead, it was Naaman, from Syria.”
28 They were all filled with rage in the synagogue, as they listened to these things. 29 They rose up, threw him out of the city, and led him to the edge of the hill that their city was built on, that they might throw him off the cliff. 30 But he, passing through the midst of them, went his way.
Jesus Drives Out Evil Spirits
31 Jesus came down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee and taught them on Sabbath days, 32 and they were amazed at his teaching because his message had authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man who had an evil spirit, and he cried out with a loud voice 34 and said, “Leave us alone! What do we have to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God!”
35 Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be silent and come out of him!” When the demon had thrown himself down in their midst, he came out of the man, without harming him.
36 Amazement came over everyone, and they discussed it among themselves, asking, “What is this, that with power and authority, he commands evil spirits to come out, and they come out!” 37 And news about him spread throughout the surrounding region.
Jesus Heals
38 He left the synagogue and went to Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering with a high fever, and they begged him to help her. 39 He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she rose up and served them. 40 When the sun was setting, all those who knew anyone with any kind of sickness or disease brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 Demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Son of God!” Rebuking them, he did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Messiah.
Jesus Preaches
42 At daybreak, he departed and went into an uninhabited place, and the crowds looked for him and went up to him, holding onto him, so that he would not leave. 43 But he said to them, “I must preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to the other cities also. It is for this reason that I have been sent.”
44 He continued preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.
a Deuteronomy 8:3
b Deuteronomy 6:13
c Psalm 91:11-12
d Deuteronomy 6:16
e Isaiah 61:1-2