The Mission of John the Baptist
1 The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in the prophets,
“I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you:
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Make ready the way of the Lord!
Make his paths straight!’ ” a
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins. 5 All the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.
6 John was clothed with camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen. 8 I baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptism of Jesus
9 In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Immediately coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 A voice came from heaven, saying, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
The Temptation of Jesus
12 Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was there in the wilderness 40 days, tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to him.
Jesus Preaches in Galilee
14 Now after 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, and believe in the Gospel.”
Jesus Calls His First Disciples
16 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 Jesus said to them, “Come! Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
18 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 Going on a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John, his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
Jesus Expels an Evil Spirit
21 They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught. 22 They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one that had authority and not as the scribes. 23 Immediately there was, in their synagogue, a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, 24 saying, “Let us alone. What do we have to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of God!”
25 Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”
26 The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 They were all amazed so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching? For with what authority does he command even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!” 28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region around Galilee.
Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-Law
29 Immediately after they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever and immediately they told Jesus about her. 31 He came and took her by the hand and raised her up. The fever left her immediately, and she ministered to them.
Jesus Heals after Sabbath Sunset
32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by demons. 33 All the city was gathered together at the door. 34 He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons. He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.
Jesus Prays and Preaches
35 And very early in the morning, having risen while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a solitary place and was praying there. 36 Simon and those who were with him searched for him. 37 They found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.”
38 He said to them, “Let us go another way, into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come.” 39 He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.
The Leper’s Prayer
40 A leper came to him, kneeling down to him and imploring him, “If you are willing, you are able to make me clean.”
41 Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I am willing. Be clean.” 42 When he had said this, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was clean. 43 He strictly warned him and immediately sent him away, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the priest and offer the things which Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
45 But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the matter so that Jesus could no longer openly enter into a city but was outside in desert places. People came to him from everywhere.