1 T he beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 A s it is written in the prophets, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.

3 T he voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight!’”

4 J ohn came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.

5 A ll 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 J ohn was clothed with camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.

7 H e preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen.

8 I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”

9 I n those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

10 I mmediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting, and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

11 A voice came out of the sky, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

12 I mmediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness.

13 H e was there in the wilderness forty days tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals; and the angels were serving him.

14 N ow after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom,

15 a nd saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”

16 P assing along 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 J esus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men.”

18 I mmediately they left their nets, and followed him.

19 G oing 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 I mmediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.

21 T hey went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.

22 T hey were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.

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

24 s aying, “Ha! 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 J esus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”

26 T he unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.

27 T hey were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!”

28 T he report of him went out immediately everywhere into all the region of Galilee and its surrounding area.

29 I mmediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

30 N ow Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about her.

31 H e came and took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she served them.

32 A t evening, when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick, and those who were possessed by demons.

33 A ll the city was gathered together at the door.

34 H e healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. He didn’t allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.

35 E arly in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there.

36 S imon and those who were with him followed after him;

37 a nd they found him, and told him, “Everyone is looking for you.”

38 H e said to them, “Let’s go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because I came out for this reason.”

39 H e went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.

40 A leper came to him, begging him, kneeling down to him, and saying to him, “If you want to, you can make me clean.”

41 B eing moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, “I want to. Be made clean.”

42 W hen he had said this, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean.

43 H e strictly warned him, and immediately sent him out,

44 a nd said to him, “See you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.”

45 B ut he went out, and began to proclaim it much, and to spread about the matter, so that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but was outside in desert places: and they came to him from everywhere.