| | 1 | The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. | |
| | 2 | It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way"-- | |
| | 3 | "a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'" | |
| | 4 | And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. | |
| | 5 | The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. | |
| | 6 | John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. | |
| | 7 | And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. | |
| | 8 | I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." | |
| | 9 | At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. | |
| | 10 | As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. | |
| | 11 | And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." | |
| | 12 | At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert, | |
| | 13 | and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him. | |
| | 14 | After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. | |
| | 15 | "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" | |
| | 16 | As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. | |
| | 17 | "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." | |
| | 18 | At once they left their nets and followed him. | |
| | 19 | When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. | |
| | 20 | Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. | |
| | 21 | They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. | |
| | 22 | The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. | |
| | 23 | Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, | |
| | 24 | "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!" | |
| | 25 | "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" | |
| | 26 | The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. | |
| | 27 | The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." | |
| | 28 | News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee. | |
| | 29 | As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. | |
| | 30 | Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. | |
| | 31 | So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. | |
| | 32 | That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. | |
| | 33 | The whole town gathered at the door, | |
| | 34 | and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. | |
| | 35 | Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. | |
| | 36 | Simon and his companions went to look for him, | |
| | 37 | and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!" | |
| | 38 | Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else--to the nearby villages--so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." | |
| | 39 | So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. | |
| | 40 | A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." | |
| | 41 | Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" | |
| | 42 | Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. | |
| | 43 | Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: | |
| | 44 | "See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." | |
| | 45 | Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere. | |
