[1] The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. [2] As it
is written in the prophets, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
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.`" [4]
John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of
repentance for forgiveness of sins. [5] There went out to him all the
country of Judea, and all those of Jerusalem. 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 loins. He ate locusts and wild honey.
[7] He 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] It
happened in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was
baptized by John in the Jordan. [10] Immediately 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] Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the
wilderness. [13] He was there in the wilderness forty days tempted by
Satan. He was with the wild animals. The angels ministered to him. [14] Now
after John was taken into custody, 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." [16]
Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother
of Simon, casting a net in the sea, for they were fishermen. [17] Jesus
said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for 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 also were 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 went after him. [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 having
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, "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] 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 authority he commands even the
unclean spirits, and they obey him." [28] The report of him went out
immediately everywhere into all the region of Galilee and its surrounding
area. [29] Immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they came
into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. [30] Now Simon`s
wife`s mother lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about
her. [31] He came and took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever
left her, and she served them. [32] At evening, when the sun had set, they
brought to him all who were sick, and those who were possessed with 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 didn`t
allow the demons to speak, because they knew him. [35] Early in the night,
he rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place, and there
prayed. [36] Simon and those who were with him followed after him; [37] and
they found him, and told him, "All are seeking you." [38] He said to them,
"Let`s go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also, for
to this end I came forth." [39] He went into their synagogues throughout
all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons. [40] There came to him a
leper, begging him, kneeling down to him, and saying to him, "If you want
to, you can make me clean." [41] Being moved with compassion, he stretched
forth his hand, and touched him, and said to him, "I want to. Be made
clean." [42] When he had said this, immediately the leprosy departed from
him, and he was made clean. [43] He strictly charged him, and immediately
sent him out, [44] and 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] But 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.