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*1 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 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*2 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; and the angels were ministering 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 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 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 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 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
deserted place, and prayed there. 36 Simon and those who were with him
followed after him; 37 and they found him, and told him, “Everyone is
looking for you.”
38 He said to them, “Let’s go elsewhere into the next towns, that I
may preach there also, because for this reason 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 out 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 warned 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.
1 To baptize means to immerse in (or apply)
water (or fire), not just to cleanse the body, but as an outward sign of an
inward spiritual cleansing and commitment. 2 The Greek word (en) translated here as “in”
could also be translated as “with” in some contexts.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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