1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2It is written in the prophets: "Look, I send my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you."
3"The voice of one calling out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight."
4John baptized in the wilderness. He preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5All the land of Judaea came out to him, and the people of Jerusalem too. They confessed their sins, and he baptized them all in the river Jordan.
6John wore clothes made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.
7He preached and said, "Someone is coming after me who is mightier than I am. I am not worthy even to bend down and untie the strap of his shoes."
8"I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
10At once, as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit coming down on him like a dove.
11And a voice came from heaven: "You are my beloved Son. I am well pleased with you."
12Straight away the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness.
13He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels looked after him.
14After John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.
15He said, "The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent, and believe the gospel."
16As he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
17Jesus said to them, "Come with me, and I will make you fishers of men."
18At once they left their nets and followed him.
19When he had gone a little further, he saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in their boat, mending their nets.
20At once he called them. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.
21They went into Capernaum. On the sabbath day he went straight into the synagogue and taught.
22They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not like the scribes.
23In their synagogue there was a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out.
24He said, "Leave us alone. What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God."
25Jesus rebuked him and said, "Be quiet, and come out of him."
26The unclean spirit shook the man violently and cried with a loud voice, and came out of him.
27They were all amazed, so that they asked one another, "What is this? What new teaching is this? He gives orders even to the unclean spirits with authority, and they obey him."
28At once the news about him spread through all the region around Galilee.
29As soon as they came out of the synagogue, they went into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
30Simon's wife's mother was lying sick with a fever, and at once they told him about her.
31He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. The fever left her at once, and she served them.
32In the evening, when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were ill and those who had demons.
33The whole city was gathered together at the door.
34He healed many who were sick with many kinds of diseases, and he drove out many demons. He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.
35In the morning, a long time before daylight, he got up and went out. He went away to a lonely place, and prayed there.
36Simon and those who were with him went to look for him.
37When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is looking for you."
38He said to them, "Let us go to the next towns, so that I may preach there too. That is why I came out."
39So he preached in their synagogues all through Galilee, and drove out demons.
40A man with leprosy came to him. He begged him, kneeling down, and said to him, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."
41Jesus was moved with compassion. He reached out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing. Be clean."
42As soon as he had spoken, the leprosy left the man at once, and he was made clean.
43Jesus gave him a strict warning and sent him away at once.
44He said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest. Offer for your cleansing the things that Moses commanded, as a witness to them."
45But the man went out and began to tell it widely, and to spread the news everywhere. So Jesus could no longer go openly into the city, but stayed outside in lonely places. And people came to him from every direction.