1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 1:2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 1:3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'" 1:4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 1:5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 1:6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 1:7 And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 1:8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." 1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 1:10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 1:11 And a voice came from heaven, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased." 1:12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 1:13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. 1:14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." 1:16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 1:17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." 1:18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 1:19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 1:20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. 1:21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 1:22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 1:23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 1:24 "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth Have you come to destroy us I know who you are--the Holy One of God." 1:25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" 1:26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 1:27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." 1:28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. 1:29 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 1:30 Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 1:31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. 1:32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 1:33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 1:34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 1:35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 1:36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 1:37 and they found him and said to him, "Everyone is looking for you." 1:38 And he said to them, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out." 1:39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. 1:40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, "If you will, you can make me clean." 1:41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, "I will; be clean." 1:42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 1:43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 1:44 and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them." 1:45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter.