Chapter 1
1 The beginning of the Good News 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 baptising 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 baptised by him in the Jordan river , confessing their sins.
6 John was clothed with camel ’s hair and a leather belt around his waist . He ate locusts and wild honey .
7 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 loosen.
8 I baptised you in water , but he will baptise you in the Holy Spirit ."
9 In those days , Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee , and was baptised 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 serving him .
14 Now after John was taken into custody , Jesus came into Galilee , preaching the Good News of God ’s Kingdom,
15 and saying , " The time is fulfilled , and God ’s Kingdom is at hand ! Repent , and believe in the Good News ."
16 Passing along by the sea of Galilee , he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon , casting a net into 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 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 amongst themselves , saying , " What is this ? What can this new doctrine be? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits , and they obey him !"
28 The report of him went out immediately 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 immediately, 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 morning , while it was still dark , he rose up and went out , and departed into a deserted place , and prayed there .
36 Simon and those who were with him searched for him .
37 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 I came out for this reason."
39 He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee , preaching and casting out demons .
40 A leper came to him , 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 that 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 . People came to him from everywhere .