The Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

1. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way.”
3. “A voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

4. John appeared, baptising in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5. And all the land of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him, and they were being baptise d by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
6. Now John was clothed with camel hair, and a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
7. And he was proclaiming, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
8. I have baptise d you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.”

The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus

9. And it happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and he was baptised by John in the Jordan.
10. And immediately coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove.
11. And a voice came out of the heavens, “You are my Son, the Beloved; in you I am well pleased.”
12. And immediately the Spirit drove him into the wilderness.
13. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan, and he was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to him.

The Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry

14. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15. and saying, “The time has been fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Jesus Calls the First Disciples

16. And 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. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”
18. And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
19. And going on a little further, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.
20. And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and they followed him.

Jesus Teaches and Heals in Capernaum

21. And they came into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath he entered into the synagogue and was teaching.
22. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
23. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,
24. saying, “Leave us alone! What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”
25. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him.”
26. And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.
27. And they were all amazed, so that they were questioning among themselves, saying, “What is this? What is this new teaching? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”
28. And immediately the news about him went out into all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Jesus Heals Many and Prays

29. And immediately, coming out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
30. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they spoke to him about her.
31. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she served them.
32. And at evening, when the sun had set, they were bringing to him all who were sick and those possessed by demons.
33. And the whole city was gathered at the door.
34. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons, and he did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.
35. And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a solitary place, and there he prayed.
36. And Simon and those with him were pursuing him.
37. And they found him and said to him, “All are looking for you.”
38. And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, so that I may preach there also, for this is why I came out.”
39. And he was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.

Jesus Heals a Leper

40. And a leper came to him, beseeching him and falling on his knees, and said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.”
41. And being moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, “I will; be clean.”
42. And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.
43. And he sternly charged him, and immediately sent him out,
44. and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.”
45. But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter into a city, but was outside in deserted places, and they were coming to him from everywhere.