11 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 [1]AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY ; 3 THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS , 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE Lord , MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT .' " 4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness [2] preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins . 5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem ; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River , confessing their sins . 6 John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist , and [3]his diet was locusts and wild honey . 7 And he was [4]preaching , and saying , "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals . 8 "I baptized you [5]with water ; but He will baptize you [5]with the Holy Spirit ."
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan . 10 Immediately coming up out of the water , He saw the heavens [7]opening , and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came out of the heavens : " You are My beloved Son , in You I am well-pleased ."
12 Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out 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.
14 Now after John had been [8]taken into custody , Jesus came into Galilee , [9] preaching the gospel of God , 15 and saying , " The time is fulfilled , and the kingdom of God [10]is at hand ; repent and [11]believe in the gospel ."
16 As He was going 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 And Jesus said to them, "Follow e Me, and I will make you become fishers of men ." 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 19 Going on a little farther , He saw [12]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 away [13]to follow Him.
21 They went into Capernaum ; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach . 22 They were amazed at His teaching ; for He was teaching them as one having authority , and not as the scribes .
23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit ; and he cried out, 24 saying , " What [14]business do we have with each other, Jesus [15]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 quiet , and come out of him!" 26 Throwing him into convulsions , the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. 27 They were all amazed , so that they debated among themselves , saying , "What is this ? A new teaching with authority ! He commands even the unclean spirits , and they obey Him." 28 Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee .
29 And immediately after they came out of the synagogue , they came into the house of Simon and Andrew , with [16]James and John . 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever ; and immediately they spoke to [17]Jesus about her. 31 And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand , and the fever left her, and she [18]waited on them.
32 When evening came , after the sun had set , they began bringing to Him all who were ill e and those who were demon-possessed . 33 And the whole city had gathered at the door . 34 And He healed many who were ill e with various diseases , and cast out many demons ; and He was not permitting the demons to speak , because they knew who He was.
35 In the early morning , while it was still dark , Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place , and was praying there . 36 Simon and his companions e searched for Him; 37 they found Him, and said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." 38 He said to them, "Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby , so that I may [19]preach there also ; for that is what I came for." 39 And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee , [20]preaching and casting out the demons .
40 And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying , "If You are willing , You can make me clean ." 41 Moved with compassion , Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing ; be cleansed ." 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed . 43 And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away , 44 and He 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 , as a testimony to them." 45 But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around , to such an extent that [21]Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city , but [22]stayed out in unpopulated areas ; and they were coming to Him from everywhere .
