1This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Look, I am sending my messenger before your face,
the one who will prepare your way.

3The voice of one calling out in the wilderness,
'Make ready the way of the Lord;
make his paths straight.'”

4John came, baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

5The whole country of Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

6John was wearing a coat of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and he was eating locusts and wild honey.

7He proclaimed, “One will come after me who is more powerful than I; the strap of his sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

8I baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and he was baptized by John in the Jordan River.

10As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens split open and the Spirit coming down on him like a dove.

11A voice came out of the heavens, “You are my beloved Son. I am very pleased with you.”

12Then the Spirit compelled him to go out into the wilderness.

13He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels served him.

14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God.

15He said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel.”

16When he was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea, for they were fishermen.

17Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

18Then immediately they left the nets and followed him.

19As Jesus was walking on a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and John his brother; they were in the boat mending the nets.

20He called them and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and they followed him.

21Then they came into Capernaum, and on the Sabbath, Jesus went into the synagogue and taught.

22They were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as someone who has authority and not as the scribes.

23Just then a man in their synagogue who had an unclean spirit cried out,

24saying, “What do we have to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God!”

25Jesus rebuked the demon and said, “Be quiet and come out of him!”

26The unclean spirit threw him down and went out from him while crying out with a loud voice.

27All the people were amazed, so they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching with authority? He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him!”

28The news about him went out everywhere into the whole region of Galilee.

29After coming out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, along with James and John.

30Now Simon's mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever, and they told Jesus about her.

31So he came, took her by the hand, and raised her up; the fever left her, and she started serving them.

32That evening, after the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed by demons.

33The whole city gathered together at the door.

34He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons, but he did not allow the demons to speak because they knew him.

35He got up very early, while it was still dark; he left and went out into a solitary place and there he prayed.

36Simon and those who were with him searched for him.

37They found him and they said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.”

38He said, “Let us go elsewhere, out into the surrounding towns, so that I may preach there also. That is why I came out here.”

39He went throughout all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

40A leper came to him. He was begging him; he knelt down and said to him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

41Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him, saying to him, “I am willing. Be clean.”

42Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.

43Jesus strictly warned him and sent him away.

44He said to him, “Be sure to say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

45But he went out and began to spread the news widely, so much that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but he stayed out in remote places. Yet people were still coming to him from everywhere.