1 The beginning of the Good News of Jesus the Messiah, 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 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 baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.

5 All the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him, and they were baptized 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 baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit."

9 It happened in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized 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, with you 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, proclaiming the Good News of God,

15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is near! Repent, and believe in the Good News."

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 Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men."

18 Immediately they left the nets, and followed him.

19 Going on a little further, he saw Jacob 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 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he shouted,

24 saying, "What do we have to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know you 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 among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching? 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 Jacob and John.

30 Now Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about her.

31 And he came and took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, 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 did not 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 followed after him;

37 and they found him, and told him, "Everyone is looking for you."

38 He said to them, "Let us go somewhere else into the next towns, that I may proclaim 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 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 you say nothing to anyone, 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: and they came to him from everywhere.