1 God’s Spirit led Jesus into the desert wilderness. There he was tested tempted by the Devil.

2 He fasted forty days and nights, and was very hungry.

3 Satan, the Tempter, said to him: »If since you are the Son of God order these stones to turn into bread.«

4 In reply Jesus answered: »It is written; man shall not live on bread alone, but on all everythingevery wordevery utteranceevery declaration that proceeds from the mouth of Jehovah.« (Deuteronomy 8:3)

5 Then the Devil took him into the holy city and had him stand on top of the Temple.

6 »If since you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. The Scriptures say: ‘God will give orders to his angels about you and they will hold you with their hands, so that not even your feet will strike the ground.’«

7 »Again it is written,« Jesus replied, »‘you must not put Jehovah your God to the test.’« (Deuteronomy 6:16)

8 This time the Devil took Jesus to an extremely high mountain. He showed him all the kingdoms of the world with all their greatness.

9 »I will give all this to you,« the Devil told Jesus, »if you kneel down and worship me.«

10 »Go away, Satan!« demanded Jesus. »It is written, »It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’« (Deuteronomy 6:13-15)

11 Then the Devil left Jesus, and the angels came and served him.

12 Jesus heard that John had been arrested. So Jesus withdrew to Galilee.

13 He left Nazareth to reside at Capernaum, a town by Lake Galilee, in the districts of Zebulun and Naphtali.

14 Thus the prophecy revealed to Isaiah would be fulfilled:

15 »O land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, along the road of the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee of the nations!

16 »the people sitting in darkness saw a great light. Light rose upon those sitting in a region of deathly shadow.«

17 From that time on Jesus preached this message: »Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is near.«

18 Jesus walked on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. There he saw Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother. They were fishermen.

19 He said to them: »Follow me and I will teach you to catch people.«

20 At once they abandoned their nets and followed him.

21 He saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother. They were in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them.

22 Instantly they left the boat and their father, and went with him.

23 Jesus walked all over Galilee teaching in the synagogues. He preached the Good News about the Kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and infirmity among the people.

24 News about him spread throughout the country of Syria. People sick and suffering from diseases, people with demons, epileptics and paralytics, came to him. Jesus healed them all.

25 Because of this, large crowds followed him from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and the land on the other side of the Jordan.