1The beginning Jn 1:1; Php 4:15 of the gospel Mt 3:1-12; Lk 3:1-18 of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jn 5:19; Heb 1:2

2As it is written in Isaiah Mt 3:3; 4:14; 12:17 the prophet: Other mss read in the prophets Lk 16:29

3A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Jn 1:23

4John came baptizing Or John the Baptist came, or John the Baptizer came Lk 7:29; Ac 22:16 in the wilderness Rv 12:6 and preaching a baptism of repentance Or a baptism based on repentance Lk 3:3; Ac 13:24; 19:4; 26:20 for the forgiveness Mt 9:2; Lk 24:47 of sins. Jn 15:22; Ac 26:18

5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem Mt 23:37; Jn 11:36 were flocking to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan Gn 13:10; Ps 114:3; Lk 3:3 River as they confessed Ac 19:18 their sins. Jn 15:22; Rm 6:23; 1Pt 4:1

6John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts Rv 9:3,7 and wild honey. Rv 10:9-10

7He was preaching: “Someone more powerful Rv 18:8 than I will come after me. Jn 1:15 I am not worthy Mt 3:11 to stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals. Lk 3:16; Ac 13:23-25

8I have baptized you with Or in water, Jn 1:26,31,33; Ac 1:5; 8:36; 11:16 but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Jn 1:33

9In Mt 3:13-17; Lk 3:21-23 those days Jesus came from Nazareth Mt 2:23; 4:13; 21:11; Lk 1:26; 2:4,39,51; 4:16; Jn 1:45-46 in Galilee Mt 17:22 and was baptized in the Jordan by John.

10As soon as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavens Mt 24:35; Lk 12:33; Ac 17:24; Eph 6:9; Rv 21:10 being torn open and the Spirit descending to Him like a dove.

11And a voice Jn 5:37 came from heaven: Rv 14:13

12Immediately Mt 4:1-11; Lk 4:1-13 the Spirit Jn 1:33 drove 3Jn 10 Him into the wilderness. Mt 3:1; Rv 12:6

13He was in the wilderness 40 days, being tempted Jms 1:13 by Satan. Mt 4:1,10; Ac 13:10 He was with the wild animals, Rv 6:8 and the angels Mt 13:49; Ac 5:19; Rv 14:6 began to serve Him.

14After Mt 4:17; Jn 4:45 John was arrested, Mt 3:12; Lk 3:20; 9:7-9; Jn 3:24 Jesus went to Galilee, Mt 17:22 preaching Mk 13:10 the good news Other mss add of the kingdom Or gospel Mk 1:1 of God: Either from God or about God Rm 15:16; 1Th 2:2,8-9

16As Mt 4:18-22; Lk 5:1-11 He was passing along by the Sea of Galilee, Mt 4:18; 15:29; Jn 6:1 He saw Simon Mt 16:17 and Andrew, Jn 6:8 Simon’s brother. They were casting a net into the sea, Mk 7:31 since they were fishermen.

17“Follow Me,” Mt 4:19 Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for Lit you to become fishers of, Mt 4:18-19; Lk 5:2 people! ” Mt 4:19

18Immediately they left their nets and followed Lk 5:11; Jn 8:12 Him. Lk 18:28

19Going on a little farther, He saw James Ac 12:2 the son of Zebedee Jn 21:2 and his brother John. Jn 21:7 They were in their boat mending their nets.

20Immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him. Lk 18:28

21Then Lk 4:31-35 they went into Capernaum, Lk 10:15 and right away He entered the synagogue Mk 3:1; Jms 2:2 on the Sabbath Mk 2:23; Lk 13:10 and began to teach. Mt 28:20; Ac 4:2; 2Tm 4:11

22They were astonished Mk 6:2 at His teaching Mt 7:28; 22:33; Mk 11:18; Lk 4:32; Ac 2:42; 17:19 because, unlike the scribes, Mt 2:4 He was teaching them as one having authority.

23Just then a man with an unclean 2Co 6:17 spirit Lk 11:24 was in their synagogue. Jms 2:2 He cried out, Other mss add to the beginning of v. 24: “Leave us alone.

24“What do You have to do with us, Lit What to us and to You Jesus — Nazarene? Mk 14:67 Have You come to destroy Jn 6:27 us? I know who You are — the Holy 1Co 7:14 One of God! ” Lk 4:34; Jn 6:69; Eph 4:30

25But Jesus rebuked 2Tm 4:2 him and said, “Be quiet, Or Be muzzled Mt 22:12 and come out of him! ”

26And the unclean spirit convulsed him, Mk 9:26; Lk 9:39 shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him.

27Then they were all amazed, Mk 10:24,32 so they began to argue Mk 8:11 with one another, saying, “What is this? A new teaching Mk 11:18; Ac 2:42 with authority! Other mss read What is this? What is this new teaching? For with authority Jd 25 He commands even the unclean 2Co 6:17 spirits, Lk 11:24 and they obey Him.”

28News about Him then spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee. Mt 17:22

29As Mt 8:14-15; Lk 4:38-39 soon as they left the synagogue, Jms 2:2 they went into Simon Mt 16:17 and Andrew’s Jn 6:8 house Mk 9:33 with James Ac 12:2 and John. Jn 21:7

30Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.

31So He went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. Mk 5:41 The fever Lk 4:38 left her, Other mss add at once and she began to serve Phm 13 them. Rm 12:13

32When Mt 8:16-17; Lk 4:40-41 evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all those who were sick Lk 5:31 and those who were demon-possessed. Mt 9:32

33The whole town was assembled at the door,

34and He healed Ac 8:7 many who were sick with various diseases Ac 19:12 and drove out 3Jn 10 many demons. Rv 9:20; 18:2 But He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him. Mk 3:11-12; 5:7

35Very Mt 4:23-25; Lk 4:42-44 early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. Mt 14:13; Mk 6:31-32; Lk 4:42; 9:12; Rv 12:6 And He was praying Mt 5:44; Ac 12:12 there.

36Simon Mt 16:17 and his companions went searching for Him.

37They found Him and said, “Everyone’s looking for You! ”

38And He said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach Mk 1:4 there too. This is why I have come.”

39So He went into all of Galilee, Mt 17:22 preaching in their synagogues Mk 3:1 and driving out demons.

40Then Mt 8:2-4; Lk 5:12-14 a man with a serious skin disease Mt 11:5 came to Him and, on his knees, Other mss omit on his knees Mt 17:14 begged Him: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 1Jn 1:7

41Moved with compassion, Lk 15:20 Jesus reached out His hand and touched Jn 20:17 him. “I am willing,” He told him. “Be made clean.”

42Immediately the disease Lk 5:12 left him, and he was healed. Lit made clean

43Then He sternly warned Mt 9:30; Mk 14:5; Jn 11:33,38 him and sent him away 3Jn 10 at once,

44telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; Mk 5:43; 7:36; 8:26,30; 9:9; 16:8; Lk 5:14 but go and show Rv 1:1 yourself to the priest, Ac 4:1 and offer Heb 5:1; 8:3 what Moses prescribed for your cleansing, Lv 13–14; Heb 1:3 as a testimony Mk 6:11; 1Tm 2:6 to them.”

45Yet he went out and began to proclaim Mk 1:4; Jn 18:32 it widely and to spread the news, Mk 4:14 with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But He was out in deserted places, and they would come to Him from everywhere.