1:1  The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

1:2  As it is written in the prophets, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, Who will prepare your way before you.

1:3  The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight!'"

1:4  John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.

1:5  All the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.

1:6  John was clothed with camel's hair and a leather belt around his loins. He ate locusts and wild honey.

1:7  He preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen.

1:8  I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit."

1:9  It happened in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

1:10  Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting, and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

1:11  A voice came out of the sky, "You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

1:12  Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness.

1:13  He was there in the wilderness forty days tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals; and the angels were ministering to him.

1:14  Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of God,

1:15  and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand! Repent, and believe in the gospel."

1:16  Passing 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.

1:17  Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men."

1:18  Immediately they left their nets, and followed him.

1:19  Going on a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John, his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.

1:20  Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.

1:21  They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.

1:22  They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.

1:23  Immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,

1:24  saying, "Ha! 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!"

1:25  Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"

1:26  The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.

1:27  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!"

1:28  The report of him went out immediately everywhere into all the region of Galilee and its surrounding area.

1:29  Immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

1:30  Now Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about her.

1:31  He came and took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she served them.

1:32  At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick, and those who were possessed by demons.

1:33  All the city was gathered together at the door.

1:34  He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. He didn't allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.

1:35  Early in the night, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there.

1:36  Simon and those who were with him followed after him;

1:37  and they found him, and told him, "Everyone is looking for you."

1:38  He said to them, "Let's go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this reason I came forth."

1:39  He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.

1:40  There came to him a leper, begging him, kneeling down to him, and saying to him, "If you want to, you can make me clean."

1:41  Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, "I want to. Be made clean."

1:42  When he had said this, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean.

1:43  He strictly warned him, and immediately sent him out,

1:44  and said to him, "See you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them."

1:45  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.