¹The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ , the Son of God .

²As it is written in the prophets ,

“Behold , I send my messenger before your face ,

who will prepare your way before you :

³the voice of one crying in the wilderness ,

‘Make ready the way of the Lord !

Make his paths straight !’”

⁴John came baptising in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.[#1:4 or, immersing]

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

⁶John was clothed with camel ’s hair and a leather belt around his waist . He ate locusts and wild honey .

⁷He 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.

⁸I baptised you in water , but he will baptise you in the Holy Spirit .”[#1:8 The Greek word (en) translated here as “in” could also be translated as “with” in some contexts.]

⁹In those days , Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee , and was baptised by John in the Jordan .

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

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

¹²Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness .

¹³He was there in the wilderness forty days , tempted by Satan . He was with the wild animals; and the angels were serving him .

¹⁴Now after John was taken into custody , Jesus came into Galilee , preaching the Good News of God ’s Kingdom,

¹⁵and saying , “ The time is fulfilled , and God ’s Kingdom is at hand ! Repent , and believe in the Good News .”

¹⁶Passing 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.

¹⁷Jesus said to them , “ Come after me , and I will make you into fishers for men .”

¹⁸Immediately they left their nets , and followed him .

¹⁹Going 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 .

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

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

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

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

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

²⁵Jesus rebuked him , saying , “ Be quiet , and come out of him !”

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

²⁷They were all amazed , so that they questioned amongst themselves , saying , “What is this ? A new teaching ? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits , and they obey him !”

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

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

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

³¹He came and took her by the hand and raised her up . The fever left her immediately, and she served them .[#1:31 NU omits “immediately”.]

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

³³All the city was gathered together at the door .

³⁴He 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 .

³⁵Early in the morning , while it was still dark , he rose up and went out , and departed into a deserted place , and prayed there .

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

³⁷They found him and told him , “Everyone is looking for you .”

³⁸He said to them , “ Let ’ s go elsewhere into the next towns , that I may preach there also , because I came out for this reason.”

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

⁴⁰A leper came to him , begging him , kneeling down to him , and saying to him , “If you want to , you can make me clean .”

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

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

⁴³He strictly warned him and immediately sent him out ,

⁴⁴and said to him , “ See that 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 .”

⁴⁵But 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 . People came to him from everywhere .