Chapter 1

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

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

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  The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.''  

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

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

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

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  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.  

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  I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.'  

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

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

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

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  Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness.  

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  He was there in the wilderness forty days tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals. The angels ministered to him.  

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  Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,  

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  and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand! Repent, and believe in the gospel.'  

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  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.  

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

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  Immediately they left their nets, and followed him.  

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

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

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

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

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

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  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.'  

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  Jesus rebuked him, saying, 'Be quiet, and come out of him!'  

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

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  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.'  

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

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

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

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

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

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  All the city was gathered together at the door.  

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  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.  

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  Early in the night, he rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed.  

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  Simon and those who were with him followed after him;  

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  and they found him, and told him, 'All are seeking you.'  

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  He said to them, 'Let's go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also, for to this end I came forth.'  

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

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  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.'  

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  Being moved with compassion, he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, and said to him, 'I want to. Be made clean.'  

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

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  He strictly charged him, and immediately sent him out,  

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  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.'  

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  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.  

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