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The Messiah’s Herald

¹ The beginning^(C1) of the gospel^(C2) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.^{(F1)(C3) 2} As it is written in Isaiah^(C1) the prophet:^(F1)(C2)

⁴ John came baptizing^(F1)(C1) in the wilderness^(C2) and proclaiming a baptism of repentance^(C3) for the forgiveness^(C4) of sins.^{(C5) 5} The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem^(C1) were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan^(C2) River, confessing^(C3) their sins.^{(C4) 6} John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts^(C1) and wild honey.^(C2)

⁷ He proclaimed, “One who is more powerful^(C1) than I am is coming after me.^(C2) I am not worthy^(C3) to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals.^{(C4) 8} I baptize you with^(F1) water,^(C1) but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”^(C2)

The Baptism of Jesus

⁹ In^(C1) those days Jesus came from Nazareth^(C2) in Galilee^(C3) and was baptized in the Jordan by John. ¹⁰ As soon as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens^(C1) being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹ And a voice^(C1) came from heaven:^(C2) “You are my beloved^(C3) Son;^(C4) with you I am well-pleased.”^(C5)

The Temptation of Jesus

¹² Immediately^(C1) the Spirit^(C2) drove^(C3) him into the wilderness.^{(C4) 13} He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted^(C1) by Satan.^(C2) He was with the wild animals,^(C3) and the angels^(C4) were serving him.

Ministry in Galilee

¹⁴ After^(C1) John was arrested,^(C2) Jesus went to Galilee,^(C3) proclaiming^(C4) the good news^(F1)(F2)(C5) of God:^{(C6) 15} “The time

The First Disciples

¹⁶ As^(C1) he passed alongside the Sea of Galilee,^(C2) he saw Simon^(C3) and Andrew,^(C4) Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea^(C5)—for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ “Follow me,”¹⁸ Immediately they left their nets and followed^(C1) him.^{(C2) 19} Going on a little farther, he saw James^(C1) the son of Zebedee^(C2) and his brother John^(C3) in a boat putting their nets in order. ²⁰ Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.^(C1)

Driving Out an Unclean Spirit

²¹ They^(C1) went into Capernaum,^(C2) and right away he entered the synagogue^(C3) on the Sabbath^(C4) and began to teach.^{(C5) 22} They were astonished^(C1) at his teaching^(C2) because he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not like the scribes.

²³ Just then a man with an unclean^(C1) spirit^(C2) was in their synagogue.^(C3) He cried out, ²⁴ “What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?^(C1) Have you come to destroy^(C2) us? I know who you are—the Holy^(C3) One of God!” ^(C4)

²⁵ Jesus rebuked^(C1) him saying, “Be silent,²⁶ And the unclean spirit threw him into convulsions,^(C1) shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him.

²⁷ They were all amazed,^(C1) and so they began to ask^(C2) each other: “What is this? A new teaching^(C3) with authority!^(F1)(C4) He commands even the unclean^(C5) spirits,^(C6) and they obey him.” ²⁸ At once the news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.^(C1)

Healings at Capernaum

²⁹ As^(C1) soon as they left the synagogue,^(C2) they went into Simon^(C3) and Andrew’s^(C4) house^(C5) with James^(C6) and John.^{(C7) 30} Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. ³¹ So he went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up.^(C1) The fever^(C2) left her,^(F1) and she began to serve^(C3) them.^(C4)

³² When^(C1) evening came, after the sun had set, they brought to him all those who were sick^(C2) and demon-possessed.^{(C3) 33} The whole town was assembled at the door, ³⁴ and he healed^(C1) many who were sick with various diseases^(C2) and drove out^(C3) many demons.^(C4) And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.^(C5)

Preaching in Galilee

³⁵ Very^(C1) early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place;^(C2) and there he was praying.^{(C3) 36} Simon^(C1) and his companions searched for him, ³⁷ and when they found him they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”

³⁸ And he said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach

A Man Cleansed

³⁹ He went into all of Galilee,^(C1) preaching in their synagogues^(C2) and driving out demons. ⁴⁰ Then^(C1) a man with leprosy^(F1)(C2) came to him and, on his knees,^(F2)(C3) begged him: “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”^{(C4) 41} Moved with compassion,^(F1)(C1) Jesus reached out his hand and touched^(C2) him. “I am willing,”⁴² Immediately the leprosy^(C1) left him, and he was made clean. ⁴³ Then he sternly warned^(C1) him and sent him away^(C2) at once, ⁴⁴ telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone;⁴⁵ Yet he went out and began to proclaim^(C1) it widely and to spread the news,^(C2) with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But he was out in deserted places, and they came to him from everywhere.