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¹ At that time Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the Desert in order to be tempted by the Devil.² There He fasted for forty days and nights; and after that He suffered from hunger.³ So the Tempter came and said, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to turn into loaves."⁴ "It is written," replied Jesus, "`It is not on bread alone that a man shall live, but on whatsoever God shall appoint.'"<sup>5</sup> Then the Devil took Him to the Holy City and caused Him to stand on the roof of the Temple,<sup>6</sup> and said, "If you are God's Son, throw yourself down; for it is written, "`To His angels He will give orders concerning thee, and on their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any moment thou shouldst strike thy foot against a stone.'"⁷ "Again it is written," replied Jesus, "`Thou shalt not put the Lord thy God to the proof.'"<sup>8</sup> Then the Devil took Him to the top of an exceedingly lofty mountain, from which he caused Him to see all the Kingdoms of the world and their splendour,<sup>9</sup> and said to Him, "All this I will give you, if you will kneel down and do me homage."<sup>10</sup> "Begone, Satan!" Jesus replied; "for it is written, `To the Lord thy God thou shalt do homage, and to Him alone shalt thou render worship.'"¹¹ Thereupon the Devil left Him, and angels at once came and ministered to Him.

¹² Now when Jesus heard that John was thrown into prison, He withdrew into Galilee,¹³ and leaving Nazareth He went and settled at Capernaum, a town by the Lake on the frontiers of Zebulun and Naphtali,¹⁴ in order that these words, spoken through the Prophet Isaiah, might be fulfilled,¹⁵ "Zebulun's land and Naphtali's land; the road by the Lake; the country beyond the Jordan; Galilee of the Nations!¹⁶ The people who were dwelling in darkness have seen a brilliant light; and on those who were dwelling in the region of the shadow of death, on them light has dawned."¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to preach. "Repent," He said, "for the Kingdom of the Heavens is now close at hand."

¹⁸ And walking along the shore of the Lake of Galilee He saw two brothers--Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew--throwing a drag-net into the Lake; for they were fishers.¹⁹ And He said to them, "Come and follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."²⁰ So they immediately left their nets and followed Him. As He went further on,²¹ He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zabdi and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zabdi mending their nets; and He called them.²² And they at once left the boat and their father, and followed Him.

²³ Then Jesus travelled through all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom, and curing every kind of disease and infirmity among the people.²⁴ Thus His fame spread through all Syria; and they brought all the sick to Him, the people who were suffering from various diseases and pains--demoniacs, epileptics, paralytics; and He cured them.²⁵ And great crowds followed Him, coming from Galilee, from the Ten Towns, from Jerusalem, and from beyond the district on the other side of the Jordan.