Study Desk

The beginning^(a) of the gospel^(b) of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.^(c)

As it is written in Isaiah^(d) the prophet:^[a](e) Look, I am sending My messenger ^(f) ahead of You, who will prepare Your way. ^[b]

A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ^(g) Prepare the way for the Lord; ^(h) make His paths straight! ^(i)[c]

John came baptizing^[d](j) in the wilderness^(k) and preaching a baptism of repentance^[e](l) for the forgiveness^(m) of sins.⁽ⁿ⁾

The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem^(o) were flocking to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan^(p) River as they confessed^(q) their sins.^(r)

John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts^(s) and wild honey.^(t)

He was preaching: "Someone more powerful^(u) than I will come after me.^(v) I am not worthy^(w) to stoop down and untie the strap of His sandals.^(x)

I have baptized you with^[f] water,^(y) but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."^(z)

In^(aa) those days Jesus came from Nazareth^(ab) in Galilee^(ac) and was baptized in the Jordan by John.

As soon as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavens^(ad) being torn open and the Spirit descending to Him like a dove.

And a voice^(ae) came from heaven:^(af) You are My beloved^(ag) Son;^(ah) I take delight^(ai) in You!^[g]

Immediately^(aj) the Spirit^(ak) drove^(al) Him into the wilderness.^(am)

He was in the wilderness 40 days, being tempted^(an) by Satan.^(ao) He was with the wild animals,^(ap) and the angels^(aq) began to serve Him.

After^(ar) John was arrested,^(as) Jesus went to Galilee,^(at) preaching^(au) the good news^[h][i](av) of God:^[j](aw)

"The time^(ax) is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God^(ay) has come^(az) near.^(ba) Repent^(bb) and believe^(bc) in the good news!"

As^(bd) He was passing along by the Sea of Galilee,^(be) He saw Simon^(bf) and Andrew,^(bg) Simon's brother. They were casting a net into the sea,^(bh) since they were fishermen.

"Follow Me," ^(bi) Jesus told them, "and I will make you fish for^[k](bj) people!" ^(bk)

Immediately they left their nets and followed^(bl) Him.^(bm)

Going on a little farther, He saw James^(bn) the son of Zebedee^(bo) and his brother John.^(bp) They were in their boat mending their nets.

Immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.^(bq)

Then^(br) they went into Capernaum,^(bs) and right away He entered the synagogue^(bt) on the Sabbath^(bu) and began to teach.^(bv)

They were astonished^(bw) at His teaching^(bx) because, unlike the scribes,^(by) He was teaching them as one having authority.

Just then a man with an unclean^(bz) spirit^(ca) was in their synagogue.^(cb) He cried out,^[l]

"What do You have to do with us,^[m] Jesus—Nazarene?^(cc) Have You come to destroy^(cd) us? I know who You are—the Holy^(ce) One of God!"^(cf)

But Jesus rebuked^(cg) him and said, "Be quiet, ^[n](ch) and come out of him!"

And the unclean spirit convulsed him,^(ci) shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him.

Then they were all amazed,^(cj) so they began to argue^(ck) with one another, saying, "What is this? A new teaching^(cl) with authority!^[o](cm) He commands even the unclean^(cn) spirits,^(co) and they obey Him."

News about Him then spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.^(cp)

As^(cq) soon as they left the synagogue,^(cr) they went into Simon^(cs) and Andrew's^(ct) house^(cu) with James^(cv) and John.^(cw)

Simon's mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.

So He went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up.^(cx) The fever^(cy) left her,^[p] and she began to serve^(cz) them.^(da)

When^(db) evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all those who were sick^(dc) and those who were demon-possessed.^(dd)

The whole town was assembled at the door,

and He healed^(de) many who were sick with various diseases^(df) and drove out^(dg) many demons.^(dh) But He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him.^(di)

Very^(dj) early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place.^(dk) And He was praying^(dl) there.

Simon^(dm) and his companions went searching for Him.

They found Him and said, "Everyone's looking for You!"

And He said to them, "Let's go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach^(dn) there too. This is why I have come."

So He went into all of Galilee,^(do) preaching in their synagogues^(dp) and driving out demons.

Then^(dq) a man with a serious skin disease^(dr) came to Him and, on his knees,^[q](ds) begged Him: "If You are willing, You can make me clean."^(dt)

Moved with compassion,^(du) Jesus reached out His hand and touched^(dv) him. "I am willing," He told him. "Be made clean."

Immediately the disease^(dw) left him, and he was healed.^[r]

Then He sternly warned^(dx) him and sent him away^(dy) at once,

telling him, "See that you say nothing to anyone;^(dz) but go and show^(ea) yourself to the priest,^(eb) and offer^(ec) what Moses prescribed for your cleansing,^(ed) as a testimony^(ee) to them."

Yet he went out and began to proclaim^(ef) it widely and to spread the news,^(eg) with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But He was out in deserted places, and they would come to Him from everywhere.