Study Desk

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, ^(C1)the Son of God,

^(C1)just as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "^(C2)BEHOLD, I AM SENDING MY MESSENGER ^(F1)BEFORE YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY;

^(C1)THE VOICE OF ONE CALLING ^(F1)OUT IN THE WILDERNESS, 'PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!'"

John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, ^(F1)(C1)preaching a baptism of repentance for the ^(C2)forgiveness of sins.

And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

John was clothed with camel's hair and wore ^(C1)a leather belt around his waist, and ^(F1)his diet was locusts and wild honey.

And he was ^(F1)preaching, saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to bend down and untie the straps of His sandals.

"I baptized you ^(F1)with water; but He will baptize you ^(F1)with the Holy Spirit."

^(C1)In those days Jesus ^(C2)came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens ^(F1)opening, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him;

and a voice came from the heavens: "^(C1)You are My beloved Son; in You I ^(F1)am well pleased."

^(C1)And immediately the Spirit ^(*)brought Him out into the wilderness.

And He was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by ^(C1)Satan; and He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving Him.

^(C1)Now after John was ^(F1)taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, ^(F2)(C2)preaching the gospel of God,

and saying, "^(C1)The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; ^(C2)repent and ^(F1)believe in the gospel."

^(C1)As He was going along the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen.

And Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will have you become fishers of people."

Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

And going on a little farther, He saw ^(F1)James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, ^(F2)who were also in the boat mending the nets.

Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and went away ^(F1)to follow Him.

^(C1)They ^(*)went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath Jesus ^(C2)entered the synagogue and began to teach.

And ^(C1)they were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.