1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, athe Son of God. 2 aAs it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "bBEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY; 3 aTHE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE Lord, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.'" 4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness apreaching a baptism of repentance for the bforgiveness of sins. 5 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. 6 John was clothed with camel's hair and wore aa leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. 7 And he was preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. 8 "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." 9 aIn those days Jesus bcame from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came out of the heavens: "aYou are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased." 12 aImmediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. 13 And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by aSatan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him. 14 aNow after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, bpreaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, "aThe time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; brepent and believe in the gospel." 16 aAs He was going 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. 17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 19 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him. 21 aThey went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath bHe entered the synagogue and began to teach. 22 aThey were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 saying, "aWhat business do we have with each other, Jesus of bNazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are--cthe Holy One of God!" 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" 26 Throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. 27 They were all aamazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." 28 Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee. 29 aAnd immediately after they came bout of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they spoke to Jesus about her. 31 And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she waited on them. 32 aWhen evening came, bafter the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were cdemon-possessed. 33 And the whole acity had gathered at the door. 34 And He ahealed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was. 35 aIn the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and bwas praying there. 36 Simon and his companions searched for Him; 37 they found Him, and said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." 38 He said to them, "Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for." 39 aAnd He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons. 40 aAnd a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and bfalling on his knees before Him, and saying, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. 43 And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, 44 and He said to him, "aSee that you say nothing to anyone; but ago, show yourself to the priest and boffer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." 45 But he went out and began to aproclaim it freely and to aspread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and bthey were coming to Him from everywhere.