(This is the) beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ , (the) Son - of God.
As it is written in - Isaiah - the prophet : “ Behold , I will send My - messenger ahead of You ... ... , who will prepare Your - way.”
“ A voice of one calling in the wilderness , ‘ Prepare the way for (the) Lord , make straight - paths for Him.’”
John - the Baptist appeared in the wilderness , - preaching (a) baptism of repentance for (the) forgiveness of sins.
- (People) went out to him ... from all of Jerusalem and - the countryside of Jude -a. - Confessing their - sins , they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
- - John - was clothed in camel’s hair , with a leather belt around his - waist. - His food was locusts and wild honey.
And he began to proclaim ... : “ After me will come One more powerful than I , the straps of - whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down (and) untie.
I baptize you with water , but He will baptize you with (the) Holy Spirit. ”
- - In those - days Jesus came from Nazareth - in Galilee and was baptized by John - in the Jordan.
vvv As soon (as Jesus) came up out of the water , He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.
And a voice came from - heaven : “ You are My - beloved - Son ; in You I am well pleased. ”
- At once the Spirit drove (Jesus) ... into the wilderness ,
and He was vvv vvv (there) for forty days , being tempted by - Satan. - He was with the wild animals , and the angels ministered to Him.
- After the arrest - of John - , - Jesus went into - Galilee (and) proclaimed the gospel - of God.
- “ The time is fulfilled , ” - He said , “ and the kingdom - of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel ! ”
As (Jesus) was walking beside the Sea - of Galilee , He saw Simon and - (his) brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea , for they were fishermen.
“ Come, follow ... Me , ” - - Jesus said ... , “ and I will make you - fishers of men. ”
And at once they left (their) nets (and) followed Him.
- Going on a little (farther) , He saw James - (son) - of Zebedee and his - brother John -. - They (were) in a boat , mending (their) nets.
- Immediately (Jesus) called them , and they left their - father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men (and) followed ... Him.
Then (Jesus and His companions) went to Capernaum , and right away (Jesus) entered ... the synagogue on the Sabbath (and) began to teach.
- (The people) were astonished at His - teaching , because vvv He taught - as one who had authority , and not as the scribes.
- Suddenly - a man with an unclean spirit - cried out in - the synagogue :
- “ What do You ( want ) - with us , Jesus of Nazareth ? Have You come to destroy us ? I know who You are — the Holy (One) - of God ! ”
But - Jesus rebuked (the spirit). “ Be silent ! ” He said. “ - Come out of him ! ”
At this , the - unclean spirit threw (the man) into convulsions ... (and) came out - - vvv with a loud shriek ....
- All (the people) were amazed (and) began to ask vvv one another - , “ What is this ? A new teaching with authority ! He commands even the - unclean spirits , and they obey Him ! ”
And the news about (Jesus) spread quickly through ... the whole region - of Galilee.
As soon as ... (Jesus and His companions) had left ... the synagogue , they went with James - and John - to the home of Simon and Andrew.
- Simon’s - mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever , and they promptly told ... (Jesus) about her.
So He went to (her) , took her (by the) hand , and helped her up .... - The fever left her , and she began to serve them.
- That evening ... , after - sunset ... , (people) brought to (Jesus) all who were sick and - demon-possessed ,
and the whole town vvv gathered at the door.
And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But vvv He would not allow the demons to speak , because they knew who He was.
Early in the morning , while it was still dark , - (Jesus) got up (and) slipped out ... ... to a solitary place ... to pray.
- Simon and his companions ... ... went to look for Him ,
and when they found Him , - they said ... , - “ Everyone is looking for You ! ”
But (Jesus) answered ... , “ Let us go on to the neighboring towns so I can preach there as well , for that is why ... I have come. ”
(So) He went throughout ... - Galilee , preaching in their - synagogues and driving out - demons.
Then a leper came to (Jesus) , begging - vvv on his knees - - - - : “ If You are willing , You can make me clean .... ”
- Moved with compassion , Jesus reached out His - hand (and) touched (the man). “ I am willing , ” - He said -. “ Be clean ! ”
And immediately the leprosy left ... him , and (the man) was cleansed.
- vvv (Jesus) promptly sent him away ... with a stern warning ... :
- - - “ See that you don’t tell ... (anyone). But go , show yourself to the priest and present the offering - Moses prescribed for your - cleansing , as a testimony to them. ”
But the (man) went out (and) openly began to proclaim and spread the news. Consequently , Jesus could no longer ... enter ... a town in plain view , but He stayed out in solitary places. Yet (people) came to Him from every quarter.