The Mission of John the Baptist
(Isaiah 40:1-5; Matthew 3:1-12; Luke 3:1-20; John 1:19-28)

1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Son of God.a 2As it has been written in the prophet Isaiah:

“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,

who will prepare Your way.”b

3“The voice of one crying in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way of the Lord,

make straight His paths.’”c

4John came baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins. 5And all the region of Judea and all of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.

6And John was clothed in camel’s hair and a belt of leather around his waist; and he is eating locusts and wild honey. 7And he was preaching, saying, “He who comes after me is mightier than I, of whom I am not sufficient, having stooped down, to untie the strap of His sandals. 8I baptized you with water,d but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

The Baptism of Jesus
(Matthew 3:13-17; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34)

9And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. 10And immediately going up from the water, he saw the heavens tearing open and the Spirit descending as a dove upon Him. 11And a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My Son, the beloved; in You I am well pleased.”

The Temptation of Jesus
(Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13)

12And immediately the Spirit drives Him out into the wilderness. 13And He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And He was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to Him.

Jesus Preaches in Galilee
(Isaiah 9:1-7; Matthew 4:12-17; Luke 4:14-15)

14And after the delivering up of John, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God 15and saying, “The time has been fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has drawn near; repent and believe in the gospel.”

The First Disciples
(Matthew 4:18-22; Matthew 13:47-52; Luke 5:1-11; John 1:35-42)

16And passing by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, “Come after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” 18And immediately, having left the nets, they followed Him.

19And having gone on a little, He saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John, and they were in the boat mending the nets. 20And immediately He called them, and having left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, they went away after Him.

Jesus Expels an Unclean Spirit
(Luke 4:31-37)

21And they go into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbaths, having entered into the synagogue, He was teaching. 22And they were astonished at His teaching, for He was teaching them as having authority, and not as the scribes.

23And immediately there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, 24saying, “What to us and to You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are, the Holy One of God!”

25And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come forth out of him!” 26And having thrown him into convulsions, and having cried in a loud voice, the unclean spirit came forth out of him.

27And all were astonished, so as to question among themselves, saying, “What is this new teaching? With authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!” 28And news of Him immediately went out everywhere into all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Jesus Heals at Peter's House
(Matthew 8:14-17; Luke 4:38-41)

29And immediately having gone forth out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30And the mother-in-law of Simon was laying sick fevering. And immediately they speak to Him about her. 31And having come to her, He raised her up, having taken hold of the hand. And the fever left her, and she began to minister to them.

32And evening having come, when the sun went down, they began bringing to Him all those being sick and those being possessed by demons. 33And all the city was gathered together at the door. 34And He healed many being sick of various diseases, and He cast out many demons. And He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.

Jesus Prays and Preaches
(Luke 4:42-44)

35And having risen up very early, still much in night, He went out and departed into a solitary place, and there He was praying. 36And Simon and those with him went after Him. 37And having found Him, also they say to Him, “Everyone seeks You!”

38And He says to them, “Let us go another way into the neighboring towns, so that I might preach there also; for I have come forth for this.” 39And He was going in all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

The Leper's Prayer
(Leviticus 14:1-32; Matthew 8:1-4; Luke 5:12-16)

40And a lepere comes to Him, imploring Him and kneeling down to Him, and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You are able to cleanse me.”

41And having been moved with compassion,f having stretched out His hand, He touched him and says to him, “I am willing, be cleansed.”

42And immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

43And having sternly warned him, He sent him away immediately. 44And He says to him, “See that you speak nothing to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.”

45But having gone out, he began to proclaim much and to spread abroad the matter, so that He was no longer able to enter openly into the city, but He was out in solitary places. And they were coming to Him from every quarter.