The Mission of John the Baptist
(Matthew 3:1–17; Luke 3:1–22; John 1:19–34)

1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2As has been written in the prophets; Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who will prepare thy way before thee;

3the voice of one roaring in the wilderness; Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make His paths straight.

4John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness the baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins. 5And all the Judean country and the Jerusalemites were going out unto him, and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6And John was clothed with camel's hair and a leathern girdle about his loins, and eating locusts and wild honey; 7And he proclaimed, saying, I indeed baptized you with water; but One cometh after me more powerful than I; the latchet of His sandals I am not worthy, having stooped down, to loose, 8and He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

9And it came to pass in those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And coming up straightway from the water, He saw the heavens open and the Spirit like a dove descending on Him. 11And there was a voice from the heavens: Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I delight.

The Temptation and Preaching of Jesus
(Matthew 4:1–17; Luke 4:1–15)

12And immediately the Spirit casts Him out into the wilderness. 13And he was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels continued to minister unto Him.

14After that John was cast into prison, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15and saying, That the time is fulfilled: the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the gospel.

The First Disciples
(Matthew 4:18–22; Luke 5:1–11; John 1:35–42)

16And walking by the sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting their net in the sea: for they were fishers.

17Jesus said to them, Come after me, and I will make you to be fishers of men. 18And immediately, having left their nets, they followed Him. 19And going forth thence a little, He saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, themselves also in a ship mending their nets, 20and immediately He called them. And having left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired hands, they departed after Him.

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

21And they come into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath, He was teaching in the synagogue. 22And they were astonished at His teaching; for Ile was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23And there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24saying, Let me alone; what is there to us and thee, thou Jesus, the Nazarene? You have come to destroy us; I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. 25And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Be silent, and come out from him. 26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a great voice, came out from him. 27And they were all astonished, so that they were inquiring one to another, saying, What is this? what new teaching is this? Because according to authority He commands the unclean spirits, and they obey Him; 28and His fame went out immediately into all the surrounding country of Galilee.

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

29And immediately, having come out from the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30And the mother-in-law of Simon was lying down burning with fever; and immediately they speak to Him concerning her: 31And having come to her, taking her by the hand, He raised her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she continued to minister unto them.

32And it being evening, when the sun went down, they were carrying to Him all the sick and demonized; 33and the whole city was gathered to the door. 34And He healed many who were afflicted with various diseases, and He cast out many demons; and did not suffer the demons to speak, because they knew Him.

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

35And in the morning, exceedingly early, while it was yet night, having arisen up He came out, and went away into a desert place, and was praying there. 36And Simon and those who were with him followed Him. 37And they found Him, and say to Him, All are seeking after thee. 38And He says to them, Let us go into the surrounding villages and cities, that I may preach there; for unto this I have come out. 39And He was preaching in their synagogues in all Galilee, and casting out the demons.

The Leper’s Prayer
(Matthew 8:1–4; Luke 5:12–16)

40And a leper comes to Him, entreating Him, and bowing the knee to Him, and saying to Him, That if thou mayest be willing, thou art able to cleanse me. 41And Jesus being moved with compassion, reaching forth His hand, touched him, and says to him, I will; be thou cleansed. 42And He speaking, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. 43And charging him, He immediately sent him away, 44and says to him, See that you may speak nothing to any one: but go, show thyself unto the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 45And he having gone out, began to proclaim many things, and to publish abroad the word, so that He was no longer able openly to come into the city, but was out in desert places: and they continued to come to Him from all directions.