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 the Son of God;

2As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee;

3The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

4John was baptizing in the wilderness, and preaching the baptism of repentance, for the remission of sins. 5And there went out to him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6And John was clothed with camels hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he ate locusts and wild honey; 7And preached, saying, There cometh after me one mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8I indeed have baptized you with water: 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 to Galilee, and was baptized by John in Jordan. 10And immediately coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him. 11And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

The Temptation of Jesus

(Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13)

12And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness. 13And he was there in the wilderness forty days tempted by Satan: and was with the wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.

Jesus Preaches in Galilee

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

14Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

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

16Now as he was walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 17And Jesus said to them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. 18And immediately they forsook their nets, and followed him. 19And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 20And immediately he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.

Jesus Expels an Evil Spirit

(Luke 4:31-37)

21And they went into Capernaum; and immediately on the sabbath he entered into the synagogue and taught. 22And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 23And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. 25And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. 26And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him. 28And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region around Galilee.

Jesus Heals at Peter's House

(Matthew 8:14-17; Luke 4:38-41)

29And forthwith, when they had come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30But the mother of Simon's wife lay sick with a fever; and forthwith they tell him of her. 31And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered to them.

32And at evening, when the sun had set, they brought to him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with demons. 33And all the city was gathered at the door. 34And he healed many that were sick with divers diseases, and cast out many demons; and suffered not the demons to speak, because they knew him.

Jesus Prays and Preaches

(Luke 4:42-44)

35And in the morning, rising a great while before day, he went out and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 36And Simon, and they that were with him, followed after him. 37And when they had found him, they said to him, All men seek for thee. 38And he said to them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for, for this purpose have I come. 39And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out demons.

The Leper's Prayer

(Leviticus 14:1-32; Matthew 8:1-4; Luke 5:12-16)

40And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying to him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 41And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith to him, I will; be thou clean. 42And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. 43And he strictly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; 44And saith to him, See thou say nothing to any man; but go, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them. 45But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, so that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.