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

3and again, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight:" accordingly John came baptizing in the wilderness,

4and preaching the baptism of repentance in order to the remission of sins; 5and all the country of Judea, and those of Jerusalem, went out to him, and were all baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6And John was clothed with camels hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins, and he lived upon locusts and wild honey: and he preached, 7saying, There cometh after me one mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop and unloose. 8I indeed have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the holy Spirit.

9And in those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in Jordan: 10and as soon as He came up from the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him. 11And there was a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

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

12And immediately the Spirit taketh Him out into the wilderness: 13and He was there in the wilderness forty days tempted by Satan, and among the wild beasts: and angels ministred unto Him.

14Now after John was cast into 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, and believe the gospel.

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

16And as He was walking by the sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea,

17(for they were fishermen,) and Jesus said unto them, Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men: 18and immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 19And going a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship, mending their nets, and immediately called them likewise: 20and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the men he had hired, and went along with Him.

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

21And they went into Capernaum: and going directly into the synagogue on the sabbath, He taught the people: and they were astonished at his doctrine; 22for He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 23And there was in their synagogue a man with an impure spirit, 24and he cried out, saying, Let us alone, what have we to do with thee, 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, Be silent, and come out of him: and the impure spirit threw him into convulsions, 26and roaring with a loud voice, came out of him. 27And they were all amazed, so that they inquired of each other, saying, What is this, what new kind of doctrine is this? for He commands with authority even the impure spirits, and they obey Him. 28And straitway his fame spread into all the country round about Galilee.

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

29And as soon as they came out of the synagogue, they went into the house of Simon and Andrew, together with James and John. 30And Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever: and they immediately told Him of her: 31and He came to her, and taking her by the hand raised her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she waited upon them.

32And in the evening, when the sun set, they brought to Him all that were ill, and demoniacs: 33and the whole city was gathered together at the door; 34and He healed many that were ill of various diseases, and cast out many devils, and suffered not the devils to say that they knew Him.

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

35And in the morning, before it was light, He rose up and went out, and retired into a solitary place, and there prayed. 36And Simon, and they that were with him, went in quest of Him: 37and when they found Him, they said to Him, all the people are seeking for thee. 38And He saith unto them, Let us go into the neighbouring towns, that I may preach there also; for this was the end of my coming. 39And He went preaching in their synagogues, through all Galilee, and casting out devils.

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

40And there came to Him a leper, beseeching Him, and kneeling down to Him, and saying unto Him, If thou wilt, thou canst cleanse me: 41and Jesus, being moved with compassion, stretched out his hand and touched him, and saith unto Him, I will; 42be thou healed: and as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was healed. 43And he gave him a strict charge, and immediately dismissed him, 44and saith unto him, See thou tell no man: but go, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy purification what Moses has commanded, for a testimony to them. 45But when he was gone he began to publish it much, and to spread abroad the report: so that Jesus could no more go openly into the city, but kept out in country places: and they came to Him from all parts.