2 As it is written in {Isaiah the prophet},^c “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way [[before you]];”^de

3 “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”^f

4 John {the baptizer appeared}^g in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.

7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”^h

9 And it happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John.

10 And immediately, as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove [upon]ⁱ him. 11 And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased.”

12 And immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And 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.

14 Now after John was handed over,^j Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the good news^k {of God}^l 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the good news.”

16 And passing by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting {a}^m net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Come afterⁿ me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 18 And immediately, leaving their nets, they followed him.

19 And going on a little further, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, and they were in the boat mending their nets. 20 And immediately he called them; and leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, they went after him.

21 And they went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath {he entered the synagogue and taught}.^o 22 And they were astonished at his teaching; for he was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

23 And [immediately]^p there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, 24 saying, “What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? [[Ha!]]^q Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”

25 And Jesus rebuked it, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him.” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.

27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching! With authority he also commands the unclean spirits, and they obey him”.

28 And his fame spread immediately [everywhere]^r throughout the whole region of Galilee.

29 And immediately after leaving the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

30 Now Simon's mother-in-law was lying down, suffering from a fever, and they immediately told him about her. 31 And approaching, he raised her up, taking her by the hand; and the fever left her, and [[immediately]]^s she served them.

32 And when evening came, after the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed; 33 and the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons; and he did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew him [[to be the Christ]].^t

35 And in the early morning, while it was still dark, he got up and went out and departed to a deserted place, and there he prayed.

36 And Simon and those {with him pursued him},^u 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.”

38 And he said to them, “Let us go elsewhere, to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim there also; for this is why I came out.”

39 And he went, preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee and casting out demons.

40 And a leper came to him, imploring him [kneeling down]^v [[to him]]^w and saying to him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” 41 And {moved with compassion},^x he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 And [[when he had spoken]]^y immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.

43 And being sternly warned, he immediately sent him away 44 and said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

45 But he went out and began to proclaim it widely and spread the word, so that he could no longer enter a city openly, but stayed outside in deserted places; and they came to him from everywhere.