The Mission of John the Baptist
(Isaiah 40:1–5; Matthew 3:1–17; Luke 3:1–22; John 1:19–34)
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Son of God.† 2 Just as it has been written in Isaiah the prophet:†
“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
who will prepare Your way.Ӡ
3 “A voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight His paths.’”†
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness† and preaching a baptism of repentance unto forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the region of Judea and all those of Jerusalem were going out to him, and they were being baptized† by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
6 And John was clothed in camel’s hair, and a belt of leather was around his waist, and he is eating locusts and wild honey. 7 And he was proclaiming, saying, “The One mighter than I comes after me, of whom I am not sufficient, having stooped down, to loose the strap of His sandals. 8 I† baptized you⁺ in water,† but He will baptize you⁺ in the Holy Spirit.† ”
9 And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. 10 And immediately, going up out of the water, He saw† the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending like a dove to Him. 11 And a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My Son, the Beloved; in You† I was well pleased.”
The Temptation and Preaching of Jesus
(Matthew 4:1–17; Luke 4:1–15)
12 And immediately the Spirit drives 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 And after the delivering up of John, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God† 15 and 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; Luke 5:1–11; John 1:35–42)
16 And 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. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Come after Me, and I will make you⁺ to become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately, having left the nets, they followed Him.
19 And having gone on a little,† He saw James of Zebedee and his brother John. And they were in the boat, mending the nets. 20 And immediately He called them, and having left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, they went away after Him.
Jesus Expels an Unclean Spirit
(Luke 4:31–37)
21 And they go into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbaths, having entered into the synagogue, He was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He was teaching them as having authority, and not as the scribes.
23 And immediately there was† a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, 24 saying,† “What to us and to You, Jesus the Nazarene? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silenced, and come out of him!” 26 And having thrown him into convulsions, and having cried in a loud voice, the unclean spirit came out of him.
27 And all were amazed, so as to question among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority!† He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!” 28 And the 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)
29 And immediately, having gone out of the synagogue, they went into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 And the mother-in-law of Simon was lying sick, having a fever, and immediately they speak to Him about her. 31 And having come near, He raised her up, having taken hold of the hand. And the fever† left her, and she was serving them.
32 Now evening having come, when the sun set, they were bringing to Him all those being ill and those being demon-possessed. 33 And all the city was gathered together at the door. 34 And He healed many ill having various diseases, and He cast out many demons. And He was not allowing the demons to speak, because they knew Him.†
Jesus Prays and Preaches
(Luke 4:42–44)
35 And having risen up early, very much in the night, He went out and went away into a wilderness place, and there He was praying. 36 And Simon and those with him went after Him. 37 And having found Him, also they say to Him, “Everyone seeks You!”
38 And He says to them, “Let us go another way into the neighboring towns, so that I might preach there also; for I came out for this.” 39 And He went preaching in their synagogues in all Galilee, and casting out demons.
The Leper’s Prayer
(Leviticus 14:1–32; Matthew 8:1–4; Luke 5:12–16)
40 And a leper† comes to Him, imploring Him and falling on his knees,† and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You are able to cleanse me.”
41 And having been moved with compassion,† having stretched out His hand, He touched him and, He says to him, “I am willing; be cleansed!” 42 And† immediately the leprosy went away from him, and he was cleansed.
43 And having sternly warned him, immediately He sent him out. 44 And He says to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest, and offer concerning your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.”†
45 But he, having gone out, began to proclaim much and to spread abroad the word, so that He was no longer able to enter openly into a city, but He was out in wilderness places. And they were coming to Him from everywhere.
Footnotes:
1 ECM, NE, MT, and TR; SBL and WH The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ
2 BYZ and TR written in the prophets:
2 Malachi 3:1; BYZ and TR include before You.
3 Isaiah 40:3 (see also LXX)
4 Or desert; also in verses 12 and 13
5 BYZ and TR they were all being baptized
8 BYZ and TR include indeed.
8 Or with water
8 Or with the Holy Spirit
10 Or he saw; see John 1:32–33
11 BYZ and TR the Beloved, in whom
13 BYZ and TR He was there
14 BYZ and TR the gospel of the kingdom of God
19 BYZ and TR include from there.
23 BYZ and TR And there was
24 BYZ and TR include Let us alone!
27 BYZ and TR What new teaching with authority that
31 BYZ and TR include Immediately
34 GOC, ALT, F35, WH they knew that He was the Christ
40 A leper was one afflicted with a skin disease. See Leviticus 13.
40 BYZ and TR and kneeling before Him
41 SBL Moved with indignation
42 BYZ and TR include when He had said this.
44 See Leviticus 14:1–32.