The Preaching of John the Baptist
(Matthew 3.1-12Luke 3.1-18John 1.19-28)1 This is the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 It began just as God had said in the book written by Isaiah the prophet,
“I am sending my messenger
to get the way ready
for you.
3 In the desert
someone is shouting,
‘Get the road ready
for the Lord!
Make a straight path
for him.’ ”
4 So John the Baptist showed up in the desert and told everyone, “Turn back to God and be baptized! Then your sins will be forgiven.”
5 From all Judea and Jerusalem crowds of people went to John. They told how sorry they were for their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River.
6 John wore clothes made of camel's hair. He had a leather strap around his waist and ate grasshoppers and wild honey.
7 John also told the people, “Someone more powerful is going to come. And I am not good enough even to stoop down and untie his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”
The Baptism of Jesus
(Matthew 3.13-17Luke 3.21Luke 22)9 About that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 As soon as Jesus came out of the water, he saw the sky open and the Holy Spirit coming down to him like a dove. 11 A voice from heaven said, “You are my own dear Son, and I am pleased with you.”
Jesus and Satan
(Matthew 4.1-11Luke 4.1-13)12 At once God's Spirit made Jesus go into the desert. 13 He stayed there for 40 days while Satan tested him. Jesus was with the wild animals, but angels took care of him.
Jesus Begins His Work
(Matthew 4.12-17Luke 4.14Luke 15)14 After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee and told the good news that comes from God. 15 He said, “The time has come! God's kingdom will soon be here. Turn back to God and believe the good news!”
Jesus Chooses Four Fishermen
(Matthew 4.18-22Luke 5.1-11)16 As Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were fishermen and were casting their nets into the lake. 17 Jesus said to them, “Follow me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish.” 18 Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him.
19 Jesus walked on and soon saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat, mending their nets. 20 At once Jesus asked them to come with him. They left their father in the boat with the hired workers and went with him.
A Man with an Evil Spirit
(Luke 4.31-37)21 Jesus and his disciples went to the town of Capernaum. Then on the next Sabbath he went into the synagogue and started teaching. 22 Everyone was amazed at his teaching. He taught with authority, and not like the teachers of the Law of Moses. 23 Suddenly a man with an evil spirit in him entered the synagogue and yelled, 24 “Jesus from Nazareth, what do you want with us? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are! You are God's Holy One.”
25 Jesus told the evil spirit, “Be quiet and come out of the man!” 26 The spirit shook him. Then it gave a loud shout and left.
27 Everyone was completely surprised and kept saying to each other, “What is this? It must be some new kind of powerful teaching! Even the evil spirits obey him.” 28 News about Jesus quickly spread all over Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many People
(Matthew 8.14-17Luke 4.38-41)29 As soon as Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went home with Simon and Andrew. 30 When they got there, Jesus was told that Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever. 31 Jesus went to her. He took hold of her hand and helped her up. The fever left her, and she served them a meal.
32 That evening after sunset, all who were sick or had demons in them were brought to Jesus. 33 In fact, the whole town gathered around the door of the house. 34 Jesus healed all kinds of terrible diseases and forced out a lot of demons. But the demons knew who he was, and he did not let them speak.
35 Very early the next morning before daylight, Jesus got up and went to a place where he could be alone and pray. 36 Simon and the others started looking for him. 37 And when they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you!”
38 Jesus replied, “We must go to the nearby towns, so that I can tell the good news to those people. This is why I have come.” 39 Then Jesus went to their synagogues everywhere in Galilee, where he preached and forced out demons.
Jesus Heals a Man
(Matthew 8.1-4Luke 5.12-16)
40 A man with leprosy came to Jesus and knelt down. He begged, “You have the power to make me well, if only you wanted to.”
41 Jesus felt sorry for the man. So he put his hand on him and said, “I want to! Now you are well.” 42 At once the man's leprosy disappeared, and he was well.
43 After Jesus strictly warned the man, he sent him on his way. 44 He said, “Don't tell anyone about this. Just go and show the priest that you are well. Then take a gift to the temple as Moses commanded, and everyone will know that you have been healed.”
45 The man talked about it so much and told so many people, that Jesus could no longer go openly into a town. He had to stay away from the towns, but people still came to him from everywhere.
1 The beginning of the Gospel of Iesus Christ, the Sonne of God: 2 As it is written in the Prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 3 The voyce of him that cryeth in the wildernesse is, Prepare the way of the Lord: make his paths straight. 4 Iohn did baptize in the wildernesse, and preach the baptisme of amendment of life, for remission of sinnes. 5 And al ye countrey of Iudea, and they of Hierusalem went out vnto him, and were all baptized of him in the riuer Iordan, confessing their sinnes. 6 Nowe Iohn was clothed with camels heare, and with a girdle of a skinne about his loynes: and he did eate Locusts and wilde hony, 7 And preached, saying, A stronger then I commeth after me, whose shoes latchet I am not worthy to stoupe downe, and vnloose. 8 Trueth it is, I haue baptized you with water: but he will baptize you with the holy Ghost. 9 And it came to passe in those dayes, that Iesus came from Nazareth, a citie of Galile, and was baptized of Iohn in Iordan. 10 And assoone as he was come out of the water, Iohn saw the heauens clouen in twaine, and the holy Ghost descending vpon him like a doue. 11 Then there was a voyce from heauen, saying, Thou art my beloued Sonne, in whome I am well pleased. 12 And immediatly the Spirite driueth him into the wildernesse. 13 And he was there in the wildernesse fourtie daies, and was tempted of Satan: hee was also with the wilde beastes, and the Angels ministred vnto him. 14 Now after that Iohn was committed to prison, Iesus came into Galile, preaching the Gospel of the kingdome of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdome of God is at hand: repent and beleeue the Gospel. 16 And as he walked by the sea of Galile, he saw Simon, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, (for they were fishers.) 17 Then Iesus said vnto them, Folow me, and I will make you to be fishers of men. 18 And straightway they forsooke their nets, and folowed him. 19 And when hee had gone a litle further thence, he sawe Iames the sonne of Zebedeus, and Iohn his brother, as they were in the ship, mending their nets. 20 And anon hee called them: and they left their father Zebedeus in the shippe with his hired seruants, and went their way after him. 21 So they entred into Capernaum, and straightway on the Sabbath day hee entred into the Synagogue, and taught. 22 And they were astonied at his doctrine, for he taught them as one that had authoritie, and not as the Scribes. 23 And there was in their Synagogue a man in whome was an vncleane spirite, and hee cried out, 24 Saying, Ah, what haue we to do with thee, O Iesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy vs? I knowe thee what thou art, euen that holy one of God. 25 And Iesus rebuked him, saying, Holde thy peace, and come out of him. 26 And the vncleane spirit tare him, and cried with a loude voyce, and came out of him. 27 And they were all amased, so that they demaunded one of another, saying, What thing is this? what newe doctrine is this? for he commandeth euen the foule spirites with authoritie, and they obey him. 28 And immediatly his fame spred abroade throughout all the region bordering on Galile. 29 And assoone as they were come out of the Synagogue, they entred into the house of Symon and Andrew, with Iames and Iohn. 30 And Symons wiues mother lay sicke of a feuer, and anon they told him of her. 31 And he came and tooke her by the hand, and lifted her vp, and the feuer forsooke her by and by, and shee ministred vnto them. 32 And whe euen was come, at what time the sunne setteth, they brought to him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with deuils. 33 And the whole citie was gathered together at the doore. 34 And he healed many that were sicke of diuers diseases: and he cast out many deuils, and suffred not the deuils to say that they knewe him. 35 And in the morning very early before day, Iesus arose and went out into a solitarie place, and there praied. 36 And Simon, and they that were with him, followed carefully after him. 37 And when they had found him, they sayde vnto him, All men seeke for thee. 38 Then he said vnto them, Let vs go into the next townes, that I may preach there also: for I came out for that purpose. 39 And hee preached in their Synagogues, throughout all Galile, and cast the deuils out. 40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeled downe vnto him, and said to him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me cleane. 41 And Iesus had compassion, and put foorth his hand, and touched him, and said to him, I wil: be thou cleane. 42 And assone as he had spoken, immediatly ye leprosie departed from him, and he was made cleane. 43 And after he had giue him a streight commandement, he sent him away forthwith, 44 And sayde vnto him, See thou say nothing to any man, but get thee hence, and shewe thy selfe to the Priest, and offer for thy clensing those things, which Moses commanded, for a testimoniall vnto them. 45 But when he was departed, hee began to tel many things, and to publish the matter: so that Iesus could no more openly enter into the citie, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from euery quarter.