Berean Standard Bible
- 1 This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
- 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way."
- 3 "A voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.'"
- 4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
- 5 People went out to him from all of Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
- 6 John was clothed in camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
- 7 And he began to proclaim: "After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
- 8 I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
- 9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
- 10 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.
- 11 And a voice came from heaven: "You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased."
- 12 At once the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness,
- 13 and He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to Him.
- 14 After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.
- 15 "The time is fulfilled," He said, "and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!"
- 16 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
- 17 "Come, follow Me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
- 18 And at once they left their nets and followed Him.
- 19 Going on a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat, mending their nets.
- 20 Immediately Jesus called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.
- 21 Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach.
- 22 The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
- 23 Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue:
- 24 "What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are-the Holy One of God!"
- 25 But Jesus rebuked the spirit. "Be silent!" He said. "Come out of him!"
- 26 At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out with a loud shriek.
- 27 All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!"
- 28 And the news about Jesus spread quickly through the whole region of Galilee.
- 29 As soon as Jesus and His companions had left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.
- 30 Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever, and they promptly told Jesus about her.
- 31 So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.
- 32 That evening, after sunset, people brought to Jesus all who were sick and demon-possessed,
- 33 and the whole town gathered at the door.
- 34 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.
- 35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray.
- 36 Simon and his companions went to look for Him,
- 37 and when they found Him, they said, "Everyone is looking for You!"
- 38 But Jesus answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns so I can preach there as well, for that is why I have come."
- 39 So He went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
- 40 Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: "If You are willing, You can make me clean."
- 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. "I am willing," He said. "Be clean!"
- 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed.
- 43 Jesus promptly sent him away with a stern warning:
- 44 "See that you don't tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them."
- 45 But the man went out and openly began to proclaim and spread the news. Consequently, Jesus could no longer enter a town in plain view, but He stayed out in solitary places. Yet people came to Him from every quarter.
