The Messiah’s Herald
1 The beginning 1:1 Jn 1:1; Php 4:15 of the gospel 1:1–8 Mt 3:1–12; Lk 3:1–18 of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 1:1 Some mss omit the Son of God, 1:1 Jn 5:19; Heb 1:22 As it is written in Isaiah 1:2 Mt 3:3; 4:14; 12:17 the prophet: 1:2 Other mss read in the prophets, 1:2 Lk 16:29
See, I am sending my messenger 1:2 Mt 13:49ahead of you;
he will prepare your way. 1:2 Other mss add before you, 1:2 Mal 3:1, 1:2 Mal 3:1
3 A voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 1:3 Jn 1:23
Prepare the way for the Lord; 1:3 Lk 10:1; 17:5
make his paths straight! 1:3 Is 40:3, 1:3 Is 40:3
4 John came baptizing 1:4 Or John the Baptist came, 1:4 Lk 7:29; Ac 22:16 in the wilderness 1:4 Rv 12:6 and proclaiming a baptism of repentance 1:4 Lk 3:3; Ac 13:24; 19:4; 26:20 for the forgiveness 1:4 Mt 9:2; Lk 24:47 of sins. 1:4 Jn 15:22; Ac 26:185 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem 1:5 Mt 23:37; Jn 11:36 were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan 1:5 Gn 13:10; Ps 114:3; Lk 3:3 River, confessing 1:5 Ac 19:18 their sins. 1:5 Jn 15:22; Rm 6:23; 1Pt 4:16 John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts 1:6 Rv 9:3,7 and wild honey. 1:6 Rv 10:9–10
7 He proclaimed, "One who is more powerful 1:7 Rv 18:8 than I am is coming after me. 1:7 Jn 1:15 I am not worthy 1:7 Mt 3:11 to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. 1:7 Lk 3:16; Ac 13:23–258 I baptize you with 1:8 Or in water, 1:8 Jn 1:26,31,33; Ac 1:5; 8:36; 11:16 but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." 1:8 Jn 1:33
The Baptism of Jesus
9 In 1:9–11 Mt 3:13–17; Lk 3:21–23 those days Jesus came from Nazareth 1:9 Mt 2:23; 4:13; 21:11; Lk 1:26; 2:4,39,51; 4:16; Jn 1:45–46 in Galilee 1:9 Mt 17:22 and was baptized in the Jordan by John. 10 As soon as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens 1:10 Mt 24:35; Lk 12:33; Ac 17:24; Eph 6:9; Rv 21:10 being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice 1:11 Jn 5:37 came from heaven: 1:11 Rv 14:13 "You are my beloved 1:11 Lk 20:13; Eph 1:6; Phm 1 Son; 1:11 Ps 2:7 with you I am well-pleased." 1:11 Is 42:1
The Temptation of Jesus
12 Immediately 1:12–13 Mt 4:1–11; Lk 4:1–13 the Spirit 1:12 Jn 1:33 drove 1:12 3Jn 10 him into the wilderness. 1:12 Mt 3:1; Rv 12:613 He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted 1:13 Jms 1:13 by Satan. 1:13 Mt 4:1,10; Ac 13:10 He was with the wild animals, 1:13 Rv 6:8 and the angels 1:13 Mt 13:49; Ac 5:19; Rv 14:6 were serving him.
Ministry in Galilee
14 After 1:14–15 Mt 4:17; Jn 4:45 John was arrested, 1:14 Mt 3:12; Lk 3:20; 9:7–9; Jn 3:24 Jesus went to Galilee, 1:14 Mt 17:22 proclaiming 1:14 Mk 13:10 the good news 1:14 Other mss add of the kingdom, 1:14 Or gospel, 1:14 Mk 1:1 of God: 1:14 Rm 15:16; 1Th 2:2,8–915 "The time 1:15 Ps 37:39; Lk 20:10; Jn 7:8is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God 1:15 Mt 3:2; 6:33; 12:28; 19:24; 21:31,43; Mk 4:11; 9:1; 10:14; 12:34; 14:25; 15:43has come 1:15 Mk 9:1near. 1:15 Rm 13:11; 1Pt 4:7Repent 1:15 Ac 3:19; 26:20and believe 1:15 Mk 11:24; Jn 3:16; Ac 10:43; Rm 10:9; 1Pt 1:8–10the good news! "
The First Disciples
16 As 1:16–20 Mt 4:18–22; Lk 5:1–11 he passed alongside the Sea of Galilee, 1:16 Mt 4:18; 15:29; Jn 6:1 he saw Simon 1:16 Mt 16:17 and Andrew, 1:16 Jn 6:8 Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea 1:16 Mk 7:31 — for they were fishermen. 17 "Follow me," 1:17 Mt 4:19 Jesus told them, "and I will make you fish for 1:17 Or you to become fishers of, 1:17 Mt 4:18–19; Lk 5:2people." 1:17 Mt 4:1918 Immediately they left their nets and followed 1:18 Lk 5:11; Jn 8:12 him. 1:18 Lk 18:2819 Going on a little farther, he saw James 1:19 Ac 12:2 the son of Zebedee 1:19 Jn 21:2 and his brother John 1:19 Jn 21:7 in a boat putting their nets in order. 20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. 1:20 Lk 18:28
Driving Out an Unclean Spirit
21 They 1:21–26 Lk 4:31–35 went into Capernaum, 1:21 Lk 10:15 and right away he entered the synagogue 1:21 Mk 3:1; Jms 2:2 on the Sabbath 1:21 Mk 2:23; Lk 13:10 and began to teach. 1:21 Mt 28:20; Ac 4:2; 2Tm 4:1122 They were astonished 1:22 Mk 6:2 at his teaching 1:22 Mt 7:28; 22:33; Mk 11:18; Lk 4:32; Ac 2:42; 17:19 because he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not like the scribes.
23 Just then a man with an unclean 1:23 2Co 6:17 spirit 1:23 Lk 11:24 was in their synagogue. 1:23 Jms 2:2 He cried out, 24 "What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? 1:24 Mk 14:67 Have you come to destroy 1:24 Jn 6:27 us? I know who you are — the Holy 1:24 1Co 7:14 One of God! " 1:24 Lk 4:34; Jn 6:69; Eph 4:30
25 Jesus rebuked 1:25 2Tm 4:2 him saying, "Be silent, 1:25 Mt 22:12and come out of him! "26 And the unclean spirit threw him into convulsions, 1:26 Mk 9:26; Lk 9:39 shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him.
27 They were all amazed, 1:27 Mk 10:24,32 and so they began to ask 1:27 Mk 8:11 each other, "What is this? A new teaching 1:27 Mk 11:18; Ac 2:42 with authority! 1:27 Other mss read "What is this? What is this new teaching? For with authority, 1:27 Jd 25 He commands even the unclean 1:27 2Co 6:17 spirits, 1:27 Lk 11:24 and they obey him." 28 At once the news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee. 1:28 Mt 17:22
Healings at Capernaum
29 As 1:29–31 Mt 8:14–15; Lk 4:38–39 soon as they left the synagogue, 1:29 Jms 2:2 they went into Simon 1:29 Mt 16:17 and Andrew’s 1:29 Jn 6:8 house 1:29 Mk 9:33 with James 1:29 Ac 12:2 and John. 1:29 Jn 21:730 Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31 So he went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. 1:31 Mk 5:41 The fever 1:31 Lk 4:38 left her, 1:31 Other mss add at once and she began to serve 1:31 Phm 13 them. 1:31 Rm 12:13
32 When 1:32–34 Mt 8:16–17; Lk 4:40–41 evening came, after the sun had set, they brought to him all those who were sick 1:32 Lk 5:31 and demon-possessed. 1:32 Mt 9:3233 The whole town was assembled at the door, 34 and he healed 1:34 Ac 8:7 many who were sick with various diseases 1:34 Ac 19:12 and drove out 1:34 3Jn 10 many demons. 1:34 Rv 9:20; 18:2 And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 1:34 Mk 3:11–12; 5:7
Preaching in Galilee
35 Very 1:35–38 Mt 4:23–25; Lk 4:42–44 early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place; 1:35 Mt 14:13; Mk 6:31–32; Lk 4:42; 9:12; Rv 12:6 and there he was praying. 1:35 Mt 5:44; Ac 12:1236 Simon 1:36 Mt 16:17 and his companions searched for him, 37 and when they found him they said, "Everyone is looking for you."
38 And he said to them, "Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach 1:38 Mk 1:4there too. This is why I have come."
A Man Cleansed
39 He went into all of Galilee, 1:39 Mt 17:22 preaching in their synagogues 1:39 Mk 3:1 and driving out demons. 40 Then 1:40–44 Mt 8:2–4; Lk 5:12–14 a man with leprosy 1:40 Gk lepros; a term for various skin diseases, also in v. 42; see Lv 13–14, 1:40 Mt 11:5 came to him and, on his knees, 1:40 Other mss omit on his knees, 1:40 Mt 17:14 begged him, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." 1:40 1Jn 1:741 Moved with compassion, 1:41 Other mss Moved with indignation, 1:41 Lk 15:20 Jesus reached out his hand and touched 1:41 Jn 20:17 him. "I am willing," he told him. "Be made clean."42 Immediately the leprosy 1:42 Lk 5:12 left him, and he was made clean. 43 Then he sternly warned 1:43 Mt 9:30; Mk 14:5; Jn 11:33,38 him and sent him away 1:43 3Jn 10 at once, 44 telling him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; 1:44 Mk 5:43; 7:36; 8:26,30; 9:9; 16:8; Lk 5:14but go and show 1:44 Rv 1:1yourself to the priest, 1:44 Ac 4:1and offer 1:44 Heb 5:1; 8:3what Moses commanded for your cleansing, 1:44 Lv 13–14; Heb 1:3as a testimony 1:44 Mk 6:11; 1Tm 2:6to them." 1:44 Or against them45 Yet he went out and began to proclaim 1:45 Mk 1:4; Jn 18:32 it widely and to spread the news, 1:45 Mk 4:14 with the result that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. But he was out in deserted places, and they came to him from everywhere.