1 Este é o princípio das boas-novas a respeito de Jesus Cristo, o Filho de Deus. 2 Iniciou-se como o profeta Isaías escreveu:

"Envio meu mensageiro adiante de ti,

e ele preparará teu caminho.

3 Ele é uma voz que clama no deserto:

‘Preparem o caminho para a vinda do Senhor!

Abram a estrada para ele!’".

4 Esse mensageiro era João Batista. Ele apareceu no deserto, pregando o batismo como sinal de arrependimento para o perdão dos pecados. 5 Gente de toda a Judeia, incluindo os moradores de Jerusalém, saía para ver e ouvir João. Quando confessavam seus pecados, ele os batizava no rio Jordão. 6 João vestia roupas tecidas com pelos de camelo, usava um cinto de couro e alimentava-se de gafanhotos e mel silvestre.

7 João anunciava: "Depois de mim virá alguém mais poderoso que eu, alguém tão superior que não sou digno de me abaixar e desamarrar as correias de suas sandálias. 8 Eu os batizo com água, mas ele os batizará com o Espírito Santo!".

9 Certo dia, Jesus veio de Nazaré da Galileia, e João o batizou no rio Jordão. 10 Enquanto saía da água, viu o céu se abrir e o Espírito Santo descer sobre ele como uma pomba. 11 E uma voz do céu disse: "Você é meu Filho amado, que me dá grande alegria".

12 Em seguida, o Espírito conduziu Jesus ao deserto, 13 onde ele foi tentado por Satanás durante quarenta dias. Estava entre animais selvagens, e anjos o serviam.

14 Depois que João foi preso, Jesus foi para a Galileia, onde anunciou as boas-novas de Deus. 15 "Enfim chegou o tempo prometido!", proclamava. "O reino de Deus está próximo! Arrependam-se e creiam nas boas-novas!"

16 Enquanto andava à beira do mar da Galileia, Jesus viu Simão e seu irmão André. Jogavam redes ao mar, pois viviam da pesca. 17 Jesus lhes disse: "Venham! Sigam-me, e eu farei de vocês pescadores de gente". 18 No mesmo instante, deixaram suas redes e o seguiram.

19 Pouco mais adiante, Jesus viu Tiago e João, filhos de Zebedeu, consertando redes num barco. 20 Chamou-os de imediato e eles também o seguiram, deixando seu pai, Zebedeu, no barco com os empregados.

21 Jesus e seus seguidores foram à cidade de Cafarnaum. Quando chegou o sábado, entrou na sinagoga e começou a ensinar. 22 O povo ficou admirado com seu ensino, pois ele falava com verdadeira autoridade, diferentemente dos mestres da lei.

23 De repente, um homem ali na sinagoga, possuído por um espírito impuro, gritou: 24 "Por que vem nos importunar, Jesus de Nazaré? Veio para nos destruir? Sei quem é você: o Santo de Deus!".

25 "Cale-se!", repreendeu-o Jesus. "Saia deste homem!" 26 Então o espírito impuro soltou um grito, sacudiu o homem violentamente e saiu dele.

27 Todos os presentes ficaram admirados e começaram a discutir o que tinha acontecido. "Que ensinamento novo é esse?", perguntavam. "Como tem autoridade! Até os espíritos impuros obedecem às ordens dele!" 28 As notícias a respeito de Jesus se espalharam rapidamente por toda a região da Galileia.

29 Depois que Jesus saiu da sinagoga com Tiago e João, foram à casa de Simão e André. 30 A sogra de Simão estava de cama, com febre. Imediatamente, falaram a seu respeito para Jesus. 31 Ele foi até ela, tomou-a pela mão e ajudou-a a levantar-se. A febre a deixou, e ela passou a servi-los.

32 Ao entardecer, depois que o sol se pôs, trouxeram a Jesus muitos enfermos e possuídos por demônios. 33 Toda a cidade se reuniu à porta da casa para observar. 34 Então Jesus curou muitas pessoas que sofriam de diversas enfermidades e expulsou muitos demônios. Não permitia, porém, que os demônios falassem, pois sabiam quem ele era.

35 No dia seguinte, antes do amanhecer, Jesus se levantou e foi a um lugar isolado para orar. 36 Mais tarde, Simão e os outros saíram para procurá-lo. 37 Quando o encontraram, disseram: "Todos estão à sua procura!".

38 Jesus respondeu: "Devemos prosseguir para outras cidades e lá também anunciar minha mensagem. Foi para isso que vim". 39 Então ele viajou por toda a região da Galileia, pregando nas sinagogas e expulsando demônios.

40 Um leproso veio e ajoelhou-se diante de Jesus, implorando para ser curado: "Se o senhor quiser, pode me curar e me deixar limpo".

41 Cheio de compaixão, Jesus estendeu a mão e tocou nele. "Eu quero", respondeu. "Seja curado e fique limpo!" 42 No mesmo instante, a lepra desapareceu e o homem foi curado. 43 Então Jesus se despediu dele com uma forte advertência: 44 "Não conte isso a ninguém. Vá e apresente-se ao sacerdote para que ele o examine. Leve a oferta que a lei de Moisés exige pela sua purificação. Isso servirá como testemunho".

45 O homem, porém, saiu e começou a contar a todos o que havia acontecido. Por isso, em pouco tempo, grandes multidões cercaram Jesus, e ele já não conseguia entrar publicamente em cidade alguma. E, embora se mantivesse em lugares isolados, gente de toda parte vinha até ele.

1 . THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD.2 As it is written in the Prophets: "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You."3 "A voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make His paths straight.' "4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.5 And all the Judean country and the inhabitants of Jerusalem went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and was eating locusts and wild honey.7 And he was preaching, saying, "There comes One after me who is stronger than me, of whom I am not worthy to stoop down and to loose the strap of His[ ]sandal.8 I baptized you in water, but He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit."9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit coming down upon Him like a dove.11 Then a voice came from the heavens, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I have found delight."12 And immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan, and was with the wild animals; and the angels were ministering to Him.14 Now after John was imprisoned, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,15 and saying, "The time has been fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."16 And as He was walking alongside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.17 Then Jesus said to them, "Come after Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."18 And immediately leaving their nets they followed Him.19 And having gone forth from there a little, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets.20 And immediately He called them. And after they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers, they went away after Him.21 And they were going into Capernaum. And immediately on the Sabbath, He entered the synagogue and began teaching.22 And they were astonished at His doctrine, for He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,24 saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are-the Holy One of God!"25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!"26 And when the unclean spirit threw him into a convulsion, and crying out with a loud voice, came out from him.27 Then they were all amazed, so that they were disputing among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine is this, that He commands even the unclean spirits with authority, and they obey Him?"28 And immediately the report of Him went out into the whole surrounding region of Galilee.29 And immediately when they went out from the synagogue, they came to the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.30 And the mother-in-law of Simon was lying sick with a fever, and immediately they spoke to Him about her.31 So He came and He raised her up, grasping her hand; and immediately the fever left her. And she began to serve them.32 Now when evening came, when the sun set, they were bringing to Him all those who were ill, and those who were demon-possessed.33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door.34 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and He cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.35 And in the very early morning before dawn, He arose and He went out, and went away to a deserted place; and there He was praying.36 And Simon and those who were with Him sought Him out.37 When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."38 But He said to them, "Let us go to the neighboring towns, that I may preach there also, because for this reason I have come forth."39 And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.40 Then a leper came to Him, beseeching Him, kneeling before Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You are able to cleanse me."41 And Jesus, being moved with compassion, [and] reaching out His hand, touched him, and said to him, "I am willing, be cleansed."42 And when He said this, immediately the leprosy left from him, and he was cleansed.43 And [after] sternly warning him, immediately He sent him away,44 and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and bring as an offering concerning your cleansing those things which Moses prescribed, as a testimony to them."45 But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread widely the report, so that He was no longer able to enter into a city, but was outside in deserted places; and they were coming to Him from everywhere.