1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ , the Son of God ; 2As it is written in the prophets , Behold , I send my messenger before thy face , which shall prepare thy way before thee . 3The voice of one crying in the wilderness , Prepare ye the way of the Lord , make his paths straight .
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
4John did baptize in the wilderness , and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins . 5And there went out unto him all the land of Judæa , and they of Jerusalem , and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan , confessing their sins . 6And John was clothed with camel’s hair , and with a girdle of a skin about his loins ; and he did eat locusts and wild honey ; 7And preached , saying , There cometh one mightier than I after me , the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose . 8I indeed have baptized you with water : but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost .
The Baptism of Jesus
9And it came to pass in those days , that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee , and was baptized of John in Jordan . 10And straightway coming up out of the water , he saw the heavens opened , and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him : 11And there came a voice from heaven , saying , Thou art my beloved Son , in whom I am well pleased .
The Temptation of Jesus
12And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness . 13And he was there in the wilderness forty days , tempted of Satan ; and was with the wild beasts ; and the angels ministered unto him .
The Beginning of Jesus' Ministry
14Now after that John was put in prison , Jesus came into Galilee , preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God , 15And saying , The time is fulfilled , and the kingdom of God is at hand : repent ye , and believe the gospel . 16Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee , he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea : for they were fishers . 17And Jesus said unto them , Come ye after me , and I will make you to become fishers of men . 18And straightway they forsook their nets , and followed him . 19And when he had gone a little further thence , he saw James the son of Zebedee , and John his brother , who also were in the ship mending their nets . 20And straightway he called them : and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants , and went after him . 21And they went into Capernaum ; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue , and taught . 22And they were astonished at his doctrine : for he taught them as one that had authority , and not as the scribes . 23And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit ; and he cried out , 24Saying , Let us alone ; what have we to do with thee , thou Jesus of Nazareth ? art thou come to destroy us ? I know thee who thou art , the Holy One of God . 25And Jesus rebuked him , saying , Hold thy peace , and come out of him . 26And when the unclean spirit had torn him , and cried with a loud voice , he came out of him . 27And they were all amazed , insomuch that they questioned among themselves , saying , What thing is this ? what new doctrine is this ? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits , and they do obey him . 28And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee . 29And forthwith , when they were come out of the synagogue , they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew , with James and John . 30But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever , and anon they tell him of her . 31And he came and took her by the hand , and lifted her up ; and immediately the fever left her , and she ministered unto them . 32And at even , when the sun did set , they brought unto him all that were diseased , and them that were possessed with devils . 33And all the city was gathered together at the door . 34And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases , and cast out many devils ; and suffered not the devils to speak , because they knew him . 35And in the morning , rising up a great while before day , he went out , and departed into a solitary place , and there prayed . 36And Simon and they that were with him followed after him . 37And when they had found him , they said unto him , All men seek for thee . 38And he said unto them , Let us go into the next towns , that I may preach there also : for therefore came I forth . 39And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee , and cast out devils . 40And there came a leper to him , beseeching him , and kneeling down to him , and saying unto him , If thou wilt , thou canst make me clean . 41And Jesus , moved with compassion , put forth his hand , and touched him , and saith unto him , I will ; be thou clean . 42And as soon as he had spoken , immediately the leprosy departed from him , and he was cleansed . 43And he straitly charged him , and forthwith sent him away ; 44And saith unto him , See thou say nothing to any man : but go thy way , shew thyself to the priest , and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded , for a testimony unto them . 45But he went out , and began to publish it much , and to blaze abroad the matter , insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city , but was without in desert places : and they came to him from every quarter .