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 as the prophet Isaiah had written:
“God said, ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you
to open the way for you.’
3 Someone is shouting in the desert,
‘Get the road ready for the Lord;
make a straight path for him to travel!’”
4 So John appeared in the desert, baptizing and preaching. “Turn away from your sins and be baptized,” he told the people, “and God will forgive your sins.” 5 Many people from the province of Judea and the city of Jerusalem went out to hear John. They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River.
6 John wore clothes made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 7 He announced to the people, “The man who will come after me is much greater than I am. I am not good enough even to bend down and untie his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus
(Matthew 3.13—4.11Luke 3.21Luke 22Luke 4.1-13)9 Not long afterward Jesus came from Nazareth in the province of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, he saw heaven opening and the Spirit coming down on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my own dear Son. I am pleased with you.”
12 At once the Spirit made him go into the desert, 13 where he stayed forty days, being tempted by Satan. Wild animals were there also, but angels came and helped him.
Jesus Calls Four Fishermen
(Matthew 4.12-22Luke 4.14Luke 15Luke 5.1-11)14 After John had been put in prison, Jesus went to Galilee and preached the Good News from God. 15 “The right time has come,” he said, “and the Kingdom of God is near! Turn away from your sins and believe the Good News!”
16 As Jesus walked along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two fishermen, Simon and his brother Andrew, catching fish with a net. 17 Jesus said to them, “Come with me, and I will teach you to catch people.” 18 At once they left their nets and went with him.
19 He went a little farther on and saw two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in their boat getting their nets ready. 20 As soon as Jesus saw them, he called them; they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and went with Jesus.
A Man with an Evil Spirit
(Luke 4.31-37)21 Jesus and his disciples came to the town of Capernaum, and on the next Sabbath Jesus went to the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people who heard him were amazed at the way he taught, for he wasn't like the teachers of the Law; instead, he taught with authority.
23 Just then a man with an evil spirit came into the synagogue and screamed, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Are you here to destroy us? I know who you are—you are God's holy messenger!”
25 Jesus ordered the spirit, “Be quiet, and come out of the man!”
26 The evil spirit shook the man hard, gave a loud scream, and came out of him. 27 The people were all so amazed that they started saying to one another, “What is this? Is it some kind of new teaching? This man has authority to give orders to the evil spirits, and they obey him!”
28 And so the news about Jesus spread quickly everywhere in the province of Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many People
(Matthew 8.14-17Luke 4.38-41)29 Jesus and his disciples, including James and John, left the synagogue and went straight to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever, and as soon as Jesus arrived, he was told about her. 31 He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to wait on them.
32 After the sun had set and evening had come, people brought to Jesus all the sick and those who had demons. 33 All the people of the town gathered in front of the house. 34 Jesus healed many who were sick with all kinds of diseases and drove out many demons. He would not let the demons say anything, because they knew who he was.
Jesus Preaches in Galilee
(Luke 4.42-44)35 Very early the next morning, long before daylight, Jesus got up and left the house. He went out of town to a lonely place, where he prayed. 36 But Simon and his companions went out searching for him, 37 and when they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
38 But Jesus answered, “We must go on to the other villages around here. I have to preach in them also, because that is why I came.”
39 So he traveled all over Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and driving out demons.
Jesus Heals a Man
(Matthew 8.1-4Luke 5.12-16)40 A man suffering from a dreaded skin disease came to Jesus, knelt down, and begged him for help. “If you want to,” he said, “you can make me clean.”
41 Jesus was filled with pity, and reached out and touched him. “I do want to,” he answered. “Be clean!” 42 At once the disease left the man, and he was clean. 43 Then Jesus spoke sternly to him and sent him away at once, 44 after saying to him, “Listen, don't tell anyone about this. But go straight to the priest and let him examine you; then in order to prove to everyone that you are cured, offer the sacrifice that Moses ordered.”
45 But the man went away and began to spread the news everywhere. Indeed, he talked so much that Jesus could not go into a town publicly. Instead, he stayed out in lonely places, and people 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.