1The beginning1:1 Jn 1:1; Php 4:15 of the gospel1:1–8 Mt 3:1–12; Lk 3:1–18 of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.1:1 Some mss omit the Son of God1:1 Jn 5:19; Heb 1:2

2As it is written in Isaiah1:2 Mt 3:3; 4:14; 12:17 the prophet:1:2 Other mss read in the prophets1:2 Lk 16:29

4John came baptizing1:4 Or John the Baptist came1:4 Lk 7:29; Ac 22:16 in the wilderness1:4 Rv 12:6 and proclaiming a baptism of repentance1:4 Lk 3:3; Ac 13:24; 19:4; 26:20 for the forgiveness1:4 Mt 9:2; Lk 24:47 of sins.1:4 Jn 15:22; Ac 26:18

5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem1:5 Mt 23:37; Jn 11:36 were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan1:5 Gn 13:10; Ps 114:3; Lk 3:3 River, confessing1:5 Ac 19:18 their sins.1:5 Jn 15:22; Rm 6:23; 1Pt 4:1

6John wore a camel-hair garment with a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts1:6 Rv 9:3,7 and wild honey.1:6 Rv 10:9–10

9In1:9–11 Mt 3:13–17; Lk 3:21–23 those days Jesus came from Nazareth1:9 Mt 2:23; 4:13; 21:11; Lk 1:26; 2:4,39,51; 4:16; Jn 1:45–46 in Galilee1:9 Mt 17:22 and was baptized in the Jordan by John.

10As soon as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens1:10 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.

11And a voice1:11 Jn 5:37 came from heaven:1:11 Rv 14:13 “You are my beloved1:11 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

12Immediately1:12–13 Mt 4:1–11; Lk 4:1–13 the Spirit1:12 Jn 1:33 drove1:12 3Jn 10 him into the wilderness.1:12 Mt 3:1; Rv 12:6

13He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted1:13 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 angels1:13 Mt 13:49; Ac 5:19; Rv 14:6 were serving him.

14After1:14–15 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 proclaiming1:14 Mk 13:10 the good news1:14 Other mss add of the kingdom1:14 Or gospel1:14 Mk 1:1 of God:1:14 Rm 15:16; 1Th 2:2,8–9

15“The time1:15 Ps 37:39; Lk 20:10; Jn 7:8 is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God1:15 Mt 3:2; 6:33; 12:28; 19:24; 21:31,43; Mk 4:11; 9:1; 10:14; 12:34; 14:25; 15:43 has come1:15 Mk 9:1 near.1:15 Rm 13:11; 1Pt 4:7 Repent1:15 Ac 3:19; 26:20 and believe1:15 Mk 11:24; Jn 3:16; Ac 10:43; Rm 10:9; 1Pt 1:8–10 the good news!”

16As1:16–20 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 Simon1:16 Mt 16:17 and Andrew,1:16 Jn 6:8 Simon’s brother, casting a net into the sea1:16 Mk 7:31 — for they were fishermen.

17“Follow me,” 1:17 Mt 4:19 Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for1:17 Or you to become fishers of1:17 Mt 4:18–19; Lk 5:2 people.”1:17 Mt 4:19

18Immediately they left their nets and followed1:18 Lk 5:11; Jn 8:12 him.1:18 Lk 18:28

19Going on a little farther, he saw James1:19 Ac 12:2 the son of Zebedee1:19 Jn 21:2 and his brother John1:19 Jn 21:7 in a boat putting their nets in order.

20Immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.1:20 Lk 18:28

21They1:21–26 Lk 4:31–35 went into Capernaum,1:21 Lk 10:15 and right away he entered the synagogue1:21 Mk 3:1; Jms 2:2 on the Sabbath1:21 Mk 2:23; Lk 13:10 and began to teach.1:21 Mt 28:20; Ac 4:2; 2Tm 4:11

22They were astonished1:22 Mk 6:2 at his teaching1:22 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.

29As1:29–31 Mt 8:14–15; Lk 4:38–39 soon as they left the synagogue,1:29 Jms 2:2 they went into Simon1:29 Mt 16:17 and Andrew’s1:29 Jn 6:8 house1:29 Mk 9:33 with James1:29 Ac 12:2 and John.1:29 Jn 21:7

30Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once.

31So he went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up.1:31 Mk 5:41 The fever1:31 Lk 4:38 left her,1:31 Other mss add at once and she began to serve1:31 Phm 13 them.1:31 Rm 12:13

35Very1:35–38 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 12:12

36Simon1:36 Mt 16:17 and his companions searched for him,

37and when they found him they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”

39He went into all of Galilee,1:39 Mt 17:22 preaching in their synagogues1:39 Mk 3:1 and driving out demons.

40Then1:40–44 Mt 8:2–4; Lk 5:12–14 a man with leprosy1:40 Gk lepros; a term for various skin diseases, also in v. 42; see Lv 13–141:40 Mt 11:5 came to him and, on his knees,1:40 Other mss omit on his knees1:40 Mt 17:14 begged him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”1:40 1Jn 1:7

41Moved with compassion,1:41 Other mss Moved with indignation1:41 Lk 15:20 Jesus reached out his hand and touched1:41 Jn 20:17 him. “I am willing,” he told him. “Be made clean.”

42Immediately the leprosy1:42 Lk 5:12 left him, and he was made clean.

43Then he sternly warned1:43 Mt 9:30; Mk 14:5; Jn 11:33,38 him and sent him away1:43 3Jn 10 at once,

44telling him, “See that you say nothing to anyone;1:44 Mk 5:43; 7:36; 8:26,30; 9:9; 16:8; Lk 5:14 but go and show1:44 Rv 1:1 yourself to the priest,1:44 Ac 4:1 and offer1:44 Heb 5:1; 8:3 what Moses commanded for your cleansing,1:44 Lv 13:1–14:57; Heb 1:3 as a testimony1:44 Mk 6:11; 1Tm 2:6 to them.”1:44 Or against them

45Yet he went out and began to proclaim1:45 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.