施洗者約翰預備道路
1有關上帝的兒子耶穌基督的福音是這樣開始的， 2正如以賽亞先知書上說：
「看啊，我要差遣我的使者在你前面為你預備道路。1·2 瑪拉基書3·1。
3他在曠野大聲呼喊，
『預備主的道，
修直祂的路。』1·3 以賽亞書40·3。」
4果然，施洗者約翰出現了，他在曠野宣講悔改就得赦罪的洗禮。 5猶太全境和耶路撒冷的居民都到約翰那裡，承認他們的罪，在約旦河裡接受他的洗禮。
6約翰身穿駱駝毛的衣服，腰束皮帶，吃的是蝗蟲和野蜜。 7他傳道說：「在我之後，有一位比我更有能力的要來，我連彎腰給祂解鞋帶都不配。 8我是用水給你們施洗，但祂要用聖靈給你們施洗。」
耶穌受洗
9那時，耶穌從加利利的拿撒勒來，在約旦河受了約翰的洗禮。 10耶穌從水中一上來，就看見天裂開了，聖靈好像鴿子一樣降在祂身上， 11有聲音從天上傳來：「你是我的愛子，我喜悅你。」
耶穌受試探
12聖靈隨即催促祂到曠野。 13祂在曠野受撒旦的試探四十天。祂與野獸在一起，有天使伺候祂。
呼召四漁夫
14約翰被捕後，耶穌來到加利利宣講上帝的福音，說： 15「時候到了，上帝的國臨近了，你們要悔改，相信福音。」
16耶穌沿著加利利湖邊走，看見西門和他弟弟安得烈正在向湖裡撒網。他們是漁夫。 17耶穌對他們說：「來跟從我！我要使你們成為得人的漁夫。」 18他們立刻撇下漁網，跟從了耶穌。
19耶穌往前走了不遠，又看見西庇太的兩個兒子雅各和約翰正在船上補網， 20便立刻呼召他們。他們就辭別父親西庇太和船上的僱工，跟從了耶穌。
傳道趕鬼
21他們到了迦百農，耶穌在安息日去會堂裡教導人。 22那裡的人都很驚奇，因為祂教導他們時像個有權柄的人，不像律法教師。 23當時會堂裡有一個被污鬼附身的人喊道： 24「拿撒勒的耶穌啊，我們和你有什麼關係？你是來毀滅我們嗎？我知道你是誰，你是上帝的聖者！」
25耶穌責備牠說：「住口，從他身上出來！」
26污鬼使那人抽搐了一陣，大叫一聲，就從他身上出來了。 27眾人都很驚訝，彼此議論說：「這是怎麼回事？真是帶著權柄的新教導啊！祂一發命令，污鬼都服從祂。」 28於是，耶穌的名聲立刻傳遍了整個加利利一帶。
醫病趕鬼
29耶穌同雅各和約翰離開會堂後，就來到西門和安得烈家。 30當時西門的岳母正發燒，躺在床上，他們立刻把這事告訴耶穌。 31耶穌走到她的床邊，拉著她的手扶她起來，她的燒就退了，她便起來服侍他們。
32傍晚，日落之後，有人把病人和被鬼附身的人都帶來見耶穌。 33全城的人都聚在門前。 34耶穌治好了許多患各種疾病的人，又趕出很多鬼。祂不許鬼說話，因為鬼認識祂。
在加利利傳道
35第二天清早，天還沒亮，耶穌就起來出門去荒僻的地方禱告。 36西門和同伴們四處尋找耶穌， 37找到後便對祂說：「大家都在找你呢！」
38耶穌卻回答說：「我們到附近的鄉鎮去吧，我也好在那裡傳道，因為我就是為此而來的。」
39於是，耶穌走遍加利利，在各會堂傳道，趕鬼。
治好痲瘋病人
40有一次，一個患痲瘋病的人來到耶穌面前，跪下央求：「如果你肯，就能使我潔淨。」
41耶穌動了慈心，就伸手摸他，說：「我肯，你潔淨了吧！」 42那人的痲瘋病立即消失了，他就潔淨了。 43耶穌隨即讓他回去並鄭重地叮囑： 44「切勿把這事告訴別人，要去讓祭司察看你的身體，並照摩西的規定獻祭，向眾人證明你已經潔淨了。」
45但那人離開之後，卻到處傳揚這件事，以致耶穌無法再公開進城。祂只能待在城外的曠野，可是人們仍從各處來找祂。
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1This is the beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. 2Long ago Isaiah the prophet wrote,
“I will send my messenger ahead of you.
He will prepare your way.” (Malachi 3:1)
3“A messenger is calling out in the desert,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord.
Make straight paths for him.’ ” (Isaiah 40:3)
4And so John the Baptist appeared in the desert. He preached that people should be baptized and turn away from their sins. Then God would forgive them. 5All the people from the countryside of Judea went out to him. All the people from Jerusalem went too. When they admitted they had sinned, John baptized them in the Jordan River. 6John wore clothes made out of camel’s hair. He had a leather belt around his waist. And he ate locusts and wild honey. 7Here is what John was preaching. “After me, there is someone coming who is more powerful than I am. I’m not good enough to bend down and untie his sandals. 8I baptize you with water. But he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Jesus Is Baptized and Tempted
9At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee. John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. 10Jesus was coming up out of the water. Just then he saw heaven being torn open. Jesus saw the Holy Spirit coming down on him like a dove. 11A voice spoke to him from heaven. It said, “You are my Son, and I love you. I am very pleased with you.”
12At once the Holy Spirit sent Jesus out into the desert. 13He was in the desert 40 days. There Satan tempted him. The wild animals didn’t harm Jesus. Angels took care of him.
Jesus Preaches the Good News
14After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee. He preached the good news of God. 15“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Turn away from your sins and believe the good news!”
Jesus Chooses His First Disciples
16One day Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee. There he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the lake. They were fishermen. 17“Come and follow me,” Jesus said. “I will send you out to fish for people.” 18At once they left their nets and followed him.
19Then Jesus walked a little farther. As he did, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat preparing their nets. 20Right away he called out to them. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men. Then they followed Jesus.
Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit
21Jesus and those with him went to Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue. There he began to teach. 22The people were amazed at his teaching. That’s because he taught them like one who had authority. He did not talk like the teachers of the law. 23Just then a man in their synagogue cried out. He was controlled by an evil spirit. He said, 24“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God!”
25“Be quiet!” said Jesus firmly. “Come out of him!” 26The evil spirit shook the man wildly. Then it came out of him with a scream.
27All the people were amazed. So they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching! And with so much authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits, and they obey him.” 28News about Jesus spread quickly all over Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many People
29Jesus and those with him left the synagogue. Right away they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever. They told Jesus about her right away. 31So he went to her. He took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her. Then she began to serve them.
32That evening after sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who were sick. They also brought all who were controlled by demons. 33All the people in town gathered at the door. 34Jesus healed many of them. They had all kinds of sicknesses. He also drove out many demons. But he would not let the demons speak, because they knew who he was.
Jesus Prays in a Quiet Place
35It was very early in the morning and still dark. Jesus got up and left the house. He went to a place where he could be alone. There he prayed. 36Simon and his friends went to look for Jesus. 37When they found him, they called out, “Everyone is looking for you!”
38Jesus replied, “Let’s go somewhere else. I want to go to the nearby towns. I must preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39So he traveled all around Galilee. He preached in their synagogues. He also drove out demons.
Jesus Heals a Man Who Had a Skin Disease
40A man who had a skin disease came to Jesus. On his knees he begged Jesus. He said, “If you are willing to make me ‘clean,’ you can do it.”
41Jesus became angry. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing to do it,” Jesus said. “Be ‘clean’!” 42Right away the disease left the man, and he was “clean.”
43Jesus sent him away at once. He gave the man a strong warning. 44“Don’t tell this to anyone,” he said. “Go and show yourself to the priest. Offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded. It will be a witness to the priest and the people that you are ‘clean.’ ” 45But the man went out and started talking right away. He spread the news to everyone. So Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. He stayed outside in lonely places. But people still came to him from everywhere.
