Mark 1

Preaching of John the Baptist

1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, 1the Son of God.

22As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “3Behold, I send My messenger 4ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way;35The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight.’” 4John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness 67preaching a baptism of repentance for the 8forgiveness of sins. 5And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore 9a leather belt around his waist, and 10his diet was locusts and wild honey. 7And he was 11preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. 8I baptized you 12with water; but He will baptize you 13with the Holy Spirit.”

The Baptism of Jesus

914In those days Jesus 15came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens 16opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; 11and a voice came out of the heavens: “17You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

1218Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness. 13And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by 19Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.

Jesus Preaches in Galilee

1420Now after John had been 21taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, 2223preaching the gospel of God, 15and saying, “24The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God 25is at hand; 26repent and 27believe in the gospel.”

1628As He was going along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 19Going on a little farther, He saw 29James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away 30to follow Him.

2131They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath 32He entered the synagogue and began to teach. 2233They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24saying, “34What 35business do we have with each other, Jesus 36of 37Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are--38the Holy One of God!” 25And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26Throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. 27They were all 39amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee.

Crowds Healed

2940And immediately after they came 41out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with 42James and John. 30Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they spoke to 43Jesus about her. 31And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she 44waited on them.

3245When evening came, 46after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were 47demon-possessed. 33And the whole 48city had gathered at the door. 34And He 49healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.

3550In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and 51was praying there. 36Simon and his companions searched for Him; 37they found Him, and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” 38He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may 52preach there also; for that is what I came for.” 3953And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, 54preaching and casting out the demons.

4055And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and 56falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. 43And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, 44and He said to him, “57See that you say nothing to anyone; but 58go, show yourself to the priest and 59offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 45But he went out and began to 60proclaim it freely and to 61spread the news around, to such an extent that 62Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but 63stayed out in unpopulated areas; and 64they were coming to Him from everywhere.