1The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert. There the devil tempted him.2After 40 days and 40 nights of going without eating, Jesus was hungry.3The tempter came to him. He said, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’4Jesus answered, ‘It is written, “Man must not live only on bread. He must also live on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ’ (De 8:3)5Then the devil took Jesus to the holy city. He had him stand on the highest point of the temple.6‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down. It is written, ‘ “The Lord will command his angels to take good care of you. They will lift you up in their hands. Then you won’t trip over a stone.” ’ (Ps 91:11; Ps 91:12)7Jesus answered him, ‘It is also written, “Do not test the Lord your God.” ’ (De 6:16)8Finally, the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain. He showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.9‘If you bow down and worship me,’ he said, ‘I will give you all this.’10Jesus said to him, ‘Get away from me, Satan! It is written, “Worship the Lord your God. He is the only one you should serve.” ’ (De 6:13)11Then the devil left Jesus. Angels came and took care of him.
Jesus begins to preach
12John had been put in prison. When Jesus heard about this, he returned to Galilee.13Jesus left Nazareth and went to live in the city of Capernaum. It was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali.14In that way, what the prophet Isaiah had said came true. He had said,15‘Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali! Galilee, where Gentiles live! Land along the Mediterranean Sea! Territory east of the River Jordan!16The people who are now living in darkness have seen a great light. They are now living in a very dark land. But a light has shone on them.’ (Isa 9:1; Isa 9:2)17From that time on Jesus began to preach. ‘Turn away from your sins!’ he said. ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’
Jesus chooses his first disciples
18One day Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee. There he saw two brothers, Simon Peter and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the lake, because they were fishermen.19‘Come and follow me,’ Jesus said. ‘I will send you out to fish for people.’20At once they left their nets and followed him.21Going on from there, he saw two other brothers. They were James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee. As they were preparing their nets, Jesus called out to them.22Right away they left the boat and their father and followed Jesus.
Jesus heals ill people
23Jesus went all over Galilee. There he taught in the synagogues. He preached the good news of God’s kingdom. He healed every illness and disease the people had.24News about him spread all over Syria. People brought to him all who were suffering different kinds of illnesses. Some were suffering great pain. Others were controlled by demons. Some were shaking wildly. Others couldn’t move at all. And Jesus healed all of them.25Large crowds followed him. People came from Galilee, from the area known as the Ten Cities, and from Jerusalem and Judea. Others came from the area across the River Jordan.
Matthew 4
English Standard Version
The Temptation of Jesus
1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (Mr 1:12; Lu 4:1; Heb 2:18; Heb 4:15)2And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. (De 9:9; De 9:18; 1Ki 19:8; Joh 4:6)3And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” (Mt 3:9; Mt 14:33; 1Th 3:5)4But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (De 8:3; Mt 4:7; Mt 4:10; Joh 4:34; Eph 6:17)5Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple (Ne 11:18; Ps 46:4; Ps 48:1; Isa 48:2; Isa 52:1; Mt 27:53; Lu 4:9; Re 11:2; Re 21:2; Re 22:19)6and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” (Ps 91:11)7Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” (De 6:16; Isa 7:12; Mt 4:4; Mt 4:10)8Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. (Lu 4:5)9And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”10Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” (De 6:13; 1Sa 7:3; 1Ch 21:1; Mt 4:4; Mt 4:7)11Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. (Mt 26:53; Lu 22:43)
Jesus Begins His Ministry
12Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. (Mt 14:3; Mr 1:14; Lu 3:19; Lu 4:14; Joh 3:24)13And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, (Jos 19:32; Mt 2:23; Mt 9:1; Joh 6:1)14so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: (Mt 1:22)15“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— (Isa 9:1)16the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” (Job 3:5; Ps 23:4; Isa 42:7; Am 5:8; Lu 1:79)17From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”[1] (Mt 3:2; Mr 1:14)
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
18While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. (Mt 4:13; Mr 1:16; Lu 5:2; Joh 1:40)19And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”[2] (Mt 13:47)20Immediately they left their nets and followed him.21And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.22Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Jesus Ministers to Great Crowds
23And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. (Mt 8:16; Mt 9:35; Mt 13:19; Mt 13:54; Mt 14:35; Mt 24:14; Mr 1:21; Mr 1:34; Mr 1:39; Mr 6:55; Lu 4:15; Lu 4:43; Joh 18:20)24So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. (Mt 4:23; Mt 8:6; Mt 9:2; Mt 9:6; Mt 17:15; Lu 2:2; Joh 10:21)25And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan. (Mr 3:7; Mr 5:20; Lu 6:17)