1The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,[1] the Son of God,[2]2as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way’ – (Mal 3:1)3‘a voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” ’ (Isa 40:3)4And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptised by him in the River Jordan.6John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt round his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.7And this was his message: ‘After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.8I baptise you with[3] water, but he will baptise you with[4] the Holy Spirit.’
The baptism and testing of Jesus
9At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan.10Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.11And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’12At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness,13and he was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted[5] by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
Jesus announces the good news
14After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.15‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’
Jesus calls his first disciples
16As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.17‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’18At once they left their nets and followed him.19When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.20Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
Jesus drives out an impure spirit
21They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.22The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.23Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out,24‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!’25‘Be quiet!’ said Jesus sternly. ‘Come out of him!’26The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.27The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, ‘What is this? A new teaching – and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.’28News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
Jesus heals many
29As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.30Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her.31So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.32That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all who were ill and demon-possessed.33The whole town gathered at the door,34and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
Jesus prays in a solitary place
35Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.36Simon and his companions went to look for him,37and when they found him, they exclaimed: ‘Everyone is looking for you!’38Jesus replied, ‘Let us go somewhere else – to the nearby villages – so that I can preach there also. That is why I have come.’39So he travelled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Jesus heals a man with leprosy
40A man with leprosy[6] came to him and begged him on his knees, ‘If you are willing, you can make me clean.’41Jesus was indignant.[7] He reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.43Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:44‘See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.’45Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
Mark 1
English Standard Version
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.[1] (Mt 14:33)2As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,[2] “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, (Mal 3:1; Mt 3:1; Mt 11:10; Lu 1:17; Lu 1:76; Lu 3:2; Lu 7:27)3the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare[3] the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” (Isa 40:3; Lu 1:76; Joh 1:23)4John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Jos 15:61; Jud 1:16; Mt 26:28; Mr 1:15; Lu 1:77; Joh 1:6; Ac 2:38)5And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. (Ac 19:18)6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. (Le 11:22; 1Sa 14:26; 2Ki 1:8; Zec 13:4; Heb 11:37)7And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. (Joh 1:15; Joh 1:27; Joh 3:30; Ac 13:25)8I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Joh 1:26; Joh 1:33; Ac 1:5; Ac 11:16)
12The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. (Mt 4:1; Lu 4:1)13And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. (1Ch 21:1; Mt 26:53; Mr 1:12; Lu 22:43; Heb 2:18; Heb 4:15)
16Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. (Mt 4:18; Lu 5:2; Joh 1:40)17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”[6] (Mt 13:47)18And immediately they left their nets and followed him.19And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets.20And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Spirit
21And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. (Mt 4:13; Mt 4:23; Mr 1:39; Mr 6:2; Lu 4:31)22And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. (Mt 7:28)23And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,24“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” (Mt 8:29; Mr 1:34; Lu 1:35; Joh 6:69; Ac 3:14; Ac 19:15; Heb 7:26; Jas 2:19; 1Jo 2:20; Re 3:7)25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” (Mt 12:16)26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. (Mr 5:7; Mr 9:26; Ac 8:7)27And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” (Mt 8:27; Ac 17:19)28And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many
29And immediately he[7] left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. (Mt 8:14; Mr 1:21; Mr 1:23; Lu 4:38)30Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. (1Co 9:5)31And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. (Mr 9:27; Ac 3:7; Ac 9:41)32That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. (Mt 4:24)33And the whole city was gathered together at the door.34And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. (Mt 4:23; Mr 3:11; Ac 16:17)
Jesus Preaches in Galilee
35And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. (Mt 14:23; Lu 4:42; Lu 5:16)36And Simon and those who were with him searched for him,37and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” (Joh 12:19)38And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” (Isa 61:1)39And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. (Mr 1:21; Lu 4:44)
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
40And a leper[8] came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” (Mt 8:2; Mt 9:28; Mt 17:14; Mt 27:29; Mr 9:22; Mr 10:17; Lu 5:12)41Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”42And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.43And Jesus[9] sternly charged him and sent him away at once, (Mt 9:30)44and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” (Le 14:2; Mt 9:30; Mt 12:16; Mt 17:9; Mr 1:34; Mr 5:43; Mr 6:11; Mr 7:36; Mr 8:26; Lu 9:5; Lu 17:14; Jas 5:3)45But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter. (Mt 9:31; Mr 2:2; Mr 2:13; Mr 3:7; Mr 7:36; Lu 5:15; Joh 6:2; 2Co 11:26)