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1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 1:2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, 'Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; 1:3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight -- ' 1:4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 1:5 And there went out to him all the country of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem;and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 1:6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. 1:7 And he preached, saying, 'After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 1:8 I have baptized you with water;but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.' 1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 1:10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; 1:11 and a voice came from heaven, 'Thou art my beloved Son;with thee I am well pleased.' 1:12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 1:13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan;and he was with the wild beasts;and the angels ministered to him. 1:14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, 1:15 and saying, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand;repent, and believe in the gospel.' 1:16 And passing 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. 1:17 And Jesus said to them, 'Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.' 1:18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 1:19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zeb'edee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 1:20 And immediately he called them;and they left their father Zeb'edee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him. 1:21 And they went into Caper'na-um;and immediately on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 1:22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 1:23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; 1:24 and he cried out, '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.' 1:25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, 'Be silent, and come out of him!' 1:26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 1:27 And 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.' 1:28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. 1:29 And immediately he left the synagogue, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 1:30 Now Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him of her. 1:31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her;and she served them. 1:32 That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 1:33 And the whole city was gathered together about the door. 1:34 And 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. 1:35 And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed. 1:36 And Simon and those who were with him pursued him, 1:37 and they found him and said to him, 'Every one is searching for you.' 1:38 And 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.' 1:39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. 1:40 And a leper came to him beseeching him, and kneeling said to him, 'If you will, you can make me clean.' 1:41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, 'I will;be clean.' 1:42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 1:43 And he sternly charged him, and sent him away at once, 1:44 and said to him, 'See that you say nothing to any one;but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to the people.' 1:45 But 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 the country;and people came to him from every quarter.