The Mission of John the Baptist

(Isaiah 40:1-5; Matthew 3:1-12; Luke 3:1-20; John 1:19-28)

1A beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, Son of God.

2As it hath been written in the prophets, ‘Lo, I send My messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee,’ —

3‘A voice of one calling in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, straight make ye his paths,’ —

4John came baptizing in the wilderness, and proclaiming a baptism of reformation — to remission of sins, 5and there were going forth to him all the region of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and they were all baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and a girdle of skin around his loins, and eating locusts and honey of the field, 7and he proclaimed, saying, ‘He doth come — who is mightier than I — after me, of whom I am not worthy — having stooped down — to loose the latchet of his sandals; 8I indeed did baptize you with water, but he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

The Baptism of Jesus

(Matthew 3:13-17; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34)

9And it came to pass in those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John at the Jordan; 10and immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens dividing, and the Spirit as a dove coming down upon him; 11and a voice came out of the heavens, ‘Thou art My Son — the Beloved, in whom I did delight.’

The Temptation of Jesus

(Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13)

12And immediately doth the Spirit put him forth to the wilderness, 13and he was there in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by the Adversary, and he was with the beasts, and the messengers were ministering to him.

Jesus Preaches in Galilee

(Isaiah 9:1-7; Matthew 4:12-17; Luke 4:14-15)

14And after the delivering up of John, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of the reign of God, 15and saying — ‘Fulfilled hath been the time, and the reign of God hath come nigh, reform ye, and believe in the good news.’

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

(Matthew 4:18-22; Matthew 13:47-52; Luke 5:1-11; John 1:35-42)

16And, walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon, and Andrew his brother, casting a drag into the sea, for they were fishers, 17and Jesus said to them, ‘Come ye after me, and I shall make you to become fishers of men;’ 18and immediately, having left their nets, they followed him. 19And having gone on thence a little, he saw James of Zebedee, and John his brother, and they were in the boat refitting the nets, 20and immediately he called them, and, having left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, they went away after him.

Jesus Expels an Evil Spirit

(Luke 4:31-37)

21And they go on to Capernaum, and immediately, on the sabbaths, having gone into the synagogue, he was teaching, 22and they were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as having authority, and not as the scribes. 23And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, 24saying, ‘Away! what — to us and to thee, Jesus the Nazarene? thou didst come to destroy us; I have known thee who thou art — the Holy One of God.’ 25And Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silenced, and come forth out of him,’ 26and the unclean spirit having torn him, and having cried with a great voice, came forth out of him, 27and they were all amazed, so as to reason among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? what new teaching [is] this? that with authority also the unclean spirits he commandeth, and they obey him!’ 28And the fame of him went forth immediately to all the region, round about, of Galilee.

Jesus Heals at Peter's House

(Matthew 8:14-17; Luke 4:38-41)

29And immediately, having come forth out of the synagogue, they went to the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John, 30and the mother-in-law of Simon was lying fevered, and immediately they tell him about her, 31and having come near, he raised her up, having laid hold of her hand, and the fever left her immediately, and she was ministering to them.

32And evening having come, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all who were ill, and who were demoniacs, 33and the whole city was gathered together near the door, 34and he healed many who were ill of manifold diseases, and many demons he cast forth, and was not suffering the demons to speak, because they knew him.

Jesus Prays and Preaches

(Luke 4:42-44)

35And very early, it being yet night, having risen, he went forth, and went away to a desert place, and was there praying; 36and Simon and those with him went in quest of him, 37and having found him, they say to him, — ‘All do seek thee;’ 38and he saith to them, ‘We may go to the next towns, that there also I may preach, for for this I came forth.’ 39And he was preaching in their synagogues, in all Galilee, and is casting out the demons,

The Leper's Prayer

(Leviticus 14:1-32; Matthew 8:1-4; Luke 5:12-16)

40and there doth come to him a leper, calling on him, and kneeling to him, and saying to him — ‘If thou mayest will, thou art able to cleanse me.’ 41And Jesus having been moved with compassion, having stretched forth the hand, touched him, and saith to him, ‘I will; be thou cleansed;’ 42and he having spoken, immediately the leprosy went away from him, and he was cleansed. 43And having sternly charged him, immediately he put him forth, 44and saith to him, ‘See thou mayest say nothing to any one, but go away, thyself shew to the priest, and bring near for thy cleansing the things Moses directed, for a testimony to them.’ 45And he, having gone forth, began to proclaim much, and to spread abroad the thing, so that no more he was able openly to enter into the city, but he was without in desert places, and they were coming unto him from every quarter.