Mark 1
The Proclamation of John the Baptist
1 The beginning of the good newsa of Jesus
Christ, the Son of God.b
2 As it is
written in the prophet Isaiah,c
"See, I am sending my
messenger ahead of you,d
who will prepare your
way;
3 the voice of one crying out in the
wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths
straight,' "
4John the baptizer appearede
in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of
sins. 5And people from the whole Judean countryside
and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him
in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John
was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate
locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, "The one who
is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and
untie the thong of his sandals. 8I have baptized you
withf water; but he will baptize you withg
the Holy Spirit."
The Baptism of Jesus
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved;h with you I am well pleased."
The Temptation of Jesus
12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.
The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry
14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good newsi of God,j 15and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near;k repent, and believe in the good news."l
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea--for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." 18And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
The Man with an Unclean Spirit
21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24and 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." 25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" 26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching--with authority! Hem commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." 28At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many at Simon's House
29 As soon as theyn left the
synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now
Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at
once. 31He came and took her by the hand and lifted
her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
32
That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed
with demons. 33And the whole city was gathered
around the door. 34And he cured 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.
A Preaching Tour in Galilee
35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." 38He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." 39And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
40 A lepero came to him begging him, and kneelingp he said to him, "If you choose, you can make me clean." 41Moved with pity,q Jesusr stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I do choose. Be made clean!" 42Immediately the leprosys left him, and he was made clean. 43After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, 44saying to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." 45But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesust could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.