1:1   This is the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

1:2   It began just as God had said in the book written by Isaiah the prophet, "I am sending my messenger to get the way ready for you.

1:3   In the desert someone is shouting, 'Get the road ready for the Lord! Make a straight path for him.' "

1:4   So John the Baptist showed up in the desert and told everyone, "Turn back to God and be baptized! Then your sins will be forgiven."

1:5   From all Judea and Jerusalem crowds of people went to John. They told how sorry they were for their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River.

1:6   John wore clothes made of camel's hair. He had a leather strap around his waist and ate grasshoppers and wild honey.

1:7   John also told the people, "Someone more powerful is going to come. And I am not good enough even to stoop down and untie his sandals.

1:8   I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!"

1:9   About that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River.

1:10   As soon as Jesus came out of the water, he saw the sky open and the Holy Spirit coming down to him like a dove.

1:11   A voice from heaven said, "You are my own dear Son, and I am pleased with you."

1:12   Right away God's Spirit made Jesus go into the desert.

1:13   He stayed there for forty days while Satan tested him. Jesus was with the wild animals, but angels took care of him.

1:14   After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee and told the good news that comes from God.

1:15   He said, "The time has come! God's kingdom will soon be here. Turn back to God and believe the good news!"

1:16   As Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were fishermen and were casting their nets into the lake.

1:17   Jesus said to them, "Come with me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish."

1:18   Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him.

1:19   Jesus walked on and soon saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat, mending their nets.

1:20   At once Jesus asked them to come with him. They left their father in the boat with the hired workers and went with him.

1:21   Jesus and his disciples went to the town of Capernaum. Then on the next Sabbath he went into the Jewish meeting place and started teaching.

1:22   Everyone was amazed at his teaching. He taught with authority, and not like the teachers of the Law of Moses.

1:23   Suddenly a man with an evil spirit in him entered the meeting place and yelled,

1:24   "Jesus from Nazareth, what do you want with us? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are! You are God's Holy One."

1:25   Jesus told the evil spirit, "Be quiet and come out of the man!"

1:26   The spirit shook him. Then it gave a loud shout and left.

1:27   Everyone was completely surprised and kept saying to each other, "What is this? It must be some new kind of powerful teaching! Even the evil spirits obey him."

1:28   News about Jesus quickly spread all over Galilee.

1:29   As soon as Jesus left the meeting place with James and John, they went home with Simon and Andrew.

1:30   When they got there, Jesus was told that Simon's mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever.

1:31   Jesus went to her. He took hold of her hand and helped her up. The fever left her, and she served them a meal.

1:32   That evening after sunset, all who were sick or had demons in them were brought to Jesus.

1:33   In fact, the whole town gathered around the door of the house.

1:34   Jesus healed all kinds of terrible diseases and forced out a lot of demons. But the demons knew who he was, and he did not let them speak.

1:35   Very early the next morning, Jesus got up and went to a place where he could be alone and pray.

1:36   Simon and the others started looking for him.

1:37   And when they found him, they said, "Everyone is looking for you!"

1:38   Jesus replied, "We must go to the nearby towns, so that I can tell the good news to those people. This is why I have come."

1:39   Then Jesus went to Jewish meeting places everywhere in Galilee, where he preached and forced out demons.

1:40   A man with leprosy came to Jesus and knelt down. He begged, "You have the power to make me well, if only you wanted to."

1:41   Jesus felt sorry for the man. So he put his hand on him and said, "I want to! Now you are well."

1:42   At once the man's leprosy disappeared, and he was well.

1:43   After Jesus strictly warned the man, he sent him on his way.

1:44   He said, "Don't tell anyone about this. Just go and show the priest that you are well. Then take a gift to the temple as Moses commanded, and everyone will know that you have been healed."

1:45   The man talked about it so much and told so many people, that Jesus could no longer go openly into a town. He had to stay away from the towns, but people still came to him from everywhere.