Mark 1

1 This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.⋮

2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Look, I am sending my messenger before your face, the one who will prepare your way.⋮

3 The voice of one calling out in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'”⋮

4 John came, baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.⋮

5 The whole country of Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.⋮

6 John was wearing a coat of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and he was eating locusts and wild honey.⋮

7 He proclaimed, “One will come after me who is more powerful than I; the strap of his sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.⋮

8 I baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”⋮

9 It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and he was baptized by John in the Jordan River.⋮

10 As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens split open and the Spirit coming down on him like a dove.⋮

11 A voice came out of the heavens, “You are my beloved Son. I am very pleased with you.”⋮

12 Then the Spirit compelled him to go out into the wilderness.⋮

13 He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels served him.⋮

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God.⋮

15 He said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel.”⋮

16 When he was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea, for they were fishermen.⋮

17 Jesus said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”⋮

18 Then immediately they left the nets and followed him.⋮

19 As Jesus was walking on a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and John his brother; they were in the boat mending the nets.⋮

20 He called them and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and they followed him.⋮

21 Then they came into Capernaum, and on the Sabbath, Jesus went into the synagogue and taught.⋮

22 They were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as someone who has authority and not as the scribes.⋮

23 Just then a man in their synagogue who had an unclean spirit cried out,⋮

24 saying, “What do we have to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God!”⋮

25 Jesus rebuked the demon and said, “Be quiet and come out of him!”⋮

26 The unclean spirit threw him down and went out from him while crying out with a loud voice.⋮

27 All the people were amazed, so they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching with authority? He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him!”⋮

28 The news about him went out everywhere into the whole region of Galilee.⋮

29 After coming out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, along with James and John.⋮

30 Now Simon's mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever, and they told Jesus about her.⋮

31 So he came, took her by the hand, and raised her up; the fever left her, and she started serving them.⋮

32 That evening, after the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed by demons.⋮

33 The whole city gathered together at the door.⋮

34 He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons, but he did not allow the demons to speak because they knew him.⋮

35 He got up very early, while it was still dark; he left and went out into a solitary place and there he prayed.⋮

36 Simon and those who were with him searched for him.⋮

37 They found him and they said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.”⋮

38 He said, “Let us go elsewhere, out into the surrounding towns, so that I may preach there also. That is why I came out here.”⋮

39 He went throughout all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.⋮

40 A leper came to him. He was begging him; he knelt down and said to him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”⋮

41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him, saying to him, “I am willing. Be clean.”⋮

42 Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.⋮

43 Jesus strictly warned him and sent him away.⋮

44 He said to him, “Be sure to say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”⋮

45 But he went out and began to spread the news widely, so much that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but he stayed out in remote places. Yet people were still coming to him from everywhere.⋮