Just as it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way,

And all the Judean region and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem went out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

And John was dressed in camel's hair and a belt made of leather around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

And it happened that in those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John.

And immediately [as he] was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens being split apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.

And immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness.

And they were amazed at his teaching, because he was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like the scribes.

And so then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,

And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!"

And [after] convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, the unclean spirit came out of him.

And they were all amazed, so that [they began] to discuss with one another, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him."

And the report about him then went out everywhere in the whole surrounding region of Galilee.

Now Simon's mother-in-law was lying down, suffering with a fever, and at once they told him about her.

Now [when it] was evening, when the sun had set, they began bringing to him all those {who were sick} and those who were demon-possessed.

And the whole town was gathered together at the door.

And getting up early in the morning [while it was] very dark, he departed and went to a deserted place, and there he was praying.

And he said to them, "Let us go elsewhere, into the neighboring rural towns, so that I can preach there also, because I have come out for this [very] reason."

And becoming angry, he stretched out his hand [and] touched [him], and said to him, "I am willing; be made clean."

And warning him sternly, he sent him away at once.

And he said to him, "See to it that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and bring for your cleansing [the things] which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.

But he went out [and] began to proclaim [it] freely and to spread abroad the account, so that he was no longer able to enter publicly into a town. But he was staying outside in deserted places, and they were coming to him from all directions.

And [when he] entered again into Capernaum after [some] days, it became known that he was at home.

And many had gathered, so that [there was] no longer room, not even at the door, and he was speaking the word to them.

And he got up and immediately picked up his stretcher [and] went out in front of [them] all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen [anything] like this!"

And he went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he began to teach them.

And [as he] was passing by, he saw Levi the [son] of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, "Follow me!" And he stood up [and] followed him.

And it happened that he {was dining} in his house, and many tax collectors and sinners {were dining with} Jesus and his disciples, for there were many and they were following him.

And the scribes of the Pharisees, [when they] saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, began to say to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

And [when] Jesus heard [it], he said to them, "Those who are healthy do not have need of a physician, but those {who are sick}. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

No one sews a patch of unshrunken cloth on an old garment. {Otherwise} the patch pulls away from it--the new from the old--and the tear becomes worse.

And it happened that he was going through the grain fields on the Sabbath, and his disciples began to make [their] way [while] plucking off the heads of grain.

And the Pharisees began to say to him, "Behold, why are they doing what is not permitted on the Sabbath?"

And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he had need and he and those [who were] with him were hungry--

how he entered into the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest and ate the bread of the presentation, which it is not permitted to eat (except the priests) and also gave [it] to those who were with him?"

And he said to them, "Is it permitted on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent.

And looking around at them with anger, grieved at the hardness of their hearts, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched [it] out, and his hand was restored.

And the Pharisees went out immediately with the Herodians {and began to conspire} against him with regard to how they could destroy him.

And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, were falling down before him and crying out, saying, "You are the Son of God!"

And he appointed twelve, so that they would be with him and so that he could send them out to preach

And he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they were not even able to eat a meal.

And [when] {his family} heard [this], they went out to restrain him, for they were saying, "He has lost his mind!"

And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he is not able to stand, but is at an end!

And looking around at those who were sitting around him in a circle, he said, "Behold, my mother and my brothers!

And again he began to teach beside the sea, and a very large crowd was gathered to him, so that he got into a boat [and] sat on the sea, and the whole crowd was at the sea on the land.

"Listen! Behold, the sower went out to sow.

And it happened that while [he] was sowing, {some seed} fell on the side of the path, and the birds came and devoured it.

And other [seed] fell on the rocky ground where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up at once, because it did not have [any] depth of soil.

And when the sun rose it was scorched, and because it did not have [enough] root, it withered.

And other [seed] fell among the thorn plants, and the thorn plants came up and choked it, and it did not produce grain.

And other [seed] fell on the good soil, and produced grain, coming up and increasing, and it bore [a crop]--one thirty and one sixty and one a hundred [times as much].

so that '{they may look closely} and not perceive, and {they may listen carefully} and not understand, lest they turn and it be forgiven them.'"

And these are the ones beside the path where the word is sown, and whenever they hear [it], immediately Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.

And these are like the ones sown on the rocky ground, who whenever they hear the word immediately receive it with joy.

and the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other [things] come in [and] choke the word and it becomes unproductive.

And those are the ones sown on the good soil, who hear the word and receive [it] and bear fruit--one thirty and one sixty and one a hundred [times as much]."

And he said to them, "Surely a lamp is not brought so that it may be put under a bushel basket or under a bed, [is it]? [Is it] not so that it may be put on a lampstand?

For nothing is secret except so that it may be revealed, nor has become hidden except so that it will come to light.

And he said to them, "Take care what you hear! With the measure by which you measure out, it will be measured out to you, and will be added to you.

For whoever has, [more] will be given to him, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him."

And he said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or by what parable can we present it?

[It is] like a mustard seed that when sown on the ground, [although it] is the smallest of all the seeds that [are] on the ground,

but when it is sown it grows up and becomes the largest of all the garden herbs, and sends out large branches so that the birds of the sky are able to nest in its shade."

And with many parables such as these he was speaking the word to them, as they were able to hear [it].

And on that day, [when it] was evening, he said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side."

And he was in the stern sleeping on the cushion, and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, is it not a concern to you that we are perishing?"

And he said to them, "Why are you fearful? Do you not yet have faith?"

And [as] he was getting out of the boat, immediately from the tombs a man with an unclean spirit went to meet him,

And during every night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was crying out and cutting himself with stones.

And crying out with a loud voice he said, "{What have I to do with you}, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore you by God, do not torment me!"

(For he was saying to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!")

And he was asking him "{What is your name}?" And he said to him, "My name [is] Legion, because we are many."

And he was imploring him many [times] that he would not send them out of the region.

Now a large herd of pigs was there at the hill feeding,

And he permitted them. And the unclean spirits came out [and] entered into the pigs, and the herd--about two thousand--rushed headlong down the steep slope into the sea and were drowned in the sea.

And their herdsmen fled and reported [it] in the town and in the countryside, and they came to see what it was that had happened.

And those who had seen [it] described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man, and about the pigs.

And one of the rulers of the synagogue came--Jairus by name--and [when he] saw him, he fell down at his feet.

And he was imploring him many [times], saying, "My little daughter {is at the point of death}! Come, lay your hands on her, so that she will get well and will live."

And she had endured many [things] under many physicians, and had spent {all that she had} and had received no [help] at all, but instead {became worse}.

And immediately Jesus, perceiving in himself [that] power had gone out from himself, turned around in the crowd [and] said, "Who touched my clothing?"

So the woman, frightened and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him and told him the whole truth.

But Jesus, ignoring {what was said}, told the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid--only believe!"

And they began laughing at him. But he sent [them] all out [and] took along the father and mother of the child, and those [who were] with him, and went in to where the child was.

And he commanded them strictly that no one should learn of this, and said to give her [something] to eat.

And he went out from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.

And [when] the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard [him] were amazed, saying, "Where did this man [get] these [things]? And what [is] this wisdom that has been granted to this man, and the miracles such as these performed through his hands?

And he summoned the twelve and began to send them out two [by] two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.

And whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, [as you] go out from there, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them."

And they went out [and] proclaimed that [people] should repent.

And King Herod heard [it], because his name had become known. And they were saying, "John, the one who baptizes, has been raised from the dead, and because of this these miraculous powers are at work in him."

But [when] Herod heard [it], he said, "John whom I beheaded--this one has been raised!"

For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not permitted for you to have your brother's wife."

For Herod was afraid of John, [because he] knew him [to be] a righteous and holy man and protected him. And [when he] listened to him, he was greatly perplexed, and [yet] he listened to him gladly.

And [when] the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced and pleased Herod and {his dinner guests}, the king said to the girl, "Ask me [for] whatever you want, and I will give [it] to you."

And she went out [and] said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" And she said, "The head of John the baptizer."

And he brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.

And [when] his disciples heard [this], they came and took away his corpse and placed it in a tomb.

And he said to them, "You yourselves come privately to an isolated place and rest for a short time." For those [who were] coming and going were many, and they did not even have time to eat.

And getting out [of the boat] he saw the large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep {without} a shepherd, and he began to teach them many [things].

Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding farms and villages [and] purchase something to eat for themselves."