The Mission of John the Baptist (Isaiah 40:1–5; Matthew 3:1–17; Luke 3:1–22; John 1:19–34)
2 UEB As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Look, I am sending my messenger before your face, the one who will prepare your way. BSB BSB: As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way.”
3 UEB The voice of one calling out in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'" BSB BSB: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”
4 UEB John came, baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. BSB BSB: John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5 UEB 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. BSB BSB: People went out to him from all of Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
6 UEB John was wearing a coat of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and he was eating locusts and wild honey. BSB BSB: John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
7 UEB 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. BSB BSB: And he proclaimed: “After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
8 UEB I baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." BSB BSB: I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
9 UEB It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and he was baptized by John in the Jordan River. BSB BSB: In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10 UEB As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens split open and the Spirit coming down on him like a dove. BSB BSB: As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.
11 UEB A voice came out of the heavens, "You are my beloved Son. I am very pleased with you." BSB BSB: And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
The Temptation and Preaching of Jesus (Matthew 4:1–17; Luke 4:1–15)
12 UEB Then the Spirit compelled him to go out into the wilderness. BSB BSB: At once the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness,
13 UEB He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels served him. BSB BSB: and He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to Him.
15 UEB He said, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel." BSB BSB: “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”
The First Disciples (Matthew 4:18–22; Luke 5:1–11; John 1:35–42)
16 UEB 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. BSB BSB: As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
17 UEB Jesus said to them, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." BSB BSB: “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
18 UEB Then immediately they left the nets and followed him. BSB BSB: And at once they left their nets and followed Him.
20 UEB He called them and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and they followed him. BSB BSB: Immediately Jesus called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.
Jesus Expels an Unclean Spirit (Luke 4:31–37)
22 UEB They were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as someone who has authority and not as the scribes. BSB BSB: The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
23 UEB Just then a man in their synagogue who had an unclean spirit cried out, BSB BSB: Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue:
24 UEB 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!" BSB BSB: “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
25 UEB Jesus rebuked the demon and said, "Be quiet and come out of him!" BSB BSB: But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!”
26 UEB The unclean spirit threw him down and went out from him while crying out with a loud voice. BSB BSB: At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out with a loud shriek.
27 UEB 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!" BSB BSB: All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!”
28 UEB The news about him went out everywhere into the whole region of Galilee. BSB BSB: And the news about Jesus spread quickly through the whole region of Galilee.
Jesus Heals at Peter’s House (Matthew 8:14–17; Luke 4:38–41)
30 UEB Now Simon's mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. BSB BSB: Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever, and they promptly told Jesus about her.
31 UEB So he came, took her by the hand, and raised her up; the fever left her, and she started serving them. BSB BSB: So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.
33 UEB The whole city gathered together at the door. BSB BSB: and the whole town gathered at the door.
34 UEB 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. BSB BSB: And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.
Jesus Prays and Preaches (Luke 4:42–44)
35 UEB He got up very early, while it was still dark; he left and went out into a solitary place and there he prayed. BSB BSB: Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and went out to a solitary place to pray.
36 UEB Simon and those who were with him searched for him. BSB BSB: Simon and his companions went to look for Him,
37 UEB They found him and they said to him, "Everyone is looking for you." BSB BSB: and when they found Him, they said, “Everyone is looking for You!”
38 UEB 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." BSB BSB: But Jesus answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns so I can preach there as well, for that is why I have come.”
39 UEB He went throughout all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. BSB BSB: So He went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
The Leper’s Prayer (Leviticus 14:1–32; Matthew 8:1–4; Luke 5:12–16)
41 UEB Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him, saying to him, "I am willing. Be clean." BSB BSB: Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!”
42 UEB Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. BSB BSB: And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed.
43 UEB Jesus strictly warned him and sent him away. BSB BSB: Jesus promptly sent him away with a stern warning:
44 UEB 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." BSB BSB: “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
45 UEB 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. BSB BSB: But the man went out and openly began to proclaim and spread the news. Consequently, Jesus could no longer enter a town in plain view, but He stayed out in solitary places. Yet people came to Him from every quarter.