The Temptation of Jesus (Mark 1:12–13; Luke 4:1–13)
1 UST After that, the Holy Spirit took Jesus into a desolate area. That way, the ruling evil spirit could try to make him sin. BSB BSB: Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2 UST He did not eat any food for 40 days. After that, he was hungry. BSB BSB: After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.
3 UST Then the devil arrived. He wanted to make Jesus sin. He said to Jesus,“Show me that you really are God’ s Son. Command these stones to become loaves of bread{ for you to eat}.” BSB BSB: The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 UST Jesus responded,“{ I will not do that}, because Moses wrote in the Scriptures,‘People need more than food to stay alive.{ They also need to do} everything that God tells{ them to do}.’” BSB BSB: But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 UST After that, the ruling evil spirit transported Jesus to{ Jerusalem,} the sacred city. He made him stand on the highest part of the temple. BSB BSB: Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple.
6 UST Then, he said to Jesus,“Show me that you really are God’ s Son. Jump from here!{ You will not hurt yourself,} because it says in the Scriptures,‘God will tell his angels{ to protect} you. They will carry you, and you will not hurt yourself at all.’” BSB BSB: “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His angels concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”
7 UST Jesus responded,“Again,{ I will not do that}, because Moses wrote in the Scriptures,‘Do not provoke the Lord your God to see what he will do.’” BSB BSB: Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8 UST Then, the devil transported Jesus to the top of a very tall mountain.{ From there,} he showed Jesus all the nations in the world.{ He showed Jesus} how rich and powerful they were. BSB BSB: Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
9 UST He told Jesus,“Bow down and worship me. Then, I will make you the ruler of all these countries.” BSB BSB: “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.”
10 UST After that, Jesus responded,“Leave me, Satan!{ I will not worship you,} because Moses wrote in the Scriptures,‘You must only worship the Lord your God. He is the only one you may honor{ as God}.’” BSB BSB: “Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
11 UST After{ Jesus said that,} the ruling evil spirit went away. Then, angels arrived and took care of Jesus! BSB BSB: Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.
Jesus Begins His Ministry (Isaiah 9:1–7; Mark 1:14–15; Luke 4:14–15)
12 UST Soon afterward, Jesus learned that{ King Herod Antipas} had put John{ the Baptizer} in prison. So, Jesus went back to the region of Galilee. BSB BSB: When Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, He withdrew to Galilee.
13 UST After he visited the town of Nazareth, he went to live in the town of Capernaum. Capernaum is next to the Sea of Galilee in the region that used to belong to the tribe of Zebulun and the tribe of Naphtali. BSB BSB: Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali,
14 UST So, what God said by speaking through the prophet Isaiah came true: BSB BSB: to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
15 UST “{ I am speaking about people in} the regions that belong to the tribe of Zebulun and to the tribe of Naphtali.{ These regions are} by the Sea{ of Galilee}, on the other side of the Jordan River.{ We call these regions} Galilee, where many non- Jewish people live. BSB BSB: “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
16 UST The people{ who live in those regions} sin and despair. They are like people who sit in dark places. However, God will rescue them. They will be like people who see a bright light. Again,{ the people in those regions} suffer and die. They are like people who sit in a dangerous place without any light. However, God will save them. It will be as if a light shines on them.” BSB BSB: the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”
17 UST After{ he went to live in the town of Capernaum}, Jesus started proclaiming,“Stop doing what is wrong!{ You should do that} because God is about to establish his heavenly kingdom here.” BSB BSB: From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
The First Disciples (Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11; John 1:35–42)
18 UST One day, Jesus was walking next to the Sea of Galilee. He saw two men: Simon, who also had the name Peter, and Simon’ s{ younger} brother Andrew. They earned money by catching and selling fish.{ When Jesus saw them,} they were using nets to try to catch fish. BSB BSB: As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
19 UST Jesus commanded them,“Come with me and be my apprentices. I will teach you how to gather people{ to be my apprentices}, just as you have been gathering fish.” BSB BSB: “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
20 UST As soon as{ Jesus said this}, they stopped working. They went with him and were his apprentices. BSB BSB: And at once they left their nets and followed Him.
21 UST Jesus kept walking{ next to the sea}. Then, he saw two more men: James, the son of Zebedee, and James’{ younger brother} John.{ When Jesus saw them,} they were preparing their fishing tools in a boat with their father, Zebedee. Jesus commanded them,{“Come with me and be my apprentices.”} BSB BSB: Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them,
22 UST As soon as{ they heard what Jesus said,} they got out of the boat and left their father. They went with Jesus and were his apprentices. BSB BSB: and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.
Jesus Heals the Multitudes (Mark 3:7–12; Luke 6:17–19)
24 UST Many people who lived in the region of Syria heard about him. They took to him many people who were suffering, people who were sick or hurting, people with demons, and people who could not move or who had seizures. Jesus healed them. BSB BSB: News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and He healed them.
25 UST Large groups of people went wherever Jesus went. These people came from the region of Galilee, from the region of the Ten Towns, from the city of Jerusalem, from the region of Judea, and from the east side of the Jordan River. BSB BSB: Large crowds followed Him, having come from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.