The Mission of John the Baptist (Isaiah 40:1–5; Matthew 3:1–17; Luke 3:1–22; John 1:19–34)
2 WBS As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee; 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 WBS The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye 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 WBS John was baptizing in the wilderness, and preaching the baptism of repentance, for the remission of sins. BSB BSB: John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5 WBS And there went out to him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized by him in the river Jordan, 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 WBS And John was clothed with camels hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he ate 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 WBS And preached, saying, There cometh after me one mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 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 WBS I indeed have 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 WBS And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth to Galilee, and was baptized by John in Jordan. BSB BSB: In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10 WBS And immediately coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him. 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 WBS And there came a voice from heaven, saying , Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 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 WBS And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness. BSB BSB: At once the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness,
13 WBS And he was there in the wilderness forty days tempted by Satan: and was with the wild beasts, and the angels ministered to 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 WBS And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe 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 WBS Now as he was walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 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 WBS And Jesus said to them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. BSB BSB: “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
18 WBS And immediately they forsook their nets, and followed him. BSB BSB: And at once they left their nets and followed Him.
20 WBS And immediately he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after 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 WBS And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had 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 WBS And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, BSB BSB: Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue:
24 WBS Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, 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 WBS And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. BSB BSB: But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!”
26 WBS And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. BSB BSB: At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out with a loud shriek.
27 WBS And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority he commandeth even 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 WBS And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region around 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 WBS But the mother of Simon's wife lay sick with a fever; and forthwith they tell him of her. BSB BSB: Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever, and they promptly told Jesus about her.
31 WBS And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered to 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 WBS And all the city was gathered at the door. BSB BSB: and the whole town gathered at the door.
34 WBS And he healed many that were sick with divers diseases, and cast out many demons; and suffered not 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 WBS And in the morning, rising a great while before day, he went out and departed into a solitary place, and there 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 WBS And Simon, and they that were with him, followed after him. BSB BSB: Simon and his companions went to look for Him,
37 WBS And when they had found him, they said to him, All men seek for thee. BSB BSB: and when they found Him, they said, “Everyone is looking for You!”
38 WBS And he said to them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for, for this purpose have I come. 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 WBS And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast 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 WBS And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith to him, I will; be thou clean. BSB BSB: Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!”
42 WBS And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. BSB BSB: And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed.
43 WBS And he strictly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; BSB BSB: Jesus promptly sent him away with a stern warning:
44 WBS And saith to him, See thou say nothing to any man; but go, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for 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 WBS But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, so that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter. 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.