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The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
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As it is written in the Prophets: "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You."
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"The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.' "
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John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
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Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
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Now John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
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And he preached, saying, "There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.
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I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
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It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
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And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.
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Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
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Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.
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And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.
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Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
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and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
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And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
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Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men."
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They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
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When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets.
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And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.
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Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught.
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And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
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Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,
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saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!"