The Life of Jesus

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.

John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

And he began to proclaim: “After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.

I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

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.

And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

At once the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness,

and He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to Him.

After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.

“The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”

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.

“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

And at once they left their nets and followed Him.

Going on a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat, mending their nets.

Immediately Jesus called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.

Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach.

The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue:

“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!”

But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!”

At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out with a loud shriek.

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!”

And the news about Jesus spread quickly through the whole region of Galilee.

As soon as Jesus and His companions had left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.