Matthew 4:12–24

Public Ministry in Galilee

12 Now when he* heard that John ⌊had been arrested⌋,g he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, he went and* lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 in order that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah would be fulfilled, who said,

15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,

⌊toward the sea⌋,h on the other side of the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentilesi—

16 the people who sit in darkness

have seen a great light,

and the ones who sit in the land and shadow of death,

a light has dawned on them.”j

17 From that time on, Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

18 Now as he* was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew, throwing a casting net into the sea (for they were fishermen). 19 And he said to them, “⌊Follow me⌋k and I will make you fishers of people.” 20 And immediately they left their nets and* followed him. 21 And going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 And immediately they left the boat and their father and* followed him.

Teaching, Preaching, and Healing throughout Galilee

23 And he went around through all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. 24 And a report about him went out ⌊throughout⌋l Syria, and they brought to him all those ⌊who were sick⌋m with various diseases and afflicted by torments, demon-possessedn and epileptics and paralytics, and he healed them.