35 aIn the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and bwas praying there.

36 Simon and his companions searched for Him;

37 they found Him, and * said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”

38 He * said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may 1preach there also; for that is what I came for.”

39 aAnd He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, 1preaching and casting out the demons.

40 aAnd a leper * came to Jesus, beseeching Him and bfalling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

41 Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and * said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

43 And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away,

44 and He * said to him, “aSee that you say nothing to anyone; but ago, show yourself to the priest and boffer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

45 But he went out and began to aproclaim it freely and to aspread the news around, to such an extent that 1Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but 2stayed out in unpopulated areas; and bthey were coming to Him from everywhere.