⁴And so John came. He baptized people in the desert. He also preached that people should be baptized and turn away from their sins. Then God would forgive them. ⁵All the people from the countryside of Judea went out to him. All the people from Jerusalem went too. When they admitted they had sinned, John baptized them in the Jordan River. ⁶John wore clothes made out of camel’s hair. He had a leather belt around his waist. And he ate locusts and wild honey.

⁷Here is what John was preaching. “After me, one will come who is more powerful than I am. I’m not good enough to bend down and untie his sandals. ⁸I baptize you with water. But he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus Is Baptized and Tempted

⁹At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee. John baptized him in the Jordan River. ¹⁰Jesus was coming up out of the water. Just then he saw heaven being torn open. He saw the Holy Spirit coming down on him like a dove. ¹¹A voice spoke to him from heaven. It said, “You are my Son, and I love you. I am very pleased with you.”

¹²At once the Holy Spirit sent Jesus out into the desert. ¹³He was in the desert 40 days. There Satan tempted him. The wild animals didn’t harm Jesus. Angels took care of him.

Jesus Chooses the First Disciples

¹⁴After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee. He preached God’s good news. ¹⁵“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Turn away from your sins and believe the good news!”

¹⁶One day Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee. There he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the lake. They were fishermen. ¹⁷“Come. Follow me,” Jesus said. “I will make you fishers of people.”

¹⁸At once they left their nets and followed him.

¹⁹Then Jesus walked a little farther. As he did, he saw James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat preparing their nets. ²⁰Right away he called out to them. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men. Then they followed Jesus.

Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit

²¹Jesus and those with him went to Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue. There he began to teach. ²²The people were amazed at his teaching. He taught them like one who had authority. He did not talk like the teachers of the law.

²³Just then a man in their synagogue cried out. He was controlled by an evil spirit. He said, ²⁴“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God!”

²⁵“Be quiet!” said Jesus firmly. “Come out of him!”

²⁶The evil spirit shook the man wildly. Then it came out of him with a scream.

²⁷All the people were amazed. So they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching! And with so much authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits, and they obey him.” ²⁸News about Jesus spread quickly all over Galilee.

Jesus Heals Many People

²⁹Jesus and those with him left the synagogue. Right away they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. ³⁰Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed. She had a fever. They told Jesus about her. ³¹So he went to her. He took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her. Then she began to serve them.

³²That evening after sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who were sick. They also brought all who were controlled by demons.

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