Mark 1:1–28

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1:2–8pp—Mt 3:1–11; Lk 3:2–16

1The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,^a the Son of God,^{ba 2}as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way”^cb—

³“a voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for him.’ ”^dc

⁴And so John the Baptist^d appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance^e for the forgiveness of sins.^{f 5}The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. ⁶John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist,^g and he ate locusts^h and wild honey. ⁷And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.^{i 8}I baptize you with^e water, but he will baptize you with^f the Holy Spirit.”^j

The Baptism and Testing of Jesus

1:9–11pp—Mt 3:13–17; Lk 3:21,22 1:12,13pp—Mt 4:1–11; Lk 4:1–13

⁹At that time Jesus came from Nazareth^k in Galilee and was baptized by John^l in the Jordan. ¹⁰Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.^{m 11}And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son,ⁿ whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”^o

¹²At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, ¹³and he was in the wilderness forty days,^p being tempted^g by Satan.^q He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Jesus Announces the Good News

1:16–20pp—Mt 4:18–22; Lk 5:2–11; Jn 1:35–42

¹⁴After John^r was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee,^s proclaiming the good news of God.^{t 15}“The time has come,”^u he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe^v the good news!”^w

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

¹⁶As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ¹⁸At once they left their nets and followed him.^x

¹⁹When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. ²⁰Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit

1:21–28pp—Lk 4:31–37

²¹They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.^{y 22}The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.^{z 23}Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, ²⁴“What do you want with us,^a Jesus of Nazareth?^b Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”^c

²⁵“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”^{d 26}The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.^e

²⁷The people were all so amazed^f that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” ²⁸News about him spread quickly over the whole region^g of Galilee.