The Temptation of Jesus

4 Then i Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. j 2 After He had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, k He was hungry. 3 Then the tempter approached Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” l

4 But He answered, “It is written:

Man must not live on bread alone

but on every word that comes

from the mouth of God.” m n

5 Then the Devil took Him to the holy city, o had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, p 6 and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

He will give His angels q orders concerning you,

and they will support you with their hands

so that you will not strike

your foot against a stone.” r s

7 Jesus told him, “It is also written: Do not test the Lord your God.” t u

8 Again, the Devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 And he said to Him, “I will give You all these things if You will fall down and worship me.” v

10 Then Jesus told him, “Go away, w Satan! For it is written:

Worship the Lord your God,

and serve only x Him.” y

11 Then the Devil left Him, and immediately angels came and began to serve Him. z

Ministry in Galilee

12 When He heard that John had been arrested, a He withdrew into Galilee. b 13 He left Nazareth behind and went to live in Capernaum c by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. 14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

15 Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,

along the sea road, beyond the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles!

16 The people who live in darkness

have seen a great light,

and for those living in the shadowland of death,

light has dawned. d e f

17 From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven g has come near!”

The First Disciples

18 As h He was walking along the Sea of Galilee, i He saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen. 19 “Follow Me,” He told them, “and I will make you fish for j people!” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

21 Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and He called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.

Teaching, Preaching, and Healing

23 Jesus was going all over Galilee, k teaching in their * synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every l disease and sickness among the people. m 24 Then the news about Him spread throughout Syria. n So they brought to Him all those who were afflicted, those suffering from various diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics. o And He healed them. 25 Large crowds followed Him from Galilee, * Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. p