NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION
The Gospel of Matthew  |   Next Chapter

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The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

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As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way;

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the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ” 

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John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  

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And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.  

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Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.  

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He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.  

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I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 

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In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.  

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And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.  

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And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” 

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And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.

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He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

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Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God,
 

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and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

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As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea — for they were fishermen.  

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And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 

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And immediately they left their nets and followed him.  

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As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets.  

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Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.  

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They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught.  

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They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.  

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Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit,
 

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and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?  I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 

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But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 

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And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.  

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They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this?  A new teaching — with authority!  He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 

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At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

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As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  

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Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once.  

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He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up.  Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.  

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That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons.  

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And the whole city was gathered around the door.  

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And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.  

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In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.  

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And Simon and his companions hunted for him.

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When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” 

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He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” 

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And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons. 

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A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” 

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Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose.  Be made clean!” 

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Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.

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After sternly warning him he sent him away at once,  

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saying to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 

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But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.