The Temptation of Jesus
(Mark 1:12–13; Luke 4:1–13)

1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.

3The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4But Jesus answered, “It is written:

‘Man shall not live on bread alone,

but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’a”

5Then the devil took Him to the holy city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. 6“If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written:

‘He will command His angels concerning You,

and they will lift You up in their hands,

so that You will not strike Your foot

against a stone.’b”

7Jesus replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’c”

8Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9“All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.”

10“Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’d”

11Then the devil left Him, and angels came and ministered to Him.

Jesus Begins His Ministry
(Isaiah 9:1–7; Mark 1:14–15; Luke 4:14–15)

12When Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, He withdrew to Galilee. 13Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

15“Land of Zebulun

and land of Naphtali,

the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles—

16the people living in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of the shadow of death,

a light has dawned.”e

17From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

The First Disciples
(Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11; John 1:35–42)

18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 20And at once they left their nets and followed Him.

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

Jesus Heals the Multitudes
(Mark 3:7–12; Luke 6:17–19)

23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed—and He healed them.

25The large crowds that followed Him came from Galilee, the Decapolis,f Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.