1 THE beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son

2

of God*.

6

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah †, "Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who will prepare thy way‡: 3 The voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare ye the way 4 of the Lord, make his paths straight;' John, accordingly§, baptized in the desert, and proclaimed || the baptism of re5 pentance, for the remission of sins. And all the region of Judea, and all they of Jerusalem, went out unto him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing 6 their sins. Now John was clothed with camel's hair, and

with a leathern girdle about his loins; and he ate lo7 custs and wild honey. And he proclaimed, saying, "One

mightier than I cometh after me, the latchet of whose 8 sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he will baptize you with the holy spirit."

9

And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in Jor

* Or, of Jesus Christ, a son of God.

in the prophets," R. T. If "Isaiah" is the true reading, Abp. Newcome observes that the remainder of the verse must be an early interpolation from Malachi iii. 1, "before thee," R. T. and N. These words are omitted in Griesbach's second

edition.

§ See Wakefield.

N. m. preached, N. t.

N. m. preached, N. t.

10 dan. And immediately going up out of the water, he saw the heavens rent, and the spirit, as a dove, descend11 ing upon him. And a voice came from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased."

12 And immediately the spirit sendeth him forth into the 13 desert: and he was tempted by Satan forty days*; and was with the wild beasts: and the angels ministered unto him.

14

Now after John had been delivered up to prison, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming + the glad tidings [of the 15 kingdom] of God, [and] saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God draweth near: repent, and believe the gospel."

16

Now as he walked by the lake of Galilee, he saw Simon, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake: for 17 they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, "Come 18 after me, and I will make you to be fishers of men." And

immediately they left [their] nets, and followed him. 19 And he went on a little further thence, and saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were 20 in a ship mending their nets. And immediately he called them and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after Jesus.

21

And they enter into Capernaum; and immediately on 22 the sabbath he taught in the synagogue. And the people were amazed at his doctrine: for he taught them as hav23 ing authority, and not as the scribes. And there was in

their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit§, and he 24 cried out, saying, "Ah! what have we to do with thee,

thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I 25 know who thou art, the Holy One of God." And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him.”

i. e. he was exposed to various trials for the discipline of his mind. See note on Matt. iv.

N. m. preaching, N. t.

+ preparing, N.

§ an insane person.

26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him, and had 27 cried with a loud voice, he came out of the man. And all were astonished, so that they reasoned among themselves, saying, “What is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority he commandeth even the unclean 28 spirits, and they obey him." And immediately his fame went forth through all the country about Galilee. •

29

And they immediately went out of the synagogue, and went with James and John into the house of Simon 30 and Andrew. Now the mother of Simon's wife lay sick 31 of a fever; and immediately they tell him of her. And

32

he came near and took her by the hand, and raised her up and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

Now when evening was come, and the sun was set, they brought unto him all that were sick, and those 33 that had demons. And all the city was gathered to34 gether at the door. And he cured many that were sick of various diseases, and cast out many demons: and suf fered not the demons to say that they knew him.

35

And in the morning he rose up while much of the night remained, and went out, and departed into a desert place, 36 and prayed there. And Simon, and those that were with 37 Simon, followed after him. And when they had found 38 him, they say unto him, "All men seek thee." And he

saith unto them, "Let us go into the neighbouring towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore I am come 39 forth." And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee; and cast out demons.

40

And a leper cometh to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying to him, "If thou wilt, 41 thou canst make me clean." And Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched forth his hand, and touched him, 42 and saith to him, "I will; be thou made clean." And

speak: for-N.

when he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed 43 from the man, and he was made clean. And Jesus strict

ly charged him, and immediately sent him away; and 44 saith unto him, "See thou tell no man any thing: but

go, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded; for a testimony 45 unto them." But he went forth, and began to publish

much, and to spread abroad the matter; so that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from all parts.

Ca. II. And he entered again into Capernaum, after some 2 days; and it was known that he was in an house. And immediately many were gathered together; so that not even the parts about the door could any longer contain them and he preached the word unto them.

3

And they come to him, bringing one sick of the palsy, 4 who was carried by four. And when they could not come near him because of the multitude, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the couch on which the sick of the 5 palsy lay. Now when Jesus saw their faith, he saith to

the sick of the palsy, "Son, thy sins are forgiven thee." 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, and reasoning 7 thus in their hearts, "Why doth this man thus speak blas

9 "

phemies? who can forgive sins, but one, that is, God?" 8 And when Jesus immediately perceived in his spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye so in your hearts? Which is easier? to say unto the sick of the palsy, Thy sins are forgiven thee?' or to say, 'Arise, take up thy couch, and walk?' 10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11 I say unto thee, Arise, take up thy couch, and go to

*Or, would not for a time enter openly. See ch. ii. 1. t Or, removed the covering.

12 thine house."" And immediately he arose, took up his

13

14

15

couch, and went out before them all; so that all were amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it

thus !"

66

And Jesus went out again by the side of the lake: and all the multitude came to him, and he taught them.

And as he passed by, he saw Levi, the son of Alpheus, sitting at the receipt of custom, and saith unto him, "Follow me." And Levi rose up, and followed him.

And it came to pass that, as Jesus was at meat in Levi's house, many publicans and sinners* placed themselves at the tablet with Jesus and his disciples: for there were 16 many, and they followed him. And when the scribes and the Pharisees saw him eating with the publicans and sinners, they said to his disciples, "How is it that he eateth and drinketh with the publicans and sinners?" 17 But when Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, "Those that are well need not a physician, but those that are sick; I came not to call righteous men, but sinners."

18

Now the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast and they come and say unto him, " Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy dis19 ciples fast not?" And Jesus said unto them, "Can the

companions of the bridegroom fast, while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom 20 with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come. taken from them; and No man seweth a piece

when the bridegroom shall be 21 then they will fast in that day §.

of unwrought cloth upon an old garment: otherwise, the new piece which filleth [it] up taketh from the old, and 22 a worse rent is made. And no man putteth new wine into old skins; otherwise, the [new] wine bursteth the

* tax-gatherers, and gentiles, who were regarded as sinners.

+ placed themselves with Jesus, N,

§"in those days," R.T.

+ "but sinners to repentance," RT,