Jesus Begins to Preach
12 John had been put in prison. When Jesus heard about this, he returned to Galilee.
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Jesus left Nazareth. He went to live in the city of Capernaum. It was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali.
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In that way, what the prophet Isaiah had said came true. He had said,
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"Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali! Galilee, where non-Jewish people live! Land along the Mediterranean Sea! Territory east of the Jordan River!
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The people who are now living in darkness will see a great light. They are now living in a very dark land. But a light will shine on them." (Isaiah 9:1,2)
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From that time on Jesus began to preach. "Turn away from your sins!" he said. "The kingdom of heaven is near."
Jesus Chooses the First Disciples
18 One day Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee. There he saw two brothers. They were Simon Peter and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the lake. They were fishermen.
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"Come. Follow me," Jesus said. "I will make you fishers of people."
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At once they left their nets and followed him.
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Going on from there, he saw two other brothers. They were James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee. As they were preparing their nets, Jesus called out to them.
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Right away they left the boat and their father and followed Jesus.
Jesus Heals Sick People
23 Jesus went all over Galilee. There he taught in the synagogues. He preached the good news of God's kingdom. He healed every illness and sickness the people had.
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News about him spread all over Syria. People brought to him all who were ill with different kinds of sicknesses. Some were suffering great pain. Others were controlled by demons. Some were shaking wildly. Others couldn't move at all. And Jesus healed all of them.
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Large crowds followed him. Some people came from Galilee, from the area known as the Ten Cities, and from Jerusalem and Judea. Others came from the area across the Jordan River.