New International Version NIV
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God,
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This is the beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way” —
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The prophet Isaiah wrote, "I am sending my messenger ahead of you to prepare the way for you."
3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’ ”
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"A voice cries out in the desert: 'Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight!'"
4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
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John the Baptizer was in the desert telling people about a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
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All Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went to him. As they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
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John was dressed in clothes made from camel's hair. He wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey.
7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
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He announced, "The one who comes after me is more powerful than I. I am not worthy to bend down and untie his sandal straps.
8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
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I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
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At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan River.
10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
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As Jesus came out of the water, he saw heaven split open and the Spirit coming down to him as a dove.
11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
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A voice from heaven said, "You are my Son, whom I love. I am pleased with you."
12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness,
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At once the Spirit brought him into the desert,
13 and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.
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where he was tempted by Satan for 40 days. He was there with the wild animals, and the angels took care of him.
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.
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After John had been put in prison, Jesus went to Galilee and told people the Good News of God.
15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
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He said, "The time has come, and the kingdom of God is near. Change the way you think and act, and believe the Good News."
16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.
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As he was going along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the sea because they were fishermen.
17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
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Jesus said to them, "Come, follow me! I will teach you how to catch people instead of fish."
18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
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They immediately left their nets and followed him.
19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.
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As Jesus went on a little farther, he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat preparing their nets [to go fishing].
20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
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He immediately called them, and they left their father Zebedee and the hired men in the boat and followed Jesus.
21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.
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Then they went to Capernaum. On the next day of worship, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.
22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.
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The people were amazed at his teachings. Unlike their scribes, he taught them with authority.
23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out,
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At that time there was a man in the synagogue who was controlled by an evil spirit. He shouted,
24 “What do you want 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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"What do you want with us, Jesus from Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"
25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”
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Jesus ordered the spirit, "Keep quiet, and come out of him!"
26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
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The evil spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out of him with a loud shriek.
27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.”
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Everyone was stunned. They said to each other, "What is this? This is a new teaching that has authority behind it! He gives orders to evil spirits, and they obey him."
28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
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The news about him spread quickly throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.
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After they left the synagogue, they went directly to the house of Simon and Andrew. James and John went with them.
30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her.
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Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever. The first thing they did was to tell Jesus about her.
31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
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Jesus went to her, took her hand, and helped her get up. The fever went away, and she prepared a meal for them.
32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.
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In the evening, when the sun had set, people brought to him everyone who was sick and those possessed by demons.
33 The whole town gathered at the door,
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The whole city had gathered at his door.
34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
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He cured many who were sick with various diseases and forced many demons out of people. However, he would not allow the demons to speak. After all, they knew who he was.
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
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In the morning, long before sunrise, Jesus went to a place where he could be alone to pray.
36 Simon and his companions went to look for him,
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Simon and his friends searched for him.
37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
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When they found him, they told him, "Everyone is looking for you."
38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”
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Jesus said to them, "Let's go somewhere else, to the small towns that are nearby. I have to spread [the Good News] in them also. This is why I have come."
39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
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So he went to spread [the Good News] in the synagogues all over Galilee, and he forced demons out of people.
40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
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Then a man with a serious skin disease came to him. The man fell to his knees and begged Jesus, "If you're willing, you can make me clean."
41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”
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Jesus felt sorry for him, reached out, touched him, and said, "I'm willing. So be clean!"
42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
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Immediately, his skin disease went away, and he was clean.
43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:
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Jesus sent him away at once and warned him,
44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
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"Don't tell anyone about this! Instead, show yourself to the priest. Then offer the sacrifices which Moses commanded as proof to people that you are clean."
45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
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When the man left, he began to talk freely. He spread his story so widely that Jesus could no longer enter any city openly. Instead, he stayed in places where he could be alone. But people still kept coming to him from everywhere.
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GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.