New International Version NIV
New International Reader's Version NIRV
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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Long ago Isaiah the prophet wrote, "I will send my messenger ahead of you. He will prepare your way." (Malachi 3:1)
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 messenger is calling out in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord. Make straight paths for him.' " (Isaiah 40:3)
4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
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And so John came. He baptized people in the desert. He also preached that people should be baptized and turn away from their sins. Then God would forgive them.
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 the people from the countryside of Judea went out to him. All the people from Jerusalem went too. When they admitted they had sinned, John 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 wore clothes made out of camel's hair. He had a leather belt around his waist. And he 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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Here is what John was preaching. "After me, one will come who is more powerful than I am. I'm not good enough to bend down and untie his sandals.
8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
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I baptize 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. John baptized him 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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Jesus was coming up out of the water. Just then he saw heaven being torn open. He saw the Holy Spirit coming down on him like 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 spoke to him from heaven. It said, "You are my Son, and I love you. I am very pleased with you."
12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness,
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At once the Holy Spirit sent Jesus out 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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He was in the desert 40 days. There Satan tempted him. The wild animals didn't harm Jesus. 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 was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee. He preached God's good news.
15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
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"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Turn away from your sins 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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One day Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee. There he saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were throwing a net into the lake. They were fishermen.
17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”
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"Come. Follow me," Jesus said. "I will make you fishers of people."
18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
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At once they 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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Then Jesus walked a little farther. As he did, he saw James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat preparing their nets.
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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Right away he called out to them. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men. Then they 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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Jesus and those with him went to Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue. There he 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 teaching. He taught them like one who had authority. He did not talk like the teachers of the law.
23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out,
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Just then a man in their synagogue cried out. He was controlled by an evil spirit. He said,
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 of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God!"
25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”
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"Be quiet!" said Jesus firmly. "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 shook the man wildly. Then it came out of him with a scream.
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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All the people were amazed. So they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching! And with so much authority! He even 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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News about Jesus spread quickly all over 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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Jesus and those with him left the synagogue. Right away they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.
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 lying in bed. She had a fever. They told 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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So he went to her. He took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her. Then she began to serve them.
32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.
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That evening after sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who were sick. They also brought all who were controlled by demons.
33 The whole town gathered at the door,
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All the people in town gathered at the 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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Jesus healed many of them. They had all kinds of sicknesses. He also drove out many demons. But he would not let the demons speak, because 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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It was very early in the morning and still dark. Jesus got up and left the house. He went to a place where he could be alone. There he prayed.
36 Simon and his companions went to look for him,
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Simon and his friends went to look for Jesus.
37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
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When they found him, they called out, "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 replied, "Let's go somewhere else. I want to go to the nearby towns. I must preach there also. That 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 traveled all around Galilee. He preached in their synagogues. He also drove out demons.
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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A man who had a skin disease came to Jesus. On his knees he begged Jesus. He said, "If you are willing to make me 'clean,' you can do it."
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 was filled with deep concern. He reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing to do it," he said. "Be 'clean'!"
42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
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Right away the disease left him. He was healed.
43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:
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Jesus sent him away at once. He gave the man a strong warning.
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 this to anyone," he said. "Go and show yourself to the priest. Offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded. It will be a witness to the priest and the 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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But the man went out and started talking right away. He spread the news to everyone. So Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. He stayed outside in lonely places. But people still came to him from everywhere.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.