# Mark 1 (New King James Version)
John the Baptist Prepares the Way

##### Chapter 1
###### 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  
###### 2 As it is written in the Prophets:
"Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,  
Who will prepare Your way before You."  

###### 3 "The voice of one crying in the wilderness:  
'Prepare the way of the Lord;  
Make His paths straight.' "

###### 4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.  
###### 5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

###### 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.  
###### 7 And he preached, saying, "There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.  
###### 8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."John Baptizes Jesus

###### 9 It came to pass in those days _that_ Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.  
###### 10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.  
###### 11 Then a voice came from heaven, "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."Satan Tempts Jesus

###### 12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.  
###### 13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.Jesus Begins His Galilean Ministry

###### 14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,  
###### 15 and saying, **"The time is fulfilled, and** **the kingdom of God** **is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."**Four Fishermen Called as Disciples

###### 16 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.  
###### 17 Then Jesus said to them, **"Follow Me, and I will make you become** **fishers of men."**  
###### 18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

###### 19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the _son_ of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also _were_ in the boat mending their nets.  
###### 20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.Jesus Casts Out an Unclean Spirit

###### 21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught.  
###### 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

###### 23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,  
###### 24 saying, "Let _us_ alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!"

###### 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, **"Be quiet, and come out of him!"**  
###### 26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.  
###### 27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine _is_ this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him."  
###### 28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.Peter's Mother-in-Law Healed

###### 29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  
###### 30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.  
###### 31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.Many Healed After Sabbath Sunset

###### 32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.  
###### 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door.  
###### 34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.Preaching in Galilee

###### 35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.  
###### 36 And Simon and those _who were_ with Him searched for Him.  
###### 37 When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."

###### 38 But He said to them, **"Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because** **for this purpose I have come forth."**

###### 39 And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.Jesus Cleanses a Leper

###### 40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean."

###### 41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out _His_ hand and touched him, and said to him, **"I am willing; be cleansed."**  
###### 42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.  
###### 43 And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once,  
###### 44 and said to him, **"See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things** **which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."**

###### 45 However, he went out and began to proclaim _it_ freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.