1. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ [the Son of God].
2. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;he will prepare your way.
3. A voice of one crying out in the desert:‘Prepare the way of the Lord,make straight his paths.’”
4. John [the] Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
5. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.
6. John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey.
7. And this is what he proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
8. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit.”
9. It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John.
10. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.
11. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
12. At once the Spirit drove him out into the desert,
13. and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.
14. After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
15. “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
16. As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen.
17. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
18. Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.
19. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets.
20. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.