Mar 1 | BSB | STEP | [This is the] beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, [the] Son of God.

‏ Mark 1

The Mission of John the Baptist

1 [This is the] beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, [the] Son of God. ^{▼▼SBL and WH do not include the Son of God.} 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who 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.’” ^{▼▼Isaiah 40:3} 4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching [a] baptism of repentance for [the] forgiveness of sins. 5 [People] went out to him from all of Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 7 And he began to proclaim: “After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down [and] untie. 8 I baptize you [with] water, ^{▼▼Or in water} but He will baptize you with [the] Holy Spirit.” ^{▼▼Or in the Holy Spirit} 9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 As soon [as Jesus] came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

The Temptation and Preaching of Jesus

12 At once the Spirit drove [Jesus] into the wilderness, 13 and He was [there] for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to Him. 14 After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee [and] proclaimed the gospel of God. 15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”

The First Disciples

16 As [Jesus] was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and [his] brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 18 And at once they left [their] nets [and] followed Him. 19 Going on a little farther, He saw James [son] of Zebedee and his brother John. They [were] in a boat, mending [their] nets. 20 Immediately [Jesus] called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men [and] followed Him.

Jesus Expels an Unclean Spirit

21 Then [Jesus and His companions] went to Capernaum, and as soon as the Sabbath [began] , [Jesus] entered the synagogue [and] began to teach. 22 [The people] were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue: 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!” 25 But Jesus rebuked [the spirit] . “Be silent!” He said. “ - Come out of him!” 26 At this, the unclean spirit threw [the man] into convulsions [and] came out with a loud shriek. 27 All [the people] were amazed [and] began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!” 28 And the news about [Jesus] spread quickly through the whole region of Galilee.

Jesus Heals at Peter's House

29 As soon as [Jesus and His companions] had left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever, and they promptly told [Jesus] about her. 31 So He went to [her] , took her [by the] hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them. 32 That evening, after sunset, [people] brought to [Jesus] all who were sick and demon-possessed, 33 and the whole town gathered at the door. 34 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.

Jesus Prays and Preaches

35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, [Jesus] got up [and] slipped out to a solitary place to pray. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for Him, 37 and when they found Him, they said, “Everyone is looking for You!” 38 But [Jesus] answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns so I can preach there as well, for that is why I have come.” 39 [So] He went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

The Leper's Prayer

40 Then a leper ^{▼▼Leprosy was a term used for various skin diseases. See Leviticus 13.} came to [Jesus] , begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Moved with compassion, ^{▼▼SBL indignant} Jesus reached out His hand [and] touched [the man] . “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” 42 And Immediately the leprosy left him, and [the man] was cleansed. 43 [Jesus] promptly sent him away with a stern warning: 44 “See that you don’t tell [anyone] . But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 45 But the [man] went out [and] openly began to proclaim and spread the news. Consequently, Jesus could no longer enter a town in plain view, but He stayed out in solitary places. Yet [people] came to Him from every quarter.