Montgomery - Mark - 1

1:1  Beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

1:2  even as it is written in the prophet Isaiah, Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face to prepare your way.

1:3  The voice of one crying aloud. In the desert make ready a road for the Lord. Make his paths straight.

1:4  In the desert came Johnwho baptized, and preached a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

1:5  and all the land of Judea, and all the people of Jerusalem, kept going out to him, and were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.

1:6  And Johnwas clothed with camel’s hair, and he had a leather girdle round his loins, and he ate locusts, and "honey of the wood."

1:7  He made proclamation. "There is One mightier than I coming after me, and I am not worthy to stoop down and unfasten his sandal strap;

1:8  I have baptized you in water, but he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit."

1:9  It was at that time that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by Johnin the Jordan;

1:10  and as soon as he rose from the water he saw the sky cleft asunder, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him,

1:11  and a voice from the sky. "Thou art my Son, my beloved; in thee is my delight."

1:12  Then the Spirit drove him at once into the desert,

1:13  and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was among the wild beasts, but the angels were ministering to him.

1:14  After Johnhad been thrown into prison Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of God.

1:15  "The time is now come," he said, "and the kingdom of God is near! Repent and believe the gospel."

1:16  And as he was passing along by the sea of Galilee he saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother, casting their net into the sea, for they were fishermen;

1:17  so Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men."

1:18  At once they left their nets and followed him.

1:19  As he went a little farther on he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and Johnhis brother, who also were in their boat mending the nets.

1:20  Straightway he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants and went after him.

1:21  So they came to Capernaum, and as soon as the Sabbath Day came he went into the synagogue and began to teach.

1:22  They were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them with authority, not like the Scribes.

1:23  And at that very moment, there in their synagogue, a man in the grip of an unclean spirit shrieked out.

1:24  "What business have you with us, you Jesus of Nazareth? Are you come to destroy us? I know you who you are, the Holy One of God."

1:25  But Jesus rebuked him, saying. "Be quit! Come out of him."

1:26  So the unclean spirit, after tearing him, came out of him with a loud cry;

1:27  and every one was amazed so that they began questioning among themselves. "What does this mean? A new teaching with authority? He lays commands even upon unclean spirits and they obey him."

1:28  And at once his fame spread everywhere through that part of Galilee.

1:29  On leaving the synagogue they went at once with Jamesand Johnto the house of Simon and Andrew.

1:30  Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick of fever, and without delay they told him about her.

1:31  So he came and took her hand and raised her up. The fever left her at once, and she began to wait upon them.

1:32  At evening when the sun had set, people came and brought to him all the sick and demon-possessed,

1:33  and the whole town was gathered at the door.

1:34  He cured many who were ill with various diseases, and drove out many demons. But he did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who he was.

1:35  In the morning he rose a great while before day and went out to a desert place, and there prayed.

1:36  And Simon and his companions hunted him up,

1:37  and told him, "Every one is looking for you."

1:38  "Let us go away," he answered, "to the neighboring country towns, that I may preach there, too; because for that purpose I came forth."

1:39  So he went throughout Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and driving out demons.

1:40  One day a leper cane to him and besought him as he knelt down to him, saying, "If you choose, you are able to cleanse me."

1:41  Jesus, moved with compassion, put out his hand and touched him, saying, "I do choose, be clean!"

1:42  The leprosy at once left him, and he was made clean.

1:43  Jesus immediately sent him away, charging him sternly and saying.

1:44  "See you say nothing to any one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your purification what Moses commanded for a testimony to them."

1:45  But he went out and began to tell every one and to publish it broadcast, so that Jesus could no longer enter any town openly; but he had to remain outside in lonely places, and people kept coming to him from every quarter.