Jesus and the devil

(Mark 1.12,13; Luke 4.1-13)

1The Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert, so that the devil could test him.4.1: He 2.18; 4.15. 2After Jesus had gone without eating4.2 had gone without eating: The Jewish people sometimes went without eating (also called “fasting”) to show their love for God or to show sorrow for their sins. for forty days and nights, he was very hungry. 3Then the devil came to him and said, “If you are God's Son, tell these stones to turn into bread.”

4Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say:4.4: Dt 8.3.

‘No one can live only on food.

People need every word

that God has spoken.’ ”

5Next, the devil took Jesus to the holy city and made him stand on the highest part of the temple. 6The devil said, “If you are God's Son, jump off. The Scriptures say:4.6: Ps 91.11,12.

‘God will give his angels

orders about you.

They will catch you

in their arms,

and you won't hurt

your feet on the stones.’ ”

7Jesus answered, “The Scriptures also say, ‘Don't try to test the Lord your God!’ ”4.7: Dt 6.16.

8Finally, the devil took Jesus up on a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms on earth and their power. 9The devil said to him, “I will give all this to you, if you will bow down and worship me.”

10Jesus answered, “Go away Satan! The Scriptures say:4.10: Dt 6.13.

‘Worship the Lord your God

and serve only him.’ ”

11Then the devil left Jesus, and angels came to help him.

Jesus in Galilee

Jesus begins his work

(Mark 1.14,15; Luke 4.14,15)

12When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went to Galilee.4.12: Mt 14.3; Mk 6.17; Lk 3.19,20. 13But instead of staying in Nazareth, Jesus moved to Capernaum. This town was beside Lake Galilee in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali.4.13 Zebulun and Naphtali: In Old Testament times these tribes were in northern Palestine, and in New Testament times many Gentiles lived where these tribes had once been.4.13: Jn 2.12. 14So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said,

15“Listen, lands of Zebulun4.15,16: Is 9.1,2.

and Naphtali,

lands along the road

to the sea and east

of the Jordan!

Listen Galilee,

land of the Gentiles!

16Although your people

live in darkness,

they will see

a bright light.

Although they live

in the shadow of death,

a light will shine

on them.”

17Then Jesus started preaching, “Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here.”4.17 The kingdom of heaven will soon be here: See the two notes at 3.2.4.17: Mt 3.2.

Jesus chooses four fishermen

(Mark 1.16-20; Luke 5.1-11)

18While Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he saw two brothers. One was Simon, also known as Peter, and the other was Andrew. They were fishermen, and they were casting their net into the lake. 19Jesus said to them, “Come with me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish.” 20At once the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him.

21Jesus walked on until he saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father, mending their nets. Jesus asked them to come with him too. 22Straight away they left the boat and their father and went with Jesus.

Jesus teaches, preaches, and heals

(Luke 6.17-19)

23Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in the Jewish meeting places and preaching the good news about God's kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and sickness.4.23: Mt 9.35; Mk 1.39. 24News about him spread all over Syria, and people with every kind of sickness or disease were brought to him. Some of them had a lot of demons in them, others were thought to be mad,4.24 thought to be mad: In ancient times people with epilepsy were thought to be mad. and still others could not walk. But Jesus healed them all.

25Large crowds followed Jesus from Galilee and the region around the ten cities known as Decapolis.4.25 the ten cities known as Decapolis: A group of ten cities east of Samaria and Galilee, where the people followed the Greek way of life. They also came from Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the River Jordan.