Study Desk

Now in those days John the Baptist came preaching in the deserted places of Judea,

and saying, Repent! For the kingdom of Heaven has drawn near.

For this is he spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord! Make His paths straight!" Isa. 40:3

And John himself had his clothing from hairs of a camel, and a belt of leather about his loin. And his food was locusts and wild honey.

Then Jerusalem and all Judea went out to him, and all the neighborhood of the Jordan,

and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

But seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, Offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Therefore, bring forth fruits worthy of repentance.

And do not think to say within yourselves, We have a father, Abraham. For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

But already the axe is even laid at the root of the trees; therefore, any tree not bringing forth good fruit is cut off and is thrown into fire.

I indeed baptize you in water to repentance; but He who is coming after me is stronger than me, of whom I am not able to lift The sandals. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire,

whose fan is in His hand, and He will cleanse His floor and will gather His wheat into the storehouse. But He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

Then Jesus arrives from Galilee to the Jordan, to John, to be baptized by him.

But John restrained Him, saying, I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?

But answering, Jesus said to him, Allow it now, for it is becoming to us this way to fulfill all righteousness. Then he allows Him.

And having been baptized, Jesus went up immediately from the water. And, behold! The heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God coming down as a dove, and coming upon Him.

And behold! A voice out of the heaven saying, This is My Son, the Beloved, in whom I have been delighting. Psa. 2:7; Gen. 22:2; Isa. 42:1

Then Jesus was led up into the wilderness by the Spirit, to be tempted by the Devil.

And having fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards He hungered.

And coming near to Him, the Tempter said, If You are the Son of God, speak that these stones may become loaves.

But answering, He said, It has been written: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but on every Word going out of the mouth of God." Deut. 8:3

Then the Devil takes Him to the holy city, and he set Him on the wing of the temple.

And he said to Him, If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it has been written: "He shall give His angels charge concerning You, and they shall bear You on their hands,lest You strike Your foot against a stone."

Jesus said to him, Again it has been written: "You shall not tempt the Lord your God." Deut. 6:16

Again the Devil takes Him to a very high mountain, and shows to Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

And he said to Him. I will give all these things to You if falling down, You will worship me.

Then Jesus said to him, Go, Satan! For it has been written: "You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve Him only." Deut. 6:13

Then the Devil left Him. And behold! Angels came near and ministered to Him.

But Jesus hearing that John was delivered up, He withdrew into Galilee.

And having left Nazareth, having come He lived at Capernaum, beside the sea in the districts of Zebulun and Naphtali,

so that might be fulfilled that spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations:

the people sitting in darkness saw a great Light; and to those sitting in the region and shadow of death, Light sprang up to them." Isa. 9:1, 2

From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent! For the kingdom of Heaven has drawn near.

And walking beside the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw two brothers, Simon being called Peter and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishers.

And He says to them, Come after Me, and I will make you fishers of men.

And leaving the nets, they immediately followed Him.

And going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and his brother John in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. And He called them.

And at once leaving the boat and their father, they followed Him.

And Jesus went around all Galilee teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.

And the report of Him went out into all Syria. And they brought to Him all the ones being badly ill , suffering various diseases and torments, also those being demon-possessed, and those being moonstruck, and paralytics; and He healed them.

And many crowds followed Him from Galilee and Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and beyond the Jordan.