Study Desk

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness^(a)

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted^[a](b) by the devil.^(c)

After fasting forty days and forty nights,^(d) he was hungry.

The tempter^(e) came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God,^(f) tell these stones to become bread."

Jesus answered, "It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'^[b]"^(g)

Then the devil took him to the holy city^(h) and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.

"If you are the Son of God,"⁽ⁱ⁾ he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written: "‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'^[c]"^(j)

Jesus answered him, "It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'^[d]"^(k)

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.

"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."

Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan!^(l) For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'^[e]"^(m)

Then the devil left him,⁽ⁿ⁾ and angels came and attended him.^(o)

When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison,^(p) he withdrew to Galilee.^(q)

Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum,^(r) which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—

to fulfill^(s) what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

"Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."^[f](t)

From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven^(u) has come near."

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee,^(w) he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter^(x) and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.

"Come, follow me,"^(y) Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."

At once they left their nets and followed him.^(z)

Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John.^(aa) They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them,

and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.^(ab)

Jesus went throughout Galilee,^(ac) teaching in their synagogues,^(ad) proclaiming the good news^(ae) of the kingdom,^(af) and healing every disease and sickness among the people.^(ag)

News about him spread all over Syria,^(ah) and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed,^(ai) those having seizures,^(aj) and the paralyzed;^(ak) and he healed them.

Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,^[g] Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.^(al)