CHAPTER 4:The Gospel of Matthew

Jesus' Temptation in the Wilderness

[1] Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 

[2] After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 

[3] The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 

[4] Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 

[5] Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 

[6] “If you are the Son of God,” 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.’” 

[7] Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 

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

[9] “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 

[10] Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 

[11] Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Jesus begins Preaching and calls His first disciples

[12] When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 

[13] Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 

[14] to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

[15] “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— 

[16] 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.”

[17] From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”  

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

[19] “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 

[20] At once they left their nets and followed him. 

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

[22] and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.  

Jesus heals the sick and gains followers

[23] Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 

[24] News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 

[25] Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.