Matthew

The Trial in the Desert

Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert so he could be tested by the devil.

After Jesus fasted for forty days and nights, he was famished.

Then the tempter came to him and said:

“If you are the Son of God, command these stones to turn into bread.”

But Jesus answered:

“Scripture says:

One does not live on bread alone,

but on every word

that comes from the mouth of God.”

Then the devil took Jesus to the Holy City, set him on the highest wall of the temple,

and said to him:

“If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for scripture says:

God has given orders

to his angels concerning you.

Their hands will hold you up,

lest you hurt your foot

against a stone.”

Jesus replied:

“But scripture also says:

You shall not put

the LORD your God to the test.”

Then the devil took Jesus to a very high mountain and showed him all the nations of the world in all their greatness and splendor,

and he said:

“All this I will give you if you kneel down and worship me.”

Then Jesus answered:

“Be off, Satan! It is written:

Worship the LORD your God

and serve him alone!”

Then the devil left him, and angels came and waited on him.

His Proclamation Begins

Then Jesus learned that John had been arrested, he retreated into Galilee.

He left Nazareth and moved to Capernaum by the sea, at the border of Zebulun and Naphtali.

In this way, the word of the prophet Isaiah was fulfilled:

Land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

crossed by the Road of the Sea;

and you, who live beyond the Jordan,

Galilee, a land of pagans:

The people who lived in darkness

have seen a great light;

on those who live in the land

of the shadow of death,

a light has shone.”

From that time on, Jesus began to proclaim his message:

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

He Calls His First Disciples

As Jesus walked by the lake of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake because they were fishermen.

He said to them:

“Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.”

At once, they left their nets and followed him.

He continued on from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, in a boat with their father Zebedee, repairing their nets. Jesus called them,

and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Narrative Summary of Jesus’ Activity

Jesus traveled throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, while healing all kinds of sickness and disease among the people.

The news about him spread throughout all of Syria, and people brought all their sick and those suffering: the possessed, the insane, the paralyzed; and he healed them all.

Large crowds followed him from Galilee and the Ten Cities, from Jerusalem, Judea, and across the Jordan.