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Matthew 4:12-25
Contemporary English Version
Matthew 4:12-25
Contemporary English Version
Jesus Begins His Work
(Mark 1.14,15; Luke 4.14,15)
12 (A) When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went to Galilee. 13 (B) But instead of staying in Nazareth, Jesus moved to Capernaum. This town was beside Lake Galilee in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali.[a] 14 So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said,
15 (C) “Listen, lands of Zebulun
and Naphtali,
lands along the road
to the sea
and across the Jordan.
Listen Galilee,
land of the Gentiles!
16 Although 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.”
17 (D) Then Jesus started preaching, “Turn back to God! The kingdom of heaven will soon be here.”[b]
Jesus Chooses Four Fishermen
(Mark 1.16-20; Luke 5.1-11)
18 While 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. 19 Jesus said to them, “Follow me! I will teach you how to bring in people instead of fish.” 20 Right then the two brothers dropped their nets and went with him.
21 Jesus 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. 22 At once they left the boat and their father and went with Jesus.
Jesus Teaches, Preaches, and Heals
(Luke 6.17-19)
23 (E) Jesus went all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the good news about God's kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and sickness. 24 News 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 crazy,[c] and still others could not walk. But Jesus healed them all.
25 Large crowds followed Jesus from Galilee and the region around the ten cities known as Decapolis.[d] They also came from Jerusalem, Judea, and from across the Jordan River.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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.
- 4.17 The kingdom of heaven will soon be here: See the two notes at 3.2.
- 4.24 thought to be crazy: In ancient times people with epilepsy were thought to be crazy.
- 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.
Matthew 4:12-25
New International Version
Matthew 4:12-25
New International Version
Jesus Begins to Preach
12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison,(A) he withdrew to Galilee.(B) 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum,(C) which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— 14 to fulfill(D) 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.”[a](E)
17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven(F) has come near.”
Jesus Calls His First Disciples(G)
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee,(H) he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter(I) and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,”(J) Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.(K)
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John.(L) 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.(M)
Jesus Heals the Sick
23 Jesus went throughout Galilee,(N) teaching in their synagogues,(O) proclaiming the good news(P) of the kingdom,(Q) and healing every disease and sickness among the people.(R) 24 News about him spread all over Syria,(S) and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed,(T) those having seizures,(U) and the paralyzed;(V) and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,[b] Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.(W)
Footnotes
- Matthew 4:16 Isaiah 9:1,2
- Matthew 4:25 That is, the Ten Cities
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