Mark 1:1-13

Amplified Bible, Classic Edition

1 The beginning [of the facts] of the good news (the Gospel) of Jesus Christ, ^[a]the Son of God.

^2 [b]Just as it is written in the prophet Isaiah: Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will make ready Your way—^(A)

³ A voice of one crying in the wilderness [shouting in the desert], Prepare the way of the Lord, make His ^[c]beaten tracks straight (level and passable)!^(B)

⁴ John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness (desert), preaching a baptism [^[d]obligating] repentance (^[e]a change of one’s mind for the better, heartily amending one’s ways, with abhorrence of his past sins) in order ^[f]to obtain forgiveness of and release from sins.

⁵ And there kept going out to him [continuously] all the country of Judea and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, ^[g]as they were confessing their sins.

⁶ And John wore clothing woven of camel’s hair and had a leather girdle around his loins and ate locusts and wild honey.

⁷ And he preached, saying, After me comes He Who is stronger (more powerful and more valiant) than I, the strap of Whose sandals I am not worthy or fit to stoop down and unloose.

⁸ I have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

⁹ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

¹⁰ And when He came up out of the water, at once he [John] saw the heavens torn open and the [Holy] Spirit like a dove coming down [^[h]to enter] ^[i]into Him.^(C)

¹¹ And there came a voice ^[j]out from within heaven, You are My Beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.^(D)

¹² Immediately the [Holy] Spirit [from within] drove Him out into the wilderness (desert),

¹³ And He stayed in the wilderness (desert) forty days, being tempted [all the while] by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels ministered to Him [continually].