¹ This is how the gospel of Jesus, the Son of God, begins. ² The prophet Isaiah said, "Look, I am sending my messenger before you to prepare your path. There was a man named ³ John who lived in the desert. ⁴ John preached about God forgiving our sins. The whole country of Judea and all the people of Jerusalem ⁵ went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6John was wearing a ⁶ coat of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and he was eating locusts and wild honey. ⁷ He proclaimed, "One will come after me who is more powerful than I; the strap of his sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I ⁸ baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." ⁹ It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and he was baptized by John in the Jordan River. ¹⁰ 10As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens split open and the Spirit coming down on him like a dove. ¹¹ 11A voice came out of the heavens, "You are my beloved Son. I am very pleased with you." ¹² Then the Spirit compelled him to go out into the wilderness. 13He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. ¹³ He was with the wild animals, and the angels served him. ¹⁴ Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God. ¹⁵ 15He said, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel."