In the early stages of Jesus's Galilean ministry, he has been teaching in synagogues, casting out demons, and healing the sick, including Simon Peter's mother-in-law. News of his miraculous works has spread rapidly throughout the region, drawing large crowds who seek his teaching and healing power. Jesus has been moving from town to town, preaching the good news of the kingdom of God and demonstrating divine authority through signs and wonders. His reputation as both a powerful healer and authoritative teacher continues to grow among the people of Galilee, creating increasing public interest in his ministry.
[12] And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
[13] Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him. [14] And He charged him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded.”
[15] However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. [16] So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
Saul has been persecuting the church in Jerusalem with great intensity, entering houses to drag believers to prison. Following Stephen's martyrdom, a severe persecution scatters the believers throughout Judea and Samaria, though the apostles remain in Jerusalem. Philip, one of the seven men chosen to serve tables, travels to a Samaritan city where he proclaims Christ and performs miraculous signs, including casting out unclean spirits and healing the paralyzed and lame. The city experiences great joy as many people believe and are baptized. Among the converts is Simon, a sorcerer who had previously amazed the Samaritans with his magic and claimed to be someone great, causing the people to regard him as "the Great Power of God."
[3] As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
[4] Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. [5] Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. [6] And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. [7] For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. [8] And there was great joy in that city.
[9] But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, [10] to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” [11] And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. [12] But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. [13] Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.
James has been addressing the proud and self-sufficient who make plans without acknowledging God's sovereignty over their lives. He warned them about the uncertainty of life and the arrogance of boasting about tomorrow. Now he shifts his focus to wealthy oppressors who have accumulated riches through fraud and exploitation, particularly those who have withheld wages from workers who harvested their fields. These rich individuals have lived in luxury and self-indulgence while their victims cry out for justice. James declares that their hoarded wealth will testify against them in the coming judgment, as they have fattened themselves for slaughter and condemned and murdered the righteous who offered no resistance. James is addressing Christian communities experiencing oppression and economic injustice.
[1] Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! [2] Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. [3] Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. [4] Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. [5] You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. [6] You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.
[7] Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. [8] You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
[9] Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! [10] My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. [11] Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
John the Baptist stands with two of his disciples near the Jordan River the day after his encounter with Jewish leaders from Jerusalem. He has already testified that Jesus is the Lamb of God and witnessed the Spirit descending on Him at His baptism. Jesus has also recently returned from His forty-day temptation in the wilderness. John the Baptist now sees Jesus walking by and repeats his declaration about Him being the Lamb of God, prompting his two disciples to leave him and follow Jesus instead. This marks the beginning of Jesus gathering His first followers, as one of these disciples, Andrew, subsequently brings his brother Simon to meet Jesus.
[35] Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. [36] And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
[37] The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. [38] Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?”
They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?”
[39] He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).
[40] One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. [41] He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). [42] And he brought him to Jesus.
Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).
Early in the morning after healing many people in Capernaum the previous evening, Jesus withdraws to a solitary place to pray. Simon Peter and the other disciples search for him and find him there, telling him that everyone is looking for him. Jesus responds by saying they must go to the nearby villages so he can preach there as well, explaining that this is why he came. He then travels throughout Galilee, preaching in synagogues and driving out demons. During this journey, a man with leprosy approaches Jesus and kneels before him, asking to be made clean.
[35] Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. [36] And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. [37] When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”
[38] But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.”
[39] And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.
[40] Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
[41] Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” [42] As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. [43] And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, [44] and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
[45] However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.
Jesus has begun His public ministry in Galilee after His baptism and temptation in the wilderness. Large crowds from various regions follow Him as He teaches, heals the sick, and casts out demons. He ascends a mountain and delivers what becomes known as the Sermon on the Mount, beginning with the Beatitudes that describe the blessed characteristics of kingdom citizens. He then teaches His disciples that they are the salt of the earth and light of the world, calling them to let their light shine before others so that people may see their good works and glorify God. Jesus emphasizes that their righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus is addressing His disciples, with the crowds also present listening to His teaching.
[17] “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. [18] For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. [19] Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [20] For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
[21] “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ [22] But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. [23] Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, [24] leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. [25] Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. [26] Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.
[27] “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ [28] But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. [29] If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. [30] And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
[31] “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ [32] But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
[33] “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ [34] But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; [35] nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. [36] Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. [37] But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
[38] “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ [39] But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. [40] If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. [41] And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. [42] Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
[43] “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ [44] But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, [45] that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. [46] For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? [47] And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? [48] Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.