CHAPTER VIII.
MOVES TO CAPERNAUM—ANDREW AND PETER CALLED.
NOW when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, a city of Galilee, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zebulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; the people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God, and to say,
Repent: the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them,
Follow me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
And they straightway left their nets, and followed
him. And going on a little farther thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and straightway he called them: and they immediately left the ship and their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
And they went into Capernaum: and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying,
Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
And when the devil had torn him, had thrown him in the midst, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him, and hurt him not.
And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? What new doctrine is this? What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him, and they come out. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region, into every place of the country round about Galilee.
And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and anon they tell him of her; and they besought him for her. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she arose, and ministered unto them.
And at even, when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and them that were possessed with devils: and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. And all the city was gathered together at the door.
And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses. And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, and when it was day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. And he said unto them,
Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
And the people sought him, and came unto him,
and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. And he said unto them,
I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people, and cast out devils. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan.