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Chapter 3

The narrative returns to John the Baptist, who is now grown and preaching a baptism of repentance in the desert. John declared that One was coming after him who would be far greater than he was. John baptized Jesus along with all the people, but when he had baptized Jesus, heaven opened up and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus and a voice from heaven expressed God’s love for and pleasure with His Son. Following this event is a record tracing Jesus’ genealogy to God.

Chapter 4

Jesus was led out into the desert by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil, and He refuted the devil, who then left Him until another time. Returning to His hometown, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and read from Isaiah 61, of which He then claimed to be the fulfillment. He enraged his audience by stating that no prophet is accepted in his hometown. He escaped to Capernaum where he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and cast out a demon from a man. Afterward he went to Simon’s house, and there He healed many, including Simon’s mother-in-law. He continued to preach in the synagogues of Galilee.

Chapter 5

Jesus recruited Simon, James, and John as permanent followers through a large catch of fish. While He was in a certain town He cured a man of leprosy. On another day, He was teaching and some men lowered a paralytic through the roof down to Him. First He told the man that his sins were forgiven, and then he healed him, proving that He had authority to forgive sins. After this, Jesus attended a banquet at Levi’s house where many tax collectors and “sinners” were gathered, saying that He had come for sinners and not the righteous.