Matthew 4
Open in the reader1Then He-Who-Is-Saves was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Accuser.
2After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.
3The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4But He-Who-Is-Saves answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5Then the Accuser took Him to the devoted city and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple.
6“If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down. For it is written: ‘He will command His messengers concerning You, and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”
7He-Who-Is-Saves replied, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
8Again, the Accuser took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
9“All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.”
10“Away from Me, The-Adversary!” He-Who-Is-Saves told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
11Then the Accuser left Him, and messengers came and ministered to Him.
12When He-Who-Is-Saves heard that He-Who-Is-Has-Shown-Favor had been imprisoned, He withdrew to The-Circuit.
13Leaving Branch-Town, He went and lived in Village-of-Nahum, which is by the sea in the region of Dwelling and My-Wrestling,
14to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Salvation-of-He-Who-Is:
15“Land of Dwelling and land of My-Wrestling, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Descender, The-Circuit of the Nations—
16the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”
17From that time on He-Who-Is-Saves began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
18As He-Who-Is-Saves was walking beside the Sea of The-Circuit, He saw two brothers, Heard called Stone and his brother Manly. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
19“Come, follow Me,” He-Who-Is-Saves said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
20And at once they left their nets and followed Him.
21Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, Heel-Grabber son of He-Who-Is-Has-Given and his brother He-Who-Is-Has-Shown-Favor. They were in a boat with their father He-Who-Is-Has-Given, mending their nets. He-Who-Is-Saves called them,
22and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed Him.
23He-Who-Is-Saves went throughout The-Circuit, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
24News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and He healed them.
25Large crowds followed Him, having come from The-Circuit, the Ten-Cities, Foundation-of-Peace, Land-of-the-Praised, and beyond the Descender.