Ferrar Fenton Bible: Matthew 4

Jesus then went up into the desert, under the influence of the Spirit, to be tried by the agency of the Devil. And having fasted forty days and forty nights, He at last became hungry.

The Tempter then approached Him, and said: "If you are a Son of God, order these stones to become loaves."

But Jesus in reply said: "It is written, Man does not live on bread alone; but upon every word passing through the mouth of God.¹

Then the Devil, carrying Him into the holy city, placed Him upon the high porch of the temple, and said to Him: " If You are a Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is recorded that

He will command His angels concerning you,
To support you with their hands,
So that you cannot dash your foot against the pavement.²

Jesus in reply to him said: "And it is elsewhere written, You shall not tempt the lord your God."³

Again, the Devil carrying Him up a very high mountain, pointed out to Him all the kingdoms of that region, and the splendour of them, and said to Him: "I will give You all these, if You will pay me homage."

But Jesus in reply to him said : "Begone, Satan! for it is written, You shall reverence the Lord, and pay homage to him alone."⁴

The Devil then left Him, and angels at once approached and ministered to Him. Now Jesus, having heard that John was betrayed, moved into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth, He went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the borders of Zebulon and Naphthali; so that the prediction delivered through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled, which says:

Over the Jordan, near the SEA,
In the land of Zebulon, and
Naphthali's land, In the heathen Galilee,
The people living in darkness saw a great light;
While in solitude crouched,
and the shadow of death,
A Light has before them burst out.⁵

From that time Jesus began to proclaim and say, "Change your minds: for the Kingdom of Heaven approaches!"

While walking along the coast of the sea of Galilee, He observed two brothers, Simon surnamed Peter, and his brother Andrew, throwing a casting-net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Speaking to them, He said, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."

And immediately abandoning their nets, they followed Him.

And going from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat along with their father, mending their nets; and He hailed them. And at once abandoning the boat and their father, they followed Him.

Jesus then went through all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom, as well as curing every kind of disease and infirmity among the people. And the report about Him spread throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all those who were afflicted with different mental diseases and sufferings—demoniacs, lunatics, and paralytics—and He restored them to health.

And great crowds followed Him from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea, as well as from the other side of the Jordan.

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1. Deut. 8:3
2. Psalms 91:11-12.
3. Deut. 6:16.
4. Deut. 10:20
5. Isaiah 9:1,2.