The beginning of the Injil of ‘Isa al-Masih, Ibn Allah . 2As it is written in the Prophets,
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
Who will prepare your way before you.[1]
3The voice of one calling out in the wilderness,
‘Make ready the way of Allah!
Make straight his paths!‘”[2]
4Yahya came baptizing[3] in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins. 5All the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins. 6Yahya was clothed with camel’s hair and a leather belt around his loins. He ate locusts and wild honey. 7He preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen. 8I baptized you in[4] water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.“
9It happened in those days, that ‘Isa came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by Yahya in the Jordan. 10Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting, and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11A voice came out of the sky, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.“
12Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness. 13He was there in the wilderness forty days tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals; and the angels were ministering to him.
14Now after Yahya was taken into custody, ‘Isa came into Galilee, preaching the Injil of the Kingdom of Allah, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of Allah is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Injil.“
16Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea, for they were fishermen. 17‘Isa said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men.“
18Immediately they left their nets, and followed him. 19Going on a little further from there, he saw James Ibn Zebedee, and John, his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him. 21They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught. 22They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes. 23Immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, 24saying, “Ha! What do we have to do with you, ‘Isa, you Nasrani[5]? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of Allah!“
25‘Isa rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!“
26The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!“ 28The report of him went out immediately everywhere into all the region of Galilee and its surrounding area.
29Immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31He came and took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she served them. 32At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick, and those who were possessed by demons. 33All the city was gathered together at the door. 34He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. He didn’t allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.
35Early in the night, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there. 36Simon and those who were with him followed after him; 37and they found him, and told him, “Everyone is looking for you.“
38He said to them, “Let’s go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because this is why I came.“ 39He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.
40There came to him a leper, begging him, kneeling down to him, and saying to him, “If you want to, you can make me clean.“
41Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, “I want to. Be made clean.“ 42When he had said this, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean. 43He strictly warned him, and immediately sent him out, 44and said to him, “See you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing the things which Musa commanded, for a testimony to them.“
45But he went out, and began to proclaim it much, and to spread about the matter, so that ‘Isa could no more openly enter into a city, but was outside in desert places: and they came to him from everywhere.
[1] 1:2 Quoting the Taurat, Malachi 3:1.
[2] 1:3 Quoting the Taurat, Shaya 40:3.
[3] 1:4 To baptize means to immerse (or wash), usually in water. This baptism is not just to cleanse the body, but is an outward sign of an inward spiritual cleansing and commitment.
[4] 1:8 The Greek word (en) translated here as “in“ could also be translated as “with“ in some contexts.
[5] 1:24 Literally “Nazareni,“ which means “inhabitant of Nazareth.“ Nazareth is an ancient city in the northern regions of Palestine.