36. Simon and those who were with Him followed Him,
37. and when they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is searching for You.”
38. He said to them, “Let us go into the nearby towns, that I may preach there also. For that is why I have come.”
39. So He preached in their synagogues throughout Galilee and cast out demons.
40. A leper came to Him, pleading with Him and kneeling before Him, saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
41. Then Jesus, moved with compassion, extended His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I will. Be clean.”
42. As soon as He had spoken, the leprosy immediately departed from him, and he was cleansed.
43. He sternly warned him, and sent him away at once,
44. saying, “See that you say nothing to anyone. But go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
45. Instead he went out and began to proclaim it widely and to spread the news around, so that Jesus could no more openly enter the city, but was out in remote places. And they came to Him from every quarter.