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Mark 1-4
New King James Version

John the Baptist Prepares the Way(A)

1 The (B)beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, (C)the Son of God. 2 As it is written in [a]the Prophets:

(D)“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.”
3 “The(E) voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.’ ”

4 (F)John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance [b]for the remission of sins. 5 (G)Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

6 Now John was (H)clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, (I)“There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. 8 (J)I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you (K)with the Holy Spirit.”

John Baptizes Jesus(L)

9 (M)It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 (N)And immediately, coming up [c]from the water, He saw the heavens [d]parting and the Spirit (O)descending upon Him like a dove. 11 Then a voice came from heaven, (P)“You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Satan Tempts Jesus(Q)

12 (R)Immediately the Spirit [e]drove Him into the wilderness. 13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; (S)and the angels ministered to Him.

Jesus Begins His Galilean Ministry(T)

14 (U)Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, (V)preaching the gospel [f]of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, (W)“The time is fulfilled, and (X)the kingdom of God [g]is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Four Fishermen Called as Disciples(Y)

16 (Z)And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become (AA)fishers of men.” 18 (AB)They immediately left their nets and followed Him.

19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him.

Jesus Casts Out an Unclean Spirit(AC)

21 (AD)Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the (AE)synagogue and taught. 22 (AF)And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an (AG)unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 saying, “Let us alone! (AH)What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I (AI)know who You are—the (AJ)Holy One of God!”

25 But Jesus (AK)rebuked him, saying, [h]“Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26 And when the unclean spirit (AL)had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, [i]“What is this? What new [j]doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28 And immediately His (AM)fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

Peter’s Mother-in-Law Healed(AN)

29 (AO)Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

Many Healed After Sabbath Sunset(AP)

32 (AQ)At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and (AR)cast out many demons; and He (AS)did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.

Preaching in Galilee(AT)

35 Now (AU)in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a [k]solitary place; and there He (AV)prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. 37 When they found Him, they said to Him, (AW)“Everyone (AX)is looking for You.”

38 But He said to them, (AY)“Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because (AZ)for this purpose I have come forth.”

39 (BA)And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and (BB)casting out demons.

Jesus Cleanses a Leper(BC)

40 (BD)Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

41 Then Jesus, moved with (BE)compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 As soon as He had spoken, (BF)immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 43 And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things (BG)which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

45 (BH)However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; (BI)and they came to Him from every direction.

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic(BJ)

2 And again (BK)He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. 2 [l]Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a (BL)paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

6 And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? (BM)Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

8 But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 9 (BN)Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has [m]power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 12 Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and (BO)glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Matthew the Tax Collector(BP)

13 (BQ)Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them. 14 (BR)As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, (BS)“Follow Me.” So he arose and (BT)followed Him.

15 (BU)Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. 16 And when the scribes [n]and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”

17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, (BV)“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, [o]to repentance.”

Jesus Is Questioned About Fasting(BW)

18 (BX)The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

19 And Jesus said to them, “Can the [p]friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. 20 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be (BY)taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. 21 No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath(BZ)

23 (CA)Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began (CB)to pluck the heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is (CC)not lawful on the Sabbath?”

25 But He said to them, “Have you never read (CD)what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: 26 how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, (CE)which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?”

27 And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the (CF)Sabbath. 28 Therefore (CG)the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

Healing on the Sabbath(CH)

3 And (CI)He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2 So they (CJ)watched Him closely, whether He would (CK)heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might [q]accuse Him. 3 And He said to the man who had the withered hand, [r]“Step forward.” 4 Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. 5 And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the (CL)hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored [s]as whole as the other. 6 (CM)Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with (CN)the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.

A Great Multitude Follows Jesus(CO)

7 But Jesus withdrew with His disciples to the sea. And a great multitude from Galilee followed Him, (CP)and from Judea 8 and Jerusalem and Idumea and beyond the Jordan; and those from Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they heard how (CQ)many things He was doing, came to Him. 9 So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him. 10 For He healed (CR)many, so that as many as had afflictions pressed about Him to (CS)touch Him. 11 (CT)And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw Him, fell down before Him and cried out, saying, (CU)“You are the Son of God.” 12 But (CV)He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known.

The Twelve Apostles(CW)

13 (CX)And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. 14 Then He appointed twelve, [t]that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, 15 and to have [u]power [v]to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: 16 [w]Simon, (CY)to whom He gave the name Peter; 17 James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”; 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; 19 and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.

A House Divided Cannot Stand(CZ)

20 Then the multitude came together again, (DA)so that they could not so much as eat bread. 21 But when His (DB)own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, (DC)for they said, “He is out of His mind.”

22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, (DD)“He has Beelzebub,” and, “By the (DE)ruler of the demons He casts out demons.”

23 (DF)So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand, but has an end. 27 (DG)No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. And then he will plunder his house.

The Unpardonable Sin(DH)

28 (DI)“Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; 29 but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”— 30 because they (DJ)said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Jesus’ Mother and Brothers Send for Him(DK)

31 (DL)Then His brothers and His mother came, and standing outside they sent to Him, calling Him. 32 And a multitude was sitting around Him; and they said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers [x]are outside seeking You.”

33 But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?” 34 And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! 35 For whoever does the (DM)will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”

The Parable of the Sower(DN)

4 And (DO)again He began to teach by the sea. And a great multitude was gathered to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole multitude was on the land facing the sea. 2 Then He taught them many things by parables, (DP)and said to them in His teaching:

3 “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds [y]of the air came and devoured it. 5 Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. 7 And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no [z]crop. 8 But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

9 And He said [aa]to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

The Purpose of Parables(DQ)

10 (DR)But when He was alone, those around Him with the twelve asked Him about the parable. 11 And He said to them, “To you it has been given to (DS)know the [ab]mystery of the kingdom of God; but to (DT)those who are outside, all things come in parables, 12 so that

(DU)‘Seeing they may see and not perceive,
And hearing they may hear and not understand;
Lest they should turn,
And their sins be forgiven them.’ ”

The Parable of the Sower Explained(DV)

13 And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 (DW)The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. 18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the (DX)cares of this world, (DY)the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, [ac]accept it, and bear (DZ)fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

Light Under a Basket(EA)

21 (EB)Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? 22 (EC)For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light. 23 (ED)If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

24 Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. (EE)With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 25 (EF)For whoever has, to him more will be given; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.”

The Parable of the Growing Seed

26 And He said, (EG)“The kingdom of God is as if a man should [ad]scatter seed on the ground, 27 and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and (EH)grow, he himself does not know how. 28 For the earth (EI)yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain ripens, immediately (EJ)he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed(EK)

30 Then He said, (EL)“To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? 31 It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth; 32 but when it is sown, it grows up and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out large branches, so that the birds of the air may nest under its shade.”

Jesus’ Use of Parables

33 (EM)And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. 34 But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, (EN)He explained all things to His disciples.

Wind and Wave Obey Jesus(EO)

35 (EP)On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, (EQ)“Teacher, (ER)do You not care that we are perishing?”

39 Then He arose and (ES)rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, (ET)“Peace,[ae] be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? (EU)How[af] is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Footnotes

  1. Mark 1:2 NU Isaiah the prophet
  2. Mark 1:4 Or because of forgiveness
  3. Mark 1:10 NU out of
  4. Mark 1:10 torn open
  5. Mark 1:12 sent Him out
  6. Mark 1:14 NU omits of the kingdom
  7. Mark 1:15 has drawn near
  8. Mark 1:25 Lit. Be muzzled
  9. Mark 1:27 NU What is this? A new doctrine with authority! He
  10. Mark 1:27 teaching
  11. Mark 1:35 deserted
  12. Mark 2:2 NU omits Immediately
  13. Mark 2:10 authority
  14. Mark 2:16 NU of the
  15. Mark 2:17 NU omits to repentance
  16. Mark 2:19 Lit. sons of the bridechamber
  17. Mark 3:2 bring charges against
  18. Mark 3:3 Lit. Arise into the midst
  19. Mark 3:5 NU omits as whole as the other
  20. Mark 3:14 NU adds whom He also named apostles
  21. Mark 3:15 authority
  22. Mark 3:15 NU omits to heal sicknesses and
  23. Mark 3:16 NU and He appointed the twelve: Simon . . .
  24. Mark 3:32 NU, M add and Your sisters
  25. Mark 4:4 NU, M omit of the air
  26. Mark 4:7 Lit. fruit
  27. Mark 4:9 NU, M omit to them
  28. Mark 4:11 secret or hidden truths
  29. Mark 4:20 receive
  30. Mark 4:26 sow
  31. Mark 4:39 Lit. Be quiet
  32. Mark 4:40 NU Have you still no faith?
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Mark 1-4
New International Version

John the Baptist Prepares the Way(A)

1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah,[a] the Son of God,[b](B) 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way”[c](C)—
3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.’”[d](D)

4 And so John the Baptist(E) appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance(F) for the forgiveness of sins.(G) 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist,(H) and he ate locusts(I) and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.(J) 8 I baptize you with[e] water, but he will baptize you with[f] the Holy Spirit.”(K)

The Baptism and Testing of Jesus(L)(M)

9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth(N) in Galilee and was baptized by John(O) in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.(P) 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son,(Q) whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”(R)

12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, 13 and he was in the wilderness forty days,(S) being tempted[g] by Satan.(T) He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

Jesus Announces the Good News(U)

14 After John(V) was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee,(W) proclaiming the good news of God.(X) 15 “The time has come,”(Y) he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe(Z) the good news!”(AA)

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.(AB)

19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit(AC)

21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.(AD) 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.(AE) 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us,(AF) Jesus of Nazareth?(AG) Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”(AH)

25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”(AI) 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.(AJ)

27 The people were all so amazed(AK) that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region(AL) of Galilee.

Jesus Heals Many(AM)(AN)

29 As soon as they left the synagogue,(AO) they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up.(AP) The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.(AQ) 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases.(AR) He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.(AS)

Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place(AT)

35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.(AU) 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”(AV) 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues(AW) and driving out demons.(AX)

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy(AY)

40 A man with leprosy[h] came to him and begged him on his knees,(AZ) “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

41 Jesus was indignant.[i] He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone.(BA) But go, show yourself to the priest(BB) and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing,(BC) as a testimony to them.” 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places.(BD) Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.(BE)

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man(BF)

2 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers(BG) that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man,(BH) carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”(BI)

6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”(BJ)

8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man(BK) has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God,(BL) saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”(BM)

Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners(BN)

13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him,(BO) and he began to teach them. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,”(BP) Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.

15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees(BQ) saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”(BR)

17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”(BS)

Jesus Questioned About Fasting(BT)

18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting.(BU) Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”

19 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them,(BV) and on that day they will fast.

21 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath(BW)(BX)

23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.(BY) 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”(BZ)

25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest,(CA) he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat.(CB) And he also gave some to his companions.”(CC)

27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man,(CD) not man for the Sabbath.(CE) 28 So the Son of Man(CF) is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

3 Another time Jesus went into the synagogue,(CG) and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely(CH) to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.(CI) 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”

4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.

5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians(CJ) how they might kill Jesus.(CK)

Crowds Follow Jesus(CL)

7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed.(CM) 8 When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon.(CN) 9 Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. 10 For he had healed many,(CO) so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.(CP) 11 Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”(CQ) 12 But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.(CR)

Jesus Appoints the Twelve(CS)

13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.(CT) 14 He appointed twelve[j](CU) that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons.(CV) 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter),(CW) 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Jesus Accused by His Family and by Teachers of the Law(CX)(CY)

20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered,(CZ) so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat.(DA) 21 When his family[k] heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”(DB)

22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem(DC) said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul!(DD) By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”(DE)

23 So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables:(DF) “How can Satan(DG) drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house.(DH) 28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”(DI)

30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”

31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived.(DJ) Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”

33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.

34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

The Parable of the Sower(DK)(DL)

4 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake.(DM) The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables,(DN) and in his teaching said: 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.(DO) 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”(DP)

9 Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”(DQ)

10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God(DR) has been given to you. But to those on the outside(DS) everything is said in parables 12 so that,

“‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
    and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’[l]”(DT)

13 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? 14 The farmer sows the word.(DU) 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan(DV) comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. 17 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth(DW) and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. 20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

A Lamp on a Stand

21 He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand?(DX) 22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.(DY) 23 If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”(DZ)

24 “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.(EA) 25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”(EB)

The Parable of the Growing Seed

26 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like.(EC) A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”(ED)

The Parable of the Mustard Seed(EE)

30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like,(EF) or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”

33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.(EG) 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable.(EH) But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Jesus Calms the Storm(EI)

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat.(EJ) There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”(EK)

41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Footnotes

  1. Mark 1:1 Or Jesus Christ. Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) both mean Anointed One.
  2. Mark 1:1 Some manuscripts do not have the Son of God.
  3. Mark 1:2 Mal. 3:1
  4. Mark 1:3 Isaiah 40:3
  5. Mark 1:8 Or in
  6. Mark 1:8 Or in
  7. Mark 1:13 The Greek for tempted can also mean tested.
  8. Mark 1:40 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  9. Mark 1:41 Many manuscripts Jesus was filled with compassion
  10. Mark 3:14 Some manuscripts twelve—designating them apostles—
  11. Mark 3:21 Or his associates
  12. Mark 4:12 Isaiah 6:9,10
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