Mark 3
Christian Standard Bible
3 Jesus(A) entered the synagogue(B) again, and a man was there who had a shriveled(C) hand. 2 In order to accuse(D) him, they were watching him closely(E) to see whether he would heal(F) him on the Sabbath.(G) 3 He told the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand before us.” 4 Then he said to them, “Is it lawful(H) to do good(I) on the Sabbath or to do evil,(J) to save life(K) or to kill?”(L) But they were silent.(M) 5 After looking around at them with anger,(N) he was grieved at the hardness(O) of their hearts and told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.(P) 6 Immediately the Pharisees(Q) went out and started plotting(R) with the Herodians(S) against him, how they might kill(T) him.
Ministering to the Multitude
7 Jesus(U) departed with his disciples to the sea, and a large crowd followed from Galilee,(V) and a large crowd followed from Judea,(W) 8 Jerusalem,(X) Idumea, beyond the Jordan,(Y) and around Tyre(Z) and Sidon.(AA) The large crowd came to him because they heard about everything he was doing. 9 Then he told his disciples to have a small boat(AB) ready for him, so that the crowd wouldn’t crush him. 10 Since he had healed(AC) many, all who had diseases were pressing toward him to touch(AD) him. 11 Whenever the unclean(AE) spirits(AF) saw him, they fell down(AG) before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God!” (AH) 12 And he would strongly warn(AI) them not to make him known.(AJ)
The Twelve Apostles
13 Jesus(AK) went up the mountain(AL) and summoned those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles,[a](AM) to be with him, to send them out to preach,(AN) 15 and to have authority to[b] drive out demons. 16 He appointed the Twelve:[c](AO) To Simon,(AP) he gave the name Peter;(AQ) 17 and to James(AR) the son of Zebedee,(AS) and to his brother John,(AT) he gave the name “Boanerges” (that is, “Sons of Thunder”(AU)); 18 Andrew;(AV) Philip(AW) and Bartholomew; Matthew(AX) and Thomas;(AY) James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, 19 and Judas Iscariot,(AZ) who also betrayed him.
A House Divided
20 Jesus entered a house, and the crowd gathered again so that they were not even able to eat.[d] 21 When his family(BA) heard this, they set out to restrain him, because they said, “He’s out of his mind.”(BB)
22 The scribes(BC) who had come down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,”(BD) and, “He drives out(BE) demons(BF) by the ruler(BG) of the demons.”(BH)
23 So he summoned(BI) them and spoke to them in parables:(BJ) “How can Satan(BK) drive out Satan?(BL) 24 If a kingdom(BM) 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 but is finished. 27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his possessions unless he first ties up(BN) the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.
28 “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for all sins and whatever blasphemies(BO) they utter. 29 But whoever blasphemes(BP) against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness,(BQ) but is guilty(BR) of an eternal sin”[e](BS)— 30 because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”(BT)
True Relationships
31 His(BU) mother(BV) and his brothers(BW) came, and standing outside, they sent word to him and called him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him and told him, “Look, your mother, your brothers,(BX) and your sisters[f] are outside asking for you.”
33 He replied to them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 Looking at those sitting in a circle around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!(BY) 35 Whoever does the will of God(BZ) is my brother and sister and mother.”
Mark 3
Common English Bible
Healing on the Sabbath
3 Jesus returned to the synagogue. A man with a withered hand was there. 2 Wanting to bring charges against Jesus, they were watching Jesus closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 3 He said to the man with the withered hand, “Step up where people can see you.” 4 Then he said to them, “Is it legal on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they said nothing. 5 Looking around at them with anger, deeply grieved at their unyielding hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he did, and his hand was made healthy. 6 At that, the Pharisees got together with the supporters of Herod to plan how to destroy Jesus.
Healing and throwing demons out
7 Jesus left with his disciples and went to the lake. A large crowd followed him because they had heard what he was doing. They were from Galilee, 8 Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, and the area surrounding Tyre and Sidon. 9 Jesus told his disciples to get a small boat ready for him so the crowd wouldn’t crush him. 10 He had healed so many people that everyone who was sick pushed forward so that they could touch him. 11 Whenever the evil spirits saw him, they fell down at his feet and shouted, “You are God’s Son!” 12 But he strictly ordered them not to reveal who he was.
Jesus appoints twelve apostles
13 Jesus went up on a mountain and called those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve and called them apostles. He appointed them to be with him, to be sent out to preach, 15 and to have authority to throw out demons. 16 He appointed twelve: Peter, a name he gave Simon; 17 James and John, Zebedee’s sons, whom he nicknamed Boanerges, which means “sons of Thunder”; 18 and Andrew; Philip; Bartholomew; Matthew; Thomas; James, Alphaeus’ son; Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean;[a] 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.
Misunderstandings about Jesus
20 Jesus entered a house. A crowd gathered again so that it was impossible for him and his followers even to eat. 21 When his family heard what was happening, they came to take control of him. They were saying, “He’s out of his mind!”
22 The legal experts came down from Jerusalem. Over and over they charged, “He’s possessed by Beelzebul. He throws out demons with the authority of the ruler of demons.”
23 When Jesus called them together he spoke to them in a parable: “How can Satan throw Satan out? 24 A kingdom involved in civil war will collapse. 25 And a house torn apart by divisions will collapse. 26 If Satan rebels against himself and is divided, then he can’t endure. He’s done for. 27 No one gets into the house of a strong person and steals anything without first tying up the strong person. Only then can the house be burglarized. 28 I assure you that human beings will be forgiven for everything, for all sins and insults of every kind. 29 But whoever insults the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. That person is guilty of a sin with consequences that last forever.” 30 He said this because the legal experts were saying, “He’s possessed by an evil spirit.”
31 His mother and brothers arrived. They stood outside and sent word to him, calling for him. 32 A crowd was seated around him, and those sent to him said, “Look, your mother, brothers, and sisters are outside looking for you.”
33 He replied, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 34 Looking around at those seated around him in a circle, he said, “Look, here are my mother and my brothers. 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother, sister, and mother.”
Footnotes
- Mark 3:18 Or zealot
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible