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Beginning of good news

The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, God’s Son, happened just as it was written about in the prophecy of Isaiah:

Look, I am sending my messenger before you.
He will prepare your way,
a voice shouting in the wilderness:
        Prepare the way for the Lord;
        make his paths straight.”[a]

John’s preaching

John the Baptist was in the wilderness calling for people to be baptized to show that they were changing their hearts and lives and wanted God to forgive their sins. Everyone in Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to the Jordan River and were being baptized by John as they confessed their sins. John wore clothes made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey. He announced, “One stronger than I am is coming after me. I’m not even worthy to bend over and loosen the strap of his sandals. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus is baptized and tempted

About that time, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. 10 While he was coming up out of the water, Jesus saw heaven splitting open and the Spirit, like a dove, coming down on him. 11 And there was a voice from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I dearly love; in you I find happiness.”

12 At once the Spirit forced Jesus out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among the wild animals, and the angels took care of him.

Jesus’ message

14 After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God’s good news, 15 saying, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!”

Jesus calls disciples

16 As Jesus passed alongside the Galilee Sea, he saw two brothers, Simon and Andrew, throwing fishing nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow me,” he said, “and I’ll show you how to fish for people.” 18 Right away, they left their nets and followed him. 19 After going a little farther, he saw James and John, Zebedee’s sons, in their boat repairing the fishing nets. 20 At that very moment he called them. They followed him, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers.

Jesus throws a demon out

21 Jesus and his followers went into Capernaum. Immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and started teaching. 22 The people were amazed by his teaching, for he was teaching them with authority, not like the legal experts. 23 Suddenly, there in the synagogue, a person with an evil spirit screamed, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the holy one from God.”

25 “Silence!” Jesus said, speaking harshly to the demon. “Come out of him!” 26 The unclean spirit shook him and screamed, then it came out.

27 Everyone was shaken and questioned among themselves, “What’s this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands unclean spirits and they obey him!” 28 Right away the news about him spread throughout the entire region of Galilee.

Jesus heals Simon’s mother-in-law

29 After leaving the synagogue, Jesus, James, and John went home with Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed, sick with a fever, and they told Jesus about her at once. 31 He went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she served them.

Jesus’ ministry spreads

32 That evening, at sunset, people brought to Jesus those who were sick or demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered near the door. 34 He healed many who were sick with all kinds of diseases, and he threw out many demons. But he didn’t let the demons speak, because they recognized him.

35 Early in the morning, well before sunrise, Jesus rose and went to a deserted place where he could be alone in prayer. 36 Simon and those with him tracked him down. 37 When they found him, they told him, “Everyone’s looking for you!”

38 He replied, “Let’s head in the other direction, to the nearby villages, so that I can preach there too. That’s why I’ve come.” 39 He traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and throwing out demons.

A man with a skin disease

40 A man with a skin disease approached Jesus, fell to his knees, and begged, “If you want, you can make me clean.”

41 Incensed,[b] Jesus reached out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do want to. Be clean.” 42 Instantly, the skin disease left him, and he was clean. 43 Sternly, Jesus sent him away, 44 saying, “Don’t say anything to anyone. Instead, go and show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifice for your cleansing that Moses commanded. This will be a testimony to them.” 45 Instead, he went out and started talking freely and spreading the news so that Jesus wasn’t able to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, but people came to him from everywhere.

Footnotes

  1. Mark 1:3 Isa 40:3; Mal 3:1; Exod 23:20
  2. Mark 1:41 Most critical editions of the Gk New Testament read filled with compassion.

When Mark writes in the first chapter about a mysterious man entering the scene, instantly the reader recognizes there’s something very different about Jesus. He comes into the picture not as a rock star but rather as someone humble, kind, and yet, still kingly. Mark describes the people who are drawn toward this man as regular people who have become affected by the character, passion, and light of this strange Galilean.

Maybe that’s why Mark jumps right into the action of Jesus’ story. He offers little by way of introduction. He writes nothing about Jesus’ family tree. Unlike Matthew and Luke, he doesn’t mention His birth. Mark’s retelling begins with Scripture and the preaching of John the Baptist who calls people to repent. Like all the greats of history, Jesus doesn’t just arrive—He is announced—and who better than John to do that? Right before Jesus makes His entrance into Mark’s narrative, John says, “I’ve washed you here with water, but when He gets here, He will wash you in the Spirit of God.”

This is the beginning of the good news of Jesus, the Anointed One, the Liberating King, the Son of God.

Isaiah the prophet told us what would happen before He came:

Watch, I will send My messenger in front of You
    to prepare Your way and make it clear and straight.[a]
You’ll hear him, a voice crying in the wilderness,
    “Prepare the way of the Eternal One,
    a straight way in the wandering desert, a highway for our God.”[b]

That messenger was John the Baptist,[c] who appeared in the desert near the Jordan River preaching that people should be ritually cleansed through baptism with water as a sign of both their changed hearts[d] and God’s forgiveness of their sins. People from across the countryside of Judea and from the city of Jerusalem came to him and confessed that they were deeply flawed and needed help, so he cleansed[e] them with the waters of the Jordan. John dressed as some of the Hebrew prophets had, in clothes made of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. He made his meals in the desert from locusts and wild honey. He preached a message in the wilderness.

John the Baptist: Someone is coming who is a lot more powerful than I am—One whose sandals I’m not worthy to bend down and untie. I’ve washed you here through baptism[f] with water; but when He gets here, He will wash[g] you in the Spirit of God.

The Jordan River is the setting of some of the most memorable miracles in the Old Testament. On their journey through the wilderness to the promised land, the Israelites walked across the Jordan River on dry ground because God parted its waters. Elisha, one of the prophets of God, healed Naaman by telling him to bathe seven times in its waters. Partly because of miracles like these and partly because of a growing wilderness spirituality, many of the Jews in John’s day are out to hear him and be ritually baptized in the Jordan’s cool, cleansing waters. They are looking for God to intervene miraculously in their lives as He has done in the past. What they don’t know is that God is about to intervene, for at that time Jesus leaves Nazareth and heads south.

It was in those days that Jesus left Nazareth (a village in the region of Galilee) and came down to the Jordan, and John cleansed Him through baptism there in the same way all the others were ritually cleansed. 10 But as Jesus was coming out of the waters, He looked up and saw the sky split open. The Spirit of God descended upon Him like a dove, 11 and a voice echoed in the heavens.

Voice: You are My Son,[h] My beloved One, and I am very pleased with You.

12 After that the Spirit compelled Him to go into the wilderness, 13 and there in the desert He stayed for 40 days. He was tested by Satan himself and surrounded by wild animals; but through these trials, heavenly messengers cared for Him and ministered to Him.

14 After John was arrested by Herod, who ruled the Jewish lands on behalf of Roman interests, Jesus went back into the region of Galilee and began to proclaim the good news of God.

Jesus: 15 It’s time! The kingdom of God is near! Seek forgiveness, change your actions,[i] and believe this good news!

16 As Jesus walked along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He met the first of His disciples, two brothers, Simon and Andrew, both fishermen who were casting their fishing net into the shallow waters.

Jesus: 17 Come and follow Me, and I’ll send you to catch people instead of fish.

18 Simon and Andrew left their nets and followed Jesus at once.

19 When He had walked a little farther, He saw the sons of Zebedee, James and John, in their boat repairing their nets. 20 Right away He called to them, and they dropped what they were doing and left their father Zebedee and the hired men aboard the boat to follow Him as His disciples.

21 They came at last to the village of Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee; and on the Sabbath Day, Jesus went straight into a synagogue, sat down, and began to teach. 22 The people looked at each other, amazed, because this strange teacher acted as One authorized by God, and what He taught affected them in ways their own scribes’ teachings could not. 23 Just then a man in the gathering who was overcome by an unclean spirit shouted.

Unclean Spirit: 24 What are You doing here, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I can see who You are! You’re the Holy One of God.

Jesus (rebuking him): 25 Be quiet, and come out of him now!

26 The man’s body began to shake and shudder; and then, howling, the spirit flew out of the man. 27 The people couldn’t stop talking about what they had seen.

People: Who is this Jesus? This is a new teaching—and it has such authority! Even the unclean spirits obey His commands!

28 It wasn’t long before news of Jesus spread over the countryside of Galilee.

29 Right after they left the synagogue, Jesus went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 They told Him about Simon’s mother-in-law who was there in bed, sick and feverish. 31 Jesus went to her side, took her hand, and lifted her up. As soon as He touched her, the fever left her and she felt well again—strong enough to bustle around the house taking care of her visitors.

32 Just before night fell, others had gathered all the sick, diseased, and demon-infested people they could find. 33 It seemed as if the whole town had gathered at Simon and Andrew’s door. 34 Jesus was kept busy healing people of every sort of ailment and casting out unclean spirits. He was very careful not to let the demons speak because they knew Him and could reveal to the people who He really was.

35 Early in the morning, Jesus got up, left the house while it was still dark outside, and went to a deserted place to pray. 36 Simon and the others traveling with Jesus looked for Him. 37 They finally tracked Him down.

Whenever possible, Jesus seeks out solitude so He can pray and meditate. Jesus reveals His humanity. In these silent and reflective moments, He seems to refuel mentally, physically, and spiritually because Jesus hears His Father speak during His time alone. Throughout Jesus’ ministry on earth, hearing from His Father seems to help Him focus on the mission at hand: redemption.

People: Everybody wants to know where You are!

Jesus: 38 It’s time we went somewhere else—the next village, maybe—so I can tell more people the good news about the kingdom of God. After all, that’s the reason I’m here.

39 So He traveled to the next village and the one after that, throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and casting out unclean spirits.

Jesus is confronted with a man who has leprosy—a skin disease that makes him ritually unclean according to Jewish law. This creates a problem with the authorities.

40 A leper walked right up to Jesus, dropped to his knees, and begged Him for help.

Leper: If You want to, You can make me clean.

41 Jesus was powerfully moved. He reached out and actually touched the leper.

Jesus: I do want to. Be clean.

42 And at that very moment, the disease left him; the leper was cleansed and made whole once again. 43 Jesus sent him away, but first He warned him strongly.

Jesus: 44 Don’t tell anybody how this happened. Just go and show yourself to the priest so that he can certify you’re clean. Perform the ceremony prescribed by Moses as proof of your cleansing, and then you may return home.

45 The man talked everywhere about how Jesus had healed him, until Jesus could no longer come into a town openly without the risk of being mobbed. So He remained on the outskirts. Even so, people still sought Him out from far and wide.

Footnotes

  1. 1:2 Malachi 3:1
  2. 1:3 Isaiah 40:3
  3. 1:4 Literally, John who immersed, to show repentance
  4. 1:4 Literally, repentance
  5. 1:5 Literally, immersed, to show repentance
  6. 1:8 Literally, immersed, to show repentance
  7. 1:8 Literally, immerse, in a rite of initiation and purification
  8. 1:11 Psalm 2:7
  9. 1:15 Literally, repent

I. The Preparation for the Public Ministry of Jesus[a]

Chapter 1

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ [the Son of God].[b]

The Preaching of John the Baptist. (A)As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:[c](B)

“Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
    he will prepare your way.
(C)A voice of one crying out in the desert:
    ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
    make straight his paths.’”

John [the] Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist.[d] He fed on locusts and wild honey. And this is what he proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. [e](D)I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the holy Spirit.”

The Baptism of Jesus. (E)It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. 10 On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.[f] 11 (F)And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

The Temptation of Jesus.[g] 12 At once the Spirit drove him out into the desert,(G) 13 and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him.

II. The Mystery of Jesus

The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry. 14 (H)After John had been arrested,[h] Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: 15 (I)“This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

The Call of the First Disciples.[i] 16 (J)As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. 17 Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 18 Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. 19 He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. 20 Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

The Cure of a Demoniac. 21 [j](K)Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 (L)The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. 23 [k]In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; 24 [l]he cried out, “What have you to do with us,[m] Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” 25 Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” 26 The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. 27 All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” 28 His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

The Cure of Simon’s Mother-in-Law. 29 (M)On leaving the synagogue he entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. 31 He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

Other Healings. 32 When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. 33 The whole town was gathered at the door. 34 He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.

Jesus Leaves Capernaum. 35 (N)Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and those who were with him pursued him 37 and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” 39 So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

The Cleansing of a Leper. 40 (O)A leper[n] came to him [and kneeling down] begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.”(P) 42 The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.(Q) 43 Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. 44 Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.”(R) 45 The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

Footnotes

  1. 1:1–13 The prologue of the Gospel according to Mark begins with the title (Mk 1:1) followed by three events preparatory to Jesus’ preaching: (1) the appearance in the Judean wilderness of John, baptizer, preacher of repentance, and precursor of Jesus (Mk 1:2–8); (2) the baptism of Jesus, at which a voice from heaven acknowledges Jesus to be God’s Son, and the holy Spirit descends on him (Mk 1:9–11); (3) the temptation of Jesus by Satan (Mk 1:12–13).
  2. 1:1 The gospel of Jesus Christ [the Son of God]: the “good news” of salvation in and through Jesus, crucified and risen, acknowledged by the Christian community as Messiah (Mk 8:29; 14:61–62) and Son of God (Mk 1:11; 9:7; 15:39), although some important manuscripts here omit the Son of God.
  3. 1:2–3 Although Mark attributes the prophecy to Isaiah, the text is a combination of Mal 3:1; Is 40:3; Ex 23:20; cf. Mt 11:10; Lk 7:27. John’s ministry is seen as God’s prelude to the saving mission of his Son. The way of the Lord: this prophecy of Deutero-Isaiah concerning the end of the Babylonian exile is here applied to the coming of Jesus; John the Baptist is to prepare the way for him.
  4. 1:6 Clothed in camel’s hair…waist: the Baptist’s garb recalls that of Elijah in 2 Kgs 1:8. Jesus speaks of the Baptist as Elijah who has already come (Mk 9:11–13; Mt 17:10–12; cf. Mal 3:23–24; Lk 1:17).
  5. 1:8–9 Through the life-giving baptism with the holy Spirit (Mk 1:8), Jesus will create a new people of God. But first he identifies himself with the people of Israel in submitting to John’s baptism of repentance and in bearing on their behalf the burden of God’s decisive judgment (Mk 1:9; cf. Mk 1:4). As in the desert of Sinai, so here in the wilderness of Judea, Israel’s sonship with God is to be renewed.
  6. 1:10–11 He saw the heavens…and the Spirit…upon him: indicating divine intervention in fulfillment of promise. Here the descent of the Spirit on Jesus is meant, anointing him for his ministry; cf. Is 11:2; 42:1; 61:1; 63:9. A voice…with you I am well pleased: God’s acknowledgment of Jesus as his unique Son, the object of his love. His approval of Jesus is the assurance that Jesus will fulfill his messianic mission of salvation.
  7. 1:12–13 The same Spirit who descended on Jesus in his baptism now drives him into the desert for forty days. The result is radical confrontation and temptation by Satan who attempts to frustrate the work of God. The presence of wild beasts may indicate the horror and danger of the desert regarded as the abode of demons or may reflect the paradise motif of harmony among all creatures; cf. Is 11:6–9. The presence of ministering angels to sustain Jesus recalls the angel who guided the Israelites in the desert in the first Exodus (Ex 14:19; 23:20) and the angel who supplied nourishment to Elijah in the wilderness (1 Kgs 19:5–7). The combined forces of good and evil were present to Jesus in the desert. His sustained obedience brings forth the new Israel of God there where Israel’s rebellion had brought death and alienation.
  8. 1:14–15 After John had been arrested: in the plan of God, Jesus was not to proclaim the good news of salvation prior to the termination of the Baptist’s active mission. Galilee: in the Marcan account, scene of the major part of Jesus’ public ministry before his arrest and condemnation. The gospel of God: not only the good news from God but about God at work in Jesus Christ. This is the time of fulfillment: i.e., of God’s promises. The kingdom of God…Repent: see note on Mt 3:2.
  9. 1:16–20 These verses narrate the call of the first Disciples. See notes on Mt 4:18–22 and Mt 4:20.
  10. 1:21–45 The account of a single day’s ministry of Jesus on a sabbath in and outside the synagogue of Capernaum (Mk 1:21–31) combines teaching and miracles of exorcism and healing. Mention is not made of the content of the teaching but of the effect of astonishment and alarm on the people. Jesus’ teaching with authority, making an absolute claim on the hearer, was in the best tradition of the ancient prophets, not of the scribes. The narrative continues with events that evening (Mk 1:32–34; see notes on Mt 8:14–17) and the next day (Mk 1:35–39). The cleansing in Mk 1:40–45 stands as an isolated story.
  11. 1:23 An unclean spirit: so called because of the spirit’s resistance to the holiness of God. The spirit knows and fears the power of Jesus to destroy his influence; cf. Mk 1:32, 34; 3:11; 6:13.
  12. 1:24–25 The Holy One of God: not a confession but an attempt to ward off Jesus’ power, reflecting the notion that use of the precise name of an opposing spirit would guarantee mastery over him. Jesus silenced the cry of the unclean spirit and drove him out of the man.
  13. 1:24 What have you to do with us?: see note on Jn 2:4.
  14. 1:40 A leper: for the various forms of skin disease, see Lv 13:1–50 and the note on Lv 13:2–4. There are only two instances in the Old Testament in which God is shown to have cured a leper (Nm 12:10–15; 2 Kgs 5:1–14). The law of Moses provided for the ritual purification of a leper. In curing the leper, Jesus assumes that the priests will reinstate the cured man into the religious community. See also note on Lk 5:14.

The Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, According to Mark

4 John baptizeth. 6 His apparel and meat. 9 Jesus is baptized. 12 He is tempted. 14 He preacheth the Gospel, 21 and 29 he teacheth in the Synagogues. 23 He healeth one that had a devil. 29 Peter’s mother-in-law. 32 Many diseased persons. 40 The leper.

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God:

[a]As it is written in the [b]Prophets, (A)Behold, [c]I send my messenger [d]before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

(B)The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, is, Prepare the way of the Lord: make his paths straight.

(C)[e]John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the [f]baptism of amendment of life, for remission of sins.

And all the country of Judea, and they of Jerusalem went out unto him, and were all baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

(D)Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins: and he did eat (E)locusts and wild honey,

(F)[g]And preached, saying, A stronger than I cometh after me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to [h]stoop down, and unloose.

Truth it is, I have [i]baptized you with water: but he will baptize you with the holy Ghost.

(G)[j]And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth, a city of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

10 [k]And as soon as [l]he was come out of the water, John saw the heavens cloven in twain, and the holy Ghost descending upon him like a dove.

11 Then there was a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am [m]well pleased.

12 (H)[n]And immediately the Spirit [o]driveth him into the wilderness.

13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, and was tempted of Satan: he was also with the wild beasts, and the Angels ministered unto him.

14 (I)[p]Now after that John was committed to prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God,

15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent and believe the Gospel.

16 (J)[q]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 fishers.)

17 Then Jesus said unto them, Follow me, and I will make you to be fishers of men.

18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

19 [r]And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, as they were in the ship, mending their nets.

20 And anon he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with his hired servants, and went their way after him.

21 ¶ So (K)they entered into [s]Capernaum: and straightway on the Sabbath day he entered into the Synagogue, and taught.

22 And they were astonied at his doctrine, (L)for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the Scribes.

23 [t]And there was in their Synagogue a man [u]in whom was an unclean spirit, and he cried out,

24 Saying, Ah, what have we to do with thee, O [v]Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee what thou art, even thou [w]holy one of God.

25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

26 And the unclean spirit [x]tare him, and cried with a loud voice, and came out of him.

27 And they were all amazed, so that they demanded [y]one of another, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for he [z]commandeth even the foul spirits with authority, and they obey him.

28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region [aa]bordering on Galilee.

29 (M)[ab]And as soon as they were come out of the Synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

30 And Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they told him of her.

31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up, and the fever forsook her by and by, and she ministered unto them.

32 And when even was come, at what time the Sun setteth, they brought to him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door.

34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases: and he cast out many devils, and [ac]suffered not the devils to say that they knew him.

35 And in the morning very early before day, Jesus arose and went out into a solitary place, and there prayed.

36 And Simon, and they that were with him, followed carefully after him.

37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

38 Then he said unto them, Let us go into the [ad]next towns, that I may preach there also: for I came out for that purpose.

39 And he preached in their Synagogues, throughout all Galilee, and cast the devils out.

40 (N)[ae]And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeled down unto him, and said to him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

41 And Jesus had compassion, and put forth his hand, and touched him, and said to him, I will: be thou clean.

42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean.

43 And after he had given him a straight commandment, he sent him away forthwith,

44 [af]And said unto him, See thou say nothing to any man, but get thee hence, and show thyself to the (O)[ag]Priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimonial unto them.

45 But when he was departed, (P)he began to tell many things, and to publish the matter: so that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

Footnotes

  1. Mark 1:2 John goeth before Christ, as it was forespoken by the Prophets.
  2. Mark 1:2 This is the figure Metonymy, whereby is meant the books of the Prophets, Malachi and Isaiah.
  3. Mark 1:2 The Prophet useth the present tense, when he speaketh of a thing to come, being as a sure of it, as if he saw it.
  4. Mark 1:2 A metaphor taken from the usage of kings, which used to have ushers go before them.
  5. Mark 1:4 The sum of John’s doctrine, or rather Christ’s, is remission of sins and amendment of life.
  6. Mark 1:4 The Jews used many kinds of washings: but here is spoken of a peculiar kind of washing, which hath all the parts of true baptism, amendment of life, and forgiveness of sins.
  7. Mark 1:7 John and all ministers cast their eyes upon Christ the Lord.
  8. Mark 1:7 The Evangelist his meaning was to express the condition of the basest servant.
  9. Mark 1:8 He showeth that all the force of baptism proceedeth from Christ, who baptizeth within.
  10. Mark 1:9 Christ doth consecrate our baptism in himself.
  11. Mark 1:10 The vocation of Christ from heaven, as head of the Church.
  12. Mark 1:10 John that went down into the water with Christ.
  13. Mark 1:11 See also Matt. 3:17.
  14. Mark 1:12 Christ being tempted overcometh.
  15. Mark 1:12 Here is no violent and forcible driving out meant: but the divine power claddeth Christ (who had lived until this time as a private man) with a new person, and prepareth him to the combat that was at hand, and to his ministry.
  16. Mark 1:14 After that John is taken, Christ showeth himself fully.
  17. Mark 1:16 The calling of Simon and Andrew.
  18. Mark 1:19 The calling of James and John.
  19. Mark 1:21 From the city Nazareth.
  20. Mark 1:23 He preacheth that doctrine, by which alone Satan is driven out of the world, which also he confirmeth by a miracle.
  21. Mark 1:23 Word for word, a man in an unclean spirit, that is to say, possessed with an evil spirit.
  22. Mark 1:24 He was born in Bethlehem, but through the error of the people, he was called a Nazarene, because he was brought up in Nazareth.
  23. Mark 1:24 He alludeth to that name that was written in the golden plate which the high Priest wore, Exod. 28:36.
  24. Mark 1:26 See also Mark 9:20.
  25. Mark 1:27 As men amazed.
  26. Mark 1:27 By his own authority, or as a Lord.
  27. Mark 1:28 Not only into Galilee, but also into the countries bordering upon it.
  28. Mark 1:29 By healing of divers diseases, he showeth that he hath brought true life into the world.
  29. Mark 1:34 For it belongeth not to the devils to preach the Gospel, Acts 16:18.
  30. Mark 1:38 Villages which were as cities.
  31. Mark 1:40 By healing the leprous, he showeth that he came for this cause, to wipe out the sins of the world with his touching.
  32. Mark 1:44 He witnesseth that he was not moved with ambition, but with the only desire of his Father’s glory, and love toward poor sinners.
  33. Mark 1:44 All the posterity of Aaron might judge of a leper.