Preaching of John the Baptist

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, (A)the Son of God,

(B)just as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

(C)Behold, I am sending My messenger [a]before You,
Who will prepare Your way;
(D)The voice of one calling [b]out in the wilderness,
Prepare the way of the Lord,
Make His paths straight!’”

John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, [c](E)preaching a baptism of repentance for the (F)forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore (G)a leather belt around his waist, and [d]his diet was locusts and wild honey. And he was [e]preaching, saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to bend down and untie the straps of His sandals. I baptized you [f]with water; but He will baptize you [g]with the Holy Spirit.”

The Baptism of Jesus

(H)In those days Jesus (I)came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens [h]opening, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him; 11 and a voice came from the heavens: “(J)You are My beloved Son; in You I [i]am well pleased.”

12 (K)And immediately the Spirit *brought Him out into the wilderness. 13 And He was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by (L)Satan; and He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving Him.

Jesus Preaches in Galilee

14 (M)Now after John was [j]taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, [k](N)preaching the gospel of God, 15 and saying, (O)The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; (P)repent and [l]believe in the gospel.”

16 (Q)As He was going along the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will have you become fishers of people.” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 19 And going on a little farther, He saw [m]James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John, [n]who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and went away [o]to follow Him.

21 (R)They *went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath Jesus (S)entered the synagogue and began to teach. 22 And (T)they were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 saying, “(U)What [p]business do You have with us, Jesus [q]of (V)Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are: (W)the Holy One of God!” 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26 After throwing him into convulsions and crying out with a loud voice, the unclean spirit came out of him. 27 And they were all (X)amazed, so they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28 Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Crowds Healed

29 (Y)And immediately after they left (Z)the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with [r]James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and they immediately *spoke to [s]Jesus about her. 31 And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she served them.

32 Now (AA)when evening came, (AB)after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were (AC)demon-possessed. 33 And the whole (AD)city had gathered at the door. 34 And He (AE)healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew [t]who He was.

35 (AF)And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and (AG)prayed there for a time. 36 Simon and his companions eagerly searched for Him; 37 and they found Him and *said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” 38 He *said to them, “Let’s go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may also [u]preach there; for this is why I came.” 39 (AH)And He went into their synagogues [v]preaching throughout Galilee, and casting out the demons.

40 (AI)And a man with [w]leprosy *came to [x]Jesus, imploring Him and (AJ)kneeling down, and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out with His hand and touched him, and *said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 43 And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, 44 and He *said to him, (AK)See that you say nothing to anyone; but (AL)go, show yourself to the priest and (AM)offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 45 But he went out and began to (AN)proclaim it [y]freely and to (AO)spread the news around, to such an extent that [z]Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but [aa]stayed out in unpopulated areas; and (AP)they were coming to Him from everywhere.

Footnotes

  1. Mark 1:2 Lit before Your face
  2. Mark 1:3 Or out, Prepare in the wilderness the way
  3. Mark 1:4 Or proclaiming
  4. Mark 1:6 Lit was eating
  5. Mark 1:7 Or proclaiming
  6. Mark 1:8 The Gr here can be translated in, with, or by
  7. Mark 1:8 The Gr here can be translated in, with, or by
  8. Mark 1:10 Or being parted
  9. Mark 1:11 Or delight
  10. Mark 1:14 Lit handed over
  11. Mark 1:14 Or proclaiming
  12. Mark 1:15 Or put your trust in
  13. Mark 1:19 Or Jacob
  14. Mark 1:19 Lit also them in
  15. Mark 1:20 Lit after Him
  16. Mark 1:24 Lit What to us and to You (an ancient idiom)
  17. Mark 1:24 Or the Nazarene
  18. Mark 1:29 Or Jacob
  19. Mark 1:30 Lit Him
  20. Mark 1:34 Lit Him
  21. Mark 1:38 Or proclaim
  22. Mark 1:39 Or proclaiming
  23. Mark 1:40 I.e., leprosy or a serious, unspecified disease, and so throughout the ch; see Lev 13
  24. Mark 1:40 Lit Him
  25. Mark 1:45 Lit much
  26. Mark 1:45 Lit He
  27. Mark 1:45 Lit was

¶ The beginning of the gospel of Jesus, the Christ, Son of God,

as it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.

John baptized in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance for remission of sins.

And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea and those of Jerusalem and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he ate locusts and wild honey

and preached, saying, There comes one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

I indeed have baptized you with water, but he shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

¶ And it came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth a city of Galilee and was baptized of John in the Jordan.

10 And as soon as he was come out of the water, John saw the heavens opened and the Spirit like a dove descending and resting upon him;

11 and there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my dear Son, in whom I delight.

12 And immediately the Spirit drove him into the wilderness.

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

14 ¶ Now after John was put in 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 ye and believe the gospel.

16 Now 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 And Jesus said unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

18 And straightway they forsook their nets and followed him.

19 And when he had gone a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.

20 And straightway he called them; and leaving their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, they went after him.

21 And they entered into Capernaum, and straightway on the sabbath days he entered into the synagogue and taught.

22 And they marvelled at his learning, for he taught them as one that had power with him, and not as the scribes.

23 ¶ And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,

24 saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Be silent, and come out of him.

26 And the unclean spirit tore him and cried with a loud voice and came out of him.

27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? What new doctrine is this? for he commands the unclean spirits with power, and they obey him.

28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.

29 ¶ And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

30 But Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick of a fever, and soon they told him of her.

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

32 In the evening, when the sun was down, they brought unto him all that were diseased and those that were possessed with devils.

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

34 And he healed many that were sick of diverse diseases and cast out many devils and suffered not the devils to speak because they knew him.

35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out and departed into a solitary place and prayed there.

36 And Simon and those that were with him followed after him.

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

38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns that I may preach there also, for truly I came forth for that purpose.

39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee and cast out devils.

40 ¶ And a leper came to him, beseeching him and kneeling down to him and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

41 And Jesus, having mercy on him, put forth his hand and touched him and said unto him, I will; be thou clean.

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

43 And he straitly charged him and forthwith sent him away

44 and said unto him, See thou say nothing to any man, but go, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

45 But he went out and began to publish it much and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places; and they came to him from every quarter.

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.