Mark1
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2Even as it is written in Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way;
3The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight;
4John came, who baptized in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins.
5And there went out unto him all the country of Judaea, and all they of Jerusalem; and they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
6And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leathern girdle about his loins, and did eat locusts and wild honey.
7And he preached, saying, There cometh after me he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
8I baptized you in water; but he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit.
9And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in the Jordan.
10And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens rent asunder, and the Spirit as a dove descending upon him:
11and a voice came out of the heavens, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased.
12And straightway the Spirit driveth him forth into the wilderness.
13And he was in the wilderness forty days tempted of Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
14Now after John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,
15and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe in the gospel.
16And passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishers.
17And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
18And straightway they left the nets, and followed him.
19And going on a little further, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending the nets.
20And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.
21And they go into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.
22And they were astonished at his teaching: for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.
23And straightway there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
24saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus thou Nazarene? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
25And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
26And the unclean spirit, tearing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.
27And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What is this? a new teaching! with authority he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.
28And the report of him went out straightway everywhere into all the region of Galilee round about.
29And straightway, when they were come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
30Now Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever; and straightway they tell him of her:
31and he came and took her by the hand, and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
32And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were sick, and them that were possessed with demons.
33And all the city was gathered together at the door.
34And he healed many that were sick with divers diseases, and cast out many demons; and he suffered not the demons to speak, because they knew him.
35And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed.
36And Simon and they that were with him followed after him;
37and they found him, and say unto him, All are seeking thee.
38And he saith unto them, Let us go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also; for to this end came I forth.
39And he went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.
40And there cometh to him a leper, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
41And being moved with compassion, he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou made clean.
42And straightway the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean.
43And he strictly charged him, and straightway sent him out,
44and saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
45But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to spread abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Mark 1.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The office of John the Baptist. (1–8). The baptism and temptation of Christ. (9–13). Christ preaches and calls disciples. (14–22). He casts out an unclean spirit. (23–28). He heals many diseased. (29–39). He heals a leper. (40–45).
vv1-8
Isaiah and Malachi each spake concerning the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, in the ministry of John. From these prophets we may observe, that Christ, in his gospel, comes among us, bringing with him a treasure of grace, and a sceptre of government. Such is the corruption of the world, that there is great opposition to his progress. When God sent his Son into the world, he took care, and when he sends him into the heart, he takes care, to prepare his way before him. John thinks himself unworthy of the meanest office about Christ. The most eminent saints have always been the most humble. They feel their need of Christ's atoning blood and sanctifying Spirit, more than others. The great promise Christ makes in his gospel to those who have repented, and have had their sins forgiven them, is, they shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost; shall be purified by his graces, and refreshed by his comforts. We use the ordinances, word, and sacraments without profit and comfort, for the most part, because we have not of that Divine light within us; and we have it not because we ask it not; for we have his word that cannot fail, that our heavenly Father will give this light, his Holy Spirit, to those that ask it.
vv9-13
Christ's baptism was his first public appearance, after he had long lived unknown. How much hidden worth is there, which in this world is not known! But sooner or later it shall be known, as Christ was. He took upon himself the likeness of sinful flesh; and thus, for our sakes, he sanctified himself, that we also might be sanctified, and be baptized with him, Joh 17:19. See how honourably God owned him, when he submitted to John's baptism. He saw the Spirit descending upon him like a dove. We may see heaven opened to us, when we perceive the Spirit descending and working upon us. God's good work in us, is sure evidence of his good will towards us, and preparations for us. As to Christ's temptation, Mark notices his being in the wilderness and that he was with the wild beasts. It was an instance of his Father's care of him, which encouraged him the more that his Father would provide for him. Special protections are earnests of seasonable supplies. The serpent tempted the first Adam in the garden, the Second Adam in the wilderness; with different success indeed; and ever since he still tempts the children of both, in all places and conditions. Company and conversation have their temptations; and being alone, even in a wilderness, has its own also. No place or state exempts, no business, not lawful labouring, eating, or drinking, not even fasting and praying; often in these duties there are the most assaults, but in them is the sweetest victory. The ministration of the good angels is matter of great comfort in reference to the malignant designs of the evil angels; but much more does it comfort us, to have the indwelling of God the Holy Spirit in our hearts.
vv14-22
Jesus began to preach in Galilee, after that John was put in prison. If some be laid aside, others shall be raised up, to carry on the same work. Observe the great truths Christ preached. By repentance we give glory to our Creator whom we have offended; by faith we give glory to our Redeemer who came to save us from our sins. Christ has joined these two together, and let no man think to put them asunder. Christ puts honour upon those who, though mean in this world, are diligent in their business and kind to one another. Industry and unity are good and pleasant, and the Lord Jesus commands a blessing on them. Those whom Christ calls, must leave all to follow him; and by his grace he makes them willing to do so. Not that we must needs go out of the world, but we must sit loose to the world; forsake every thing that is against our duty to Christ, and that cannot be kept without hurt to our souls. Jesus strictly kept the sabbath day, by applying himself unto, and abounding in the sabbath work, in order to which the sabbath rest was appointed. There is much in the doctrine of Christ that is astonishing; and the more we hear it, the more cause we see to admire it.
Key Words
ἀρχή (archḗ): (properly abstract) a commencement, or (concretely) chief (in various applications of order, time, place, or rank)
εὐαγγέλιον (euangélion): a good message, i.e. the gospel
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
Χριστός (Christós): anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
υἱός (huiós): a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship
θεός (theós): figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very
ὡς (hōs): which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows)
γράφω (gráphō): to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe
ἐν (en): "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
προφήτης (prophḗtēs): a foreteller ("prophet"); by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet
Cross References
Mark 1Directly quoted as 'it is written in the prophets' regarding the messenger preparing the way.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Directly quoted as the voice of one crying in the wilderness preparing the Lord's way.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Christ's explicit application of the Malachi 3:1 messenger prophecy to John the Baptist.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Matthew's parallel application of the Isaiah 40:3 prophecy to John the Baptist.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
John's camel's hair clothing and leather girdle directly echo the garb of Elijah.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Matthew's parallel description of John's distinctive ascetic clothing and wilderness diet.
Supported by JFB
Luke's close parallel recording Jesus entering Capernaum and teaching on the Sabbath.
Supported by JFB
Matthew's identical observation that Jesus taught with authority, unlike the scribes.
Supported by JFB
Parallel demoniac confession: 'What have we to do with thee, Jesus of Nazareth?'
Supported by Matthew Henry
Matthew's parallel account of Jesus entering Peter's house and healing his mother-in-law.
Supported by JFB
Matthew's detailed, parallel account of Jesus' forty-day wilderness temptation by Satan.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Matthew's parallel account of the call of Simon, Andrew, James, and John.
Supported by JFB
The Mosaic law governing the ritual cleansing and priestly inspection of a healed leper.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Messianic title 'Holy One' used by the demon echoes this Davidic prophecy.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Paul's later historical corroboration that Peter (Cephas) was indeed married.
Supported by Matthew Henry