Mark1
New Living Translation
1This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. It began
2just as the prophet Isaiah had written: “Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way.
3He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’”
4This messenger was John the Baptist. He was in the wilderness and preached that people should be baptized to show that they had repented of their sins and turned to God to be forgiven.
5All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.
6His clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey.
7John announced: “Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.
8I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”
9One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River.
10As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove.
11And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
12The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness,
13where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.
14Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News.
15“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”
16One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living.
17Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”
18And they left their nets at once and followed him.
19A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets.
20He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.
21Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach.
22The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law.
23Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,
24“Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered.
26At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him.
27Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!”
28The news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee.
29After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home.
30Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away.
31So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them.
32That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus.
33The whole town gathered at the door to watch.
34So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak.
35Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.
36Later Simon and the others went out to find him.
37When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
38But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came.”
39So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.
40A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said.
41Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!”
42Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.
43Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning:
44“Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”
45But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him.
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