Mark 1
1
John the Baptist Prepares the Way
1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, #See Matt. 14:33the Son of God.#1:1 Some manuscripts omit the Son of God
2 # For ver. 2-8, see Matt. 3:1-11; Luke 3:2-16 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,#1:2 Some manuscripts in the prophets
#
Matt. 11:10; Luke 1:17, 76; 7:27; Cited from Mal. 3:1 “Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
3 #
John 1:23; Cited from Isa. 40:3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
#
Luke 1:76
‘Prepare#1:3 Or crying: Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”
4 #
John 1:6, 7 John appeared, baptizing in #Josh. 15:61; [Judg. 1:16] the wilderness and proclaiming #Acts 2:38 a baptism of #ver. 15 repentance #Matt. 26:28; [Luke 1:77]for the forgiveness of sins. 5And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, #Acts 19:18confessing their sins. 6Now John was #[2 Kgs. 1:8; Zech. 13:4; Heb. 11:37] clothed with camel’s hair and #[2 Kgs. 1:8; Zech. 13:4; Heb. 11:37] wore a leather belt around his waist and ate #Lev. 11:22 locusts and #1 Sam. 14:26wild honey. 7And he preached, saying, #John 1:15, 27; 3:30, 31; Acts 13:25“After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8#John 1:26; Acts 1:5; 11:16 I have baptized you with water, but #See John 1:33he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
The Baptism of Jesus
9 # For ver. 9-11, see Matt. 3:13-17; Luke 3:21, 22; [John 1:32-34] In those days Jesus #Matt. 2:23came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And when he came up out of the water, immediately he #Acts 7:56 saw #Isa. 64:1 the heavens being torn open #John 1:32, 33; [Luke 4:18, 21; Acts 10:38]and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11And #John 12:28 a voice came from heaven, #[ch. 9:7; Ps. 2:7; Isa. 42:1; Eph. 1:6; Col. 1:13; 2 Pet. 1:17; 1 John 5:9]“You are my beloved Son;#1:11 Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved with you I am well pleased.”
The Temptation of Jesus
12 # See Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13#[See ver. 12 above] And he was in the wilderness forty days, being #[Heb. 2:18; 4:15] tempted by #See 1 Chr. 21:1 Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and #Matt. 26:53; Luke 22:43the angels were ministering to him.
Jesus Begins His Ministry
14 #
Matt. 4:12; 14:3; Luke 3:20; [John 3:24] Now after John was arrested, Jesus #Matt. 4:17, 23came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15and saying, #Dan. 9:25; Gal. 4:4; Eph. 1:10; [Luke 21:8; John 7:8] “The time is fulfilled, and #See Matt. 3:2 the kingdom of God is at hand;#1:15 Or the kingdom of God has come near#Acts 19:4; 20:21; Heb. 6:1repent and believe in the gospel.”
Jesus Calls the First Disciples
16 # For ver. 16-20, see Matt. 4:18-22; [Luke 5:2-11; John 1:40-42] Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become #Matt. 13:47fishers of men.”#1:17 The Greek word anthropoi refers here to both men and women 18And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Spirit
21 #
Matt. 4:13; For ver. 21-28, see Luke 4:31-37 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately #See ch. 6:2 on the Sabbath #ver. 39; See Matt. 4:23he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22And #See Matt. 7:28, 29they were astonished at his teaching, #See Matt. 7:28, 29for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24#See Matt. 8:29 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? #[ver. 34; Acts 19:15; James 2:19] I know who you are—#John 6:69; Acts 3:14; Rev. 3:7; [Luke 1:35; Heb. 7:26; 1 John 2:20]the Holy One of God.” 25But Jesus #See Matt. 12:16rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26And the unclean spirit, #ch. 9:26 convulsing him and #ch. 5:7; Acts 8:7crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27And they were all #[Matt. 8:27] amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? #Acts 17:19A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many
29 # For ver. 29-34, see Matt. 8:14-16; Luke 4:38-41 And immediately he#1:29 Some manuscripts they #ver. 21, 23left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now #1 Cor. 9:5Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31And he came and #ch. 9:27; Acts 3:7; 9:41took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
32That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or #See Matt. 4:24oppressed by demons. 33And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34#See Matt. 4:23 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And #ch. 3:11, 12; [Acts 16:17, 18]he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
Jesus Preaches in Galilee
35 # For ver. 35-38, see Luke 4:42, 43 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and #Luke 5:16; See Matt. 14:23there he prayed. 36And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37and they found him and said to him, #[John 12:19]“Everyone is looking for you.” 38And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for #Isa. 61:1that is why I came out.” 39#[Luke 4:44] And #ver. 21he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Jesus Cleanses a Leper
40 # For ver. 40-44, see Matt. 8:2-4; Luke 5:12-14 And a leper#1:40 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 came to him, imploring him, and #ch. 10:17; Matt. 17:14; 27:29 kneeling said to him, #[ch. 9:22, 23; Matt. 9:28]“If you will, you can make me clean.” 41Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43And #Matt. 9:30Jesus#1:43 Greek he; also verse 45 sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44and said to him, #ver. 34; ch. 5:43; 7:36; 8:26; Matt. 9:30; 17:9; See Matt. 12:16 “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, #Luke 17:14 show yourself to the priest and #Lev. 14:2-32 offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, #ch. 6:11; Luke 9:5; James 5:3for a proof to them.” 45#ch. 7:36; Matt. 9:31; [Luke 5:15, 16] But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter #2 Cor. 11:26 a town, but was out in #2 Cor. 11:26 desolate places, and #ch. 2:2, 13; 3:7; [John 6:2]people were coming to him from every quarter.
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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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Mark 1
1
The Wonderful News
1This is the beginning of the wonderful news about Jesus # 1:1 The Aramaic is “the revelation of Jesus.” the Messiah, the Son of God. # 1:1 Although the words “Son of God” are missing from some Greek manuscripts, it is found in the Aramaic.
2It starts with Isaiah the prophet, who wrote:
Listen! I am sending my messenger ahead of you # 1:2 See Ex. 23:20; Mal. 3:1.
and he will prepare your way!
3He is a thunderous voice of one
who shouts in the wilderness:
“Prepare your hearts
for the coming of the Lord Yahweh, # 1:3 As translated from the Aramaic.
and clear a straight path # 1:3 Or “Prepare the way for the Lord and make his beaten paths straight, level, and passable.” This “way” is not a road, but preparing the heart, making room for the ways of the Lord.
inside your hearts for him!” # 1:3 See Isa. 40:3.
4John the Baptizer # 1:4 John was the son of Zechariah, a priest. As the son of a priest, John was qualified to serve in the temple but chose instead the lonely wilderness to begin his ministry of calling a nation to repentance and preparing the way for the Lord Jesus. was the messenger who appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance # 1:4 That is, “an immersion that will bring a change of heart and lead you into repentance” for the complete cancellation of sins. for the complete cancellation of sins. 5A steady stream of people came to be dipped in the Jordan River as they publicly confessed their sins. They came from all over southern Israel, # 1:5 Or “Judea.” including nearly all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 6John wore a rough garment made from camel hair, # 1:6 John was not afraid to violate religious taboos. A camel was considered unclean in the Jewish tradition. He was wearing what others considered to be unclean. Those who break loose of religious tradition will often appear to be undignified, as was John. His commission was to inaugurate a new way of living according to the truths of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. with a leather belt around his waist, # 1:6 This was considered to be the wardrobe of a prophet and was identical to what the prophet Elijah wore (2 Kings 1:8; Zech. 13:4). With a diet of locusts John points back to the four varieties of locusts mentioned in Joel 1:4. Locusts (grasshoppers) are an emblem of intimidation that will keep believers from taking their inheritance by faith. Israel thought themselves to be like grasshoppers in their own eyes because of the intimidation of the fierce inhabitants of the land. John the Baptizer arrives on the scene and makes locusts his food, eating up that symbol of intimidation (devouring the devourer). And he drank honey, which is a biblical metaphor of the revelation of God’s Word that is sweeter than honey (Ps. 19:7–10). John’s ministry was a prophetic statement from God that a new day had come, a day of leaving dead formalism and embracing new life in Jesus without intimidation. and he ate locusts and honey. 7And this is the message he kept preaching: “There is a man coming after me who is greater and a lot more powerful than I am. I’m not even worthy to bend down and untie the strap of his sandals. 8I’ve baptized you into water, but he will baptize you into the Spirit of Holiness!”
The Baptism and Testing of Jesus
9One day, Jesus came from the Galilean village of Nazareth # 1:9 It is possible to translate the Aramaic as “Then one day Jesus came from victorious revelation” to be baptized by John. The word Nazareth can mean “victorious one,” and the word Galilee can be translated “the place of revelation.” and had John immerse him in the Jordan River. 10The moment Jesus rose up out of the water, John saw the heavenly realm split open, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove. # 1:10 The Lord Jesus was buried in baptism, symbolically into death (the Jordan) so that he might minister not in the natural way of men, but in the way of resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit. The dove, an emblem of the Holy Spirit, pictures both meekness and purity. The implication is that the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus and never left him. 11At the same time, a voice spoke from heaven, saying:
“You are my Son, my cherished one,
and my greatest delight is in you!” # 1:11 Although not a direct quotation, the wording is similar to Ps. 2:7.
12Immediately after this he was compelled by the Holy Spirit # 1:12 Or “cast out [or ‘thrown,’ or ‘pushed’] into the wilderness.” The Greek word ekballei is often used for driving out demons. This was a forceful compelling of the Holy Spirit. to go into an uninhabited desert region. 13He remained there in the wilderness for forty days, # 1:13 The “forty days” points to Moses, Elijah, and David, who were all great champions in Israel’s history. See Ex. 34:28; 1 Sam. 17:16; 1 Kings 19:8, 15. enduring the ordeals of Satan’s tests. He encountered wild animals, but also angels who appeared and ministered to his needs. # 1:13 Between vv. 13 and 14 there is an entire year of our Lord’s life that Mark skips over. Jesus spent most of that year in and around Jerusalem. The Gospel of John gives further details of that year in ch. 1.
Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him
14Later on, after John the Baptizer was arrested, Jesus went back into the region of Galilee and preached the wonderful gospel of God’s kingdom. # 1:14 As translated from the Aramaic and most Greek manuscripts. 15His message was this: “At last the fulfillment of the age has come! It is time for God’s kingdom to be experienced in its fullness! # 1:15 Or “the kingdom of God is at hand,” that is, God’s kingdom is close enough to reach. Turn your lives back to God and put your trust in the hope-filled gospel!” # 1:15 The Greek is “believe the good news” (“the gospel”), and the Aramaic is “put your trust in the joyful message of hope.” This translation merges both concepts, making it “the hope-filled gospel.”
16As Jesus was walking along the shore of Lake Galilee, he noticed two brothers fishing: Simon and Andrew. He watched them as they were casting their nets into the sea 17and said to them, “Come follow me and I will transform you into fishers of men instead of fish!” # 1:17 The metaphor of “fishers of people” simply means that they will persuade others and catch people for God. 18Immediately they dropped their nets and left everything behind to follow Jesus. 19Walking a little farther, Jesus found two other brothers sitting in a boat, along with their father, mending their nets. Their names were Jacob # 1:19 Or “James.” Other translations of the Bible substitute James for Jacob. Both Greek and Aramaic leave the Hebrew name as it is, Jacob. This translation will use the correct name, Jacob, throughout. and John, and their father Zebedee. # 1:19 Zebedee means “my gift.” Zebedee’s gift to Jesus was his sons. A wise father will always want his children to be given to Jesus. 20Jesus immediately walked up to them and invited the two brothers to become his followers. Jacob and John dropped their nets, stood up, left their father in the boat with the hired men, and followed Jesus. # 1:20 What a powerful effect Jesus had upon people! One encounter with the Son of God compelled these businessmen to leave their trade and follow Jesus. We learn from Luke 5:10 that the family of Zebedee was in business together with Simon (Peter) and Andrew. They owned the boat and had a hired crew, which makes one think they were somewhat prosperous business owners, for commercial fishermen in the time of Jesus were usually wealthy.
People Stunned by Jesus’ Teachings
21Then Jesus and his disciples went to Capernaum, # 1:21 Capernaum means “the village of Nahum.” Nahum means “comforted.” Jesus did many miracles and made his Galilean base of ministry in “the village of the comforted.” and he immediately started teaching on the Sabbath day in the synagogue. 22The people were awestruck # 1:22 The Greek word used here, ekplesso, is a strong verb that means “awestruck, filled with amazement, astonished, panic stricken, something that takes your breath away (being hit with a blow), to be shocked, to expel, to drive out.” Clearly, Jesus spoke with such glory and power emanating from him that his words were like thunderbolts in their hearts. May we hear his words in the same way today. by his teaching, because he taught in a way that demonstrated God’s authority, which was quite unlike the religious scholars. # 1:22 Or “scribes” (experts of the Law). Jesus taught from an inner knowledge of God and his Word, for his teaching emphasized obedience to God from the heart, not just outwardly keeping of laws.
23Suddenly, during the meeting, a demon-possessed man screamed out, 24“Hey! Leave us alone! Jesus the victorious, # 1:24 As translated from the Aramaic. The Greek is “Jesus the Nazarene” (“Branch” or “Scion”). I know who you are. You’re God’s Holy One and you have come to destroy us!” # 1:24 The demon knew Jesus’ true identity before the people did. This is not so much a question (Have you come to destroy us?), but rather an assertive and defiant declaration. There is no question mark in the Greek text. The demonized man was apparently comfortable in the presence of the religious teachers, but when Jesus stepped into the room, he spoke out and couldn’t resist the power of Jesus.
25Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Silence! You are bound! # 1:25 Or “muzzled.” Come out of him!”
26The man’s body shook violently in spasms, and the demon hurled him to the floor until it finally came out of him with a deafening shriek! 27The crowd was awestruck and kept saying among themselves, “What is this new teaching that comes with such authority? With merely a word he commands demons to come out and they obey him!”
28So the reports about Jesus spread like wildfire throughout every community in Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many
29Now, as soon as they left the meeting, they went straight to Simon and Andrew’s house, along with Jacob and John. 30Simon’s mother-in-law was bedridden, sick with a high fever, so the first thing they did was to tell Jesus about her. 31He walked up to her bedside, gently took her hand, and raised her up! Her fever disappeared and she began to serve them.
32Later in the day, just after the Sabbath ended # 1:32 Implied in the context. at sunset, the people kept bringing to Jesus all who were sick and tormented by demons, 33until the whole village was crowded around the house. 34Jesus healed many who were sick # 1:34 The Greek word kakos is actually the word for “evil”; however, it is traditionally translated “sickness.” with various diseases and cast out many demons. But he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew who he really was. # 1:34 Jesus wants us to proclaim who he is, not demons.
Jesus Prays, Preaches, Heals, and Casts Out Demons
35The next morning, Jesus got up long before daylight, left the house while it was dark, and made his way to a secluded place to give himself to prayer. 36Later, Simon and his friends searched for him, 37and when they finally tracked him down, they told him, “Everyone is looking for you—they want you!”
38Jesus replied, “We have to go on to the surrounding villages so that I can share my message with the people there, for that is my mission.” 39So he went throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the Jewish synagogues and casting out demons.
40On one occasion, a leper came and threw himself down in front of Jesus, pleading for his healing, saying, “You have the power to heal me right now if only you really want to!” 41Being deeply moved with tender compassion, # 1:41 This is an intense emotion. Some Greek manuscripts have “Jesus was moved with anger” (at the leprosy, not the man). However, the Aramaic is clearly “moved with compassion.” The two Aramaic words for “anger” and “compassion” are written almost identically. Perhaps both are correct. Jesus was deeply moved with compassion toward the man and angry at the disease. Jesus reached out and touched the skin of the leper and told him, “Of course I want you to be healed—so now, be cleansed!” 42Instantly his leprous sores completely disappeared and his skin became smooth! 43Jesus sent him away with a very stern warning, # 1:43 The Greek word embrimaomai can mean “to sternly give a warning”; however, in John 11:33 it is translated “was deeply moved with tenderness and compassion.” The miracle of healing this leper had a profound effect on both Jesus and the man who was healed. 44saying, “Don’t say anything to anyone about what just happened, but go find a priest and show him that you’ve been healed. Then bring the offering that Moses commanded for your cleansing as a living testimony to everyone.” # 1:44 See Lev. 14:1–32. Normally, touching a leper would make a man unclean, but in this instance, the leper was healed and Jesus was not defiled.
45But no sooner did the man leave than he began to proclaim his healing publicly # 1:45 Or “preach.” and tell the story everywhere.
Jesus’ growing fame prevented him from entering the villages openly, which forced him to remain in isolated places. Even so, a steady stream of people flocked to him from everywhere.
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