Markchapter 1

John the Baptist Baptizes Jesus — Gustave Doré (engraving), public domain

A.The Voice Crying in the Wildernessvv. 1-8

1 This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way.” 3 “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’” 4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 People went out to him from all of Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 7 And he began to proclaim: “After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

B.Baptized, Anointed, and Driven to the Wildernessvv. 9-13

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” 12 At once the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness, 13 and He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to Him.

C.Come After Me: I Will Make You Fishers of Menvv. 14-20

14 After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God. 15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!” 16 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 18 And at once they left their nets and followed Him. 19 Going on a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat, mending their nets. 20 Immediately Jesus called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.

D.Authority Over an Unclean Spirit at Capernaumvv. 21-28

21 Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach. 22 The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue: 24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 25 But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!” 26 At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out with a loud shriek. 27 All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!” 28 And the news about Jesus spread quickly through the whole region of Galilee.

E.A Whole City at the Door; Prayer Before Dawnvv. 29-39

29 As soon as Jesus and His companions had left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever, and they promptly told Jesus about her. 31 So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them. 32 That evening, after sunset, people brought to Jesus all who were sick and demon-possessed, 33 and the whole town gathered at the door. 34 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was. 35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for Him, 37 and when they found Him, they said, “Everyone is looking for You!” 38 But Jesus answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns so I can preach there as well, for that is why I have come.” 39 So He went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

F.A Leper Cleansed by a Willing Touchvv. 40-45

40 Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed. 43 Jesus promptly sent him away with a stern warning: 44 “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 45 But the man went out and openly began to proclaim and spread the news. Consequently, Jesus could no longer enter a town in plain view, but He stayed out in solitary places. Yet people came to Him from every quarter.

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition What the manuscripts read here: on the Study level

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Chapter summary

Prologue.

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Prologue. John the Baptist in the wilderness, clothed in camel's hair, preparing the way of the Lord (Isa 40). Jesus baptized; heavens rent, Spirit descending, Father's voice. Forty days with the wild beasts and angels. Calling of the first disciples; the Capernaum sabbath; demoniac healed; Peter's mother-in-law; early-morning prayer; leper cleansed.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Gospel · Mark — Mark overview

A. 1–8 The Voice Crying in the Wilderness
B. 9–13 Baptized, Anointed, and Driven to the Wilderness
C. 14–20 Come After Me: I Will Make You Fishers of Men
D. 21–28 Authority Over an Unclean Spirit at Capernaum
E. 29–39 A Whole City at the Door; Prayer Before Dawn
F. 40–45 A Leper Cleansed by a Willing Touch

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Luke 48 verses
- Luke 4:1Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
- Luke 4:17the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written:
- Luke 4:32They were astonished at His teaching, because His message had authority.
- Luke 4:37And the news about Jesus spread throughout the surrounding region.
- Luke 4:38After Jesus had left the synagogue, He went to the home of Simon, whose mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever. So they appealed to Jesus on her behalf,
- Luke 4:40At sunset, all who were ill with various diseases were brought to Jesus, and laying His hands on each one, He healed them.
- Read Luke 4: 2 more there →
Matthew 47 verses
- Matthew 4:1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
- Matthew 4:3The tempter came to Him and said, “If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
- Matthew 4:12When Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, He withdrew to Galilee.
- Matthew 4:17From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
- Matthew 4:18As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
- Matthew 4:19“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
- Read Matthew 4: 1 more there →
Matthew 36 verses
- Matthew 3:2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
- Matthew 3:3This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”
- Matthew 3:5People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region around the Jordan.
- Matthew 3:6Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
- Matthew 3:13At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
- Matthew 3:17And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”
- Read Matthew 3 →
Mark 15 verses
- Mark 1:5People went out to him from all of Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
- Mark 1:21Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach.
- Mark 1:31So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.
- Mark 1:34And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.
- Mark 1:39So He went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
- Read Mark 1 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Mark 95 verses
- Mark 9:2After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them.
- Mark 9:7Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!”
- Mark 9:20So they brought him, and seeing Jesus, the spirit immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
- Mark 9:25When Jesus saw that a crowd had come running, He rebuked the unclean spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” He said, “I command you to come out and never enter him again.”
- Mark 9:26After shrieking and convulsing him violently, the spirit came out. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He is dead.”
- Read Mark 9 →
Matthew 85 verses
- Matthew 8:2Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
- Matthew 8:4Then Jesus instructed him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, as a testimony to them.”
- Matthew 8:14When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, He saw Peter’s mother-in-law sick in bed with a fever.
- Matthew 8:16When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to Jesus, and He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.
- Matthew 8:29“What do You want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have You come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
- Read Matthew 8 →
Luke 34 verses
- Luke 3:4as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.
- Luke 3:16John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
- Luke 3:21When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened,
- Luke 3:22and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
- Read Luke 3 →
Luke 54 verses
- Luke 5:10and so were his partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee. “Do not be afraid,” Jesus said to Simon. “From now on you will catch men.”
- Luke 5:12While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
- Luke 5:15But the news about Jesus spread all the more, and great crowds came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.
- Luke 5:16Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray.
- Read Luke 5 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.