Mark 1:15
in Mark 1“The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe in the gospel.
KJV
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
⋯
This verse in Mark 1
Commentary
13 notes on this verse(Vict. Ant. e Cat. 1 Marc.) The Evangelist Mark follows Matthew in his order, and therefore after having said that Angels minister, he subjoins, But after that John was put into prison, Jesus came, &c. After the temptation and the ministry of Angels, He goes back into Galilee, teaching us not to resist the violence of evil men. (Vict. Ant. e Cat. in Marc.) He retired also that He might keep Himself for teaching and for healing, before He suffered, and after fulfilling all these things, might become obedient unto death. (Vict. Ant. Cat. in Marc.)
This site's exposition
Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God
on Mark 1:14-15
John's imprisonment marks the transfer, one voice silenced and a greater one begins, and Jesus preaches the same gospel word Mark opened the book with at 1:1. The time is fulfilled announces that the centuries of expectation have run their course, and the kingdom of God is at hand joins two commands, repent and believe, faith answering the announcement rather than earning it. The bench reads this as Mark's own summary of the whole ministry compressed into two verses, the thesis of 1:1 now preached aloud in Galilee.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church4 voices
Christ preaches, it would seem, the same thing as John, namely: "repent" and "the Kingdom of God has drawn near." But in reality it is not the same thing: John says "repent" in order to turn people away from sins, while Christ says "repent" in …
And to show us that in persecutions we ought to retire, and not to await them; but when we fall into them, we must sustain them. Or else, the Lord means that the time of the Law is completed; as if He said, Up to this time the Law was at work; from this time the kingdom of God will work, that is, a conversation according to the Gospel, which is with reason likened to the kingdom of heaven. For when you see a man clothed in flesh living according to the Gospel, do you not say that he has the kingdom of heaven, which is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost? (Rom. 14:17) The next word is, Repent.
Or, then the beasts dwell with us in peace, as in the ark clean animals with the unclean, when the flesh lusts not against the spirit. After this, ministering Angels are sent to us, that they may give answers and comforts to hearts that watch. When the shadow ceases, the truth comes on; first, John in prison, the Law in Judæa; then, Jesus in Galilee, Paul among the Gentiles preaching the Gospel of the kingdom. For to an earthly kingdom succeeds poverty, to the poverty of Christians is given an everlasting kingdom; but earthly honour is like the foam of water, or smoke, or sleep. For he must repent, who would keep close to eternal good, that is, to the kingdom of God. For he who would have the kernel, breaks the shell; the sweetness of the apple makes up for the bitterness of its root; the hope of gain makes the dangers of the sea pleasant; the hope of health takes away from the painfulness of medicine. They are able worthily to proclaim the preaching of Christ who have deserved to attain to the reward of forgiveness; and therefore after He has said, Repent, He subjoins, and believe the Gospel. For unless ye have believed, ye shall not understand.
(ubi sup.) John being put in prison, fitly does the Lord begin to preach: wherefore there follows, Preaching the Gospel, &c. For when the Law ceases, the Gospel arises in its steps. (ubi sup.) Let no one, however, suppose that the putting of John in prison took place immediately after the forty days' temptation and the fast of the Lord; for whosoever reads the Gospel of John will find, that the Lord taught many things before the putting of John in prison, and also did many miracles; for you have in his Gospel, This beginning of miracles did Jesus; (John 2:11) and afterwards, for John was not yet cast into prison. (John 3:24) Now it is said, that when John read the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, he approved indeed the text of the history, and affirmed that they had spoken truth, but said that they had composed the history of only one year after John was cast into prison, in which year also he suffered. Passing over then the year of which the transactions had been published by the three others, he related the events of the former period, before John was cast into prison. When therefore Mark had said that Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, he subjoins, saying, Since the time is fulfilled, &c. (ubi sup.) Repent, therefore, and believe; that is, renounce dead works; for of what use is believing without good works? The merit of good works does not, however, bring to faith, but faith begins, that good works may follow.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And saying, the time is fulfilled,....
6 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
The time is fulfilled - That is, the time for the appearance of the Messiah, the time so long foretold, has come. “The kingdom of God is at hand.” See the notes at Mat 3:2. Repent ye - Exercise sorrow for sins, and turn from them. And believe the gospel - Literally, trust in the gospel, or believe the good tidings - to wit, respecting salvation. See the notes at Mat 4:17.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
This passage is singularly full of matter. It is a striking instance of that brevity of style, which is the peculiar characteristic of Mark's Gospel. The baptism of our Lord, His temptation in the wilderness, the commencement of his preaching, and the calling of His first disciples are related here in eleven verses. Let us notice, in the first place, the voice from heaven which was heard at our Lord's baptism. We read, "There came a voice from heaven, saying, You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." That voice was the voice of God the Father.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
proposed
This passage is singularly full of matter. It is a striking instance of that brevity of style, which is the peculiar characteristic of Mark's Gospel. The baptism of our Lord, His temptation in the wilderness, the commencement of his preaching, and the calling of His first disciples are related here in eleven verses. Let us notice, in the first place, the voice from heaven which was heard at our Lord's baptism. We read, "There came a voice from heaven, saying, You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." That voice was the voice of God the Father. It declared the wondrous and ineffable love which has existed between the Father and the Son from all eternity. "The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand." (John 3:35.) It proclaimed the Father's full and complete approbation of Christ's mission to seek and save the lost. It announced the Father's acceptance of the Son as the Mediator, Substitute, and Surety of the new covenant. There is a rich mine of comfort, in these words, for all Christ's believing members. In themselves, and in their own doings, they see nothing to please God. They are daily sensible of weakness, shortcoming, and imperfection in all their ways. But let them recollect that the Father regards them as members of His beloved Son Jesus Christ. He sees no spot in them. (Cant. 4:7.) He beholds them as "in Christ," clothed in His righteousness, and invested with His merit. They are "accepted in the Beloved," and when the holy eye of God looks at them, He is "well pleased." Let us notice, in the second place, the nature of Christ's preaching. We read that he came saying, "Repent, and believe the Gospel." This is that old sermon which all the faithful witnesses of God have continually preached, from the very beginning of the world.
The time is fulfilled - That is, the time appointed for sending the Messiah; and particularly the time specified by Daniel, Dan 9:24-27. Here are four points worthy of deep attention, in the preaching of the Son of God. 1. Every thing that is done is according to a plan laid by the Divine wisdom, and never performed till the time appointed was filled up. 2. That the kingdom and reign of sin are to be destroyed, and the kingdom of grace and heaven established in their place. 3. That the kingdom of God, and his reign by grace, begins with repentance for past sins. 4. That this reign of grace is at hand; and that nothing but an obstinate perseverance in sin and impenitence can keep any soul out of it; and that now is the accepted time to enter in.
Modern Voices2 voices
A commentator
Charles Capps1934–2014
Believing & Receiving Your Healing (Capps Ministries Monthly Teaching) · Written before 2014.
proposed
God doesn't just tell us to believe, but His Word explains specifically what and how we are to believe.
A commentator
GK ChestertonTremendous Trifles, XXXV: A Glimpse of My Country · Written before 1936.
proposed
I think that we must always conceive of that which is the goal of all our endeavours as something which is in some strange way near. Science boasts of the distance of its stars; of the terrific remoteness of the things of which it has …
The words behind it
18 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| λέγων | legon | saying | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| πεπλήρωται | peplerotai | Has been fulfilled | G4137 → | |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| καιρὸς | kairos | time | G2540 → | 84 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἤγγικεν | engiken | has drawn near | G1448 → | 42 times |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| βασιλεία | basileia | kingdom | G932 → | 162 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ· | theou | of God; | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| μετανοεῖτε | metanoeite | do repent | G3340 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| πιστεύετε | pisteuete | do believe | G4100 → | 237 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| εὐαγγελίῳ.¶ | euangelio | gospel. | G2098 → | 73 times |
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
λέγωνsaying
legonG3004 →1325 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
πεπλήρωταιHas been fulfilled
peplerotaiG4137 →
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
καιρὸςtime
kairosG2540 →84 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἤγγικενhas drawn near
engikenG1448 →42 times
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
βασιλείαkingdom
basileiaG932 →162 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦ·of God;
theouG2316 →1312 times
μετανοεῖτεdo repent
metanoeiteG3340 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
πιστεύετεdo believe
pisteueteG4100 →237 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
εὐαγγελίῳ.¶gospel.
euangelioG2098 →73 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 4:17From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
it leads to
- Acts 2:38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 3:2
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
- Luke 24:47
and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Mark 1:14–15
After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.
- Acts 2:38
Through
Ephesians 1:10as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.
it leads to
- Colossians 1:20
and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.
- Philippians 2:9–10
Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names,
- Galatians 4:4
But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,
- Colossians 1:20
Through
Matthew 3:2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
it leads to
- Matthew 4:17
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
- Matthew 4:17
Where this verse is studied
On this page
By subject
Kingdom of God35 verses
About Mark
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Gospels; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Charles Capps, Believing & Receiving Your Healing (Capps Ministries Monthly Teaching); GK Chesterton, Tremendous Trifles, XXXV: A Glimpse of My Country; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Pseudo-Chrysostom, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Pseudo-Jerome, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Mark and Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.