Mark 1: John, the baptism of Jesus, and the first followers
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Greek. How to read a study
What happens?
Mark begins with John baptizing in the wilderness, then Jesus is baptized, a voice speaks from the sky, and Jesus is driven into the wilderness for forty days. Back in Galilee he calls four fishermen, teaches in the synagogue at Capernaum, and drives out an unclean spirit. He heals Simon's mother-in-law and many others, prays alone, preaches through Galilee, and cleanses a leper.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. John speaks in verses 7 and 8. The voice from the sky speaks in verse 11, and 1 verse is in gold. Jesus speaks in verses 15, 17, 25, 38, 41 and 44, but his words are not in gold. The man with the unclean spirit cries out in verse 24, and those are the unclean spirit's words, not God's. Simon and those with him speak in verse 37, and the leper in verse 40. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
In plain English: This is the beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The Greek word: "Good News" is euangelion. The dictionary gives "a good message, i.e. the gospel". It is in 8 verses of Mark, and in all 8 this Bible prints "Good News".
How it is translated: This Bible has "Good News" every time.
What changes: The words "of Jesus Christ" can mean the Good News that Jesus brings, or the Good News about Jesus. The Greek allows both, and so does the English.
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2As it is written in the prophets, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you:
In plain English: It is written in the prophets: "Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you."
Good to know: Mark says "in the prophets" and then gives the words of verses 2 and 3. The words of verse 2 are close to ("Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me") and to ("Behold, I send an angel before you"). The words of verse 3 are close to ("Prepare the way of Yahweh in the wilderness"). Mark names no single book. In Isaiah the way is the way of Yahweh. In Mark verse 3 it is the way of "the Lord".
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3the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight!’”
In plain English: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Get the way of the Lord ready! Make his paths straight!'"
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4John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.
In plain English: John came, baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance, so that sins would be forgiven.
The Greek word: "Baptizing" is baptizo. The dictionary gives "to immerse, submerge; to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet)", and says it is used of ceremonial washing.
How it is translated: The word is in 9 verses of Mark. In 7 of them this Bible prints "baptize", "baptized" or "baptizing". In the other 2 the English is "the Baptizer" () and "bathe" ().
What changes: Read as "immersing", the verse names a washing in which a person goes under the water. Read as "baptizing", it names the rite John carried out. The Greek word allows both.
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5All the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.
In plain English: All the country of Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to John. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river and told out loud what their sins were.
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6John was clothed with camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.
In plain English: John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.
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7He preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen.
In plain English: John preached and said, "Someone stronger than I am is coming after me. I am not good enough to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals.
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8I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”
In plain English: I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit."
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9In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
In plain English: In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
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10Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
In plain English: As soon as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit coming down on him like a dove.
The Greek word: "Immediately" is euthys (or eutheos, the same word in another form). The dictionary gives "directly, i.e. at once or soon".
Good to know: This is Mark's favourite word. It is in 42 of the 678 verses of Mark, about 1 verse in 16. This Bible prints "immediately" in 41 of those 42 verses, and "at once" in the other.
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11A voice came out of the sky, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”God speaks
In plain English: A voice came out of the sky: "You are my beloved Son. I am well pleased with you."
Good to know: In the Greek the voice says "You are my Son, the beloved". Words close to this are in ("You are my son") and in ("my chosen, in whom my soul delights"). Mark does not say that the voice is quoting either.
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12Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness.
In plain English: Right away the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness.
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13He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals; and the angels were serving him.
In plain English: He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving him.
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14Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom,
In plain English: After John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee and preached the Good News of God's Kingdom.
The Greek word: "Taken into custody" is paradidomi. The dictionary gives "to surrender, i.e. yield up, intrust, transmit".
How it is translated: It is in 19 verses of Mark. This Bible prints a form of "betray" in 6 of them, a form of "deliver" in 8, "custody" in 1 (this verse), and other words in the other 4. The same word is printed "betrayed" in .
What changes: Read as "handed over", the verse says only that John was given into someone's hands. Read as "betrayed", it would say that someone gave him up. The word does not say who did it.
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15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”
In plain English: He said, "The time is fulfilled (or: complete). God's Kingdom is near. Repent, and believe in the Good News."
The Greek word: "Repent" is metanoeo. The dictionary gives "to think differently or afterwards, i.e. reconsider (morally, feel compunction)". The matching word in is metanoia, "repentance".
How it is translated: Metanoeo is in 2 verses of Mark (here and ), and in both this Bible prints "repent". Metanoia is in 2 verses of Mark (verse 4 and ), and in both this Bible prints "repentance".
What changes: Read as "reconsider", the call is to think again and change one's mind. Read as "repent", it adds the sense of being sorry for wrong done. The Greek word allows both.
Good to know: "Is at hand" is the Greek engizo, "to make near, i.e. approach". The text says the Kingdom has come near. It does not say here that the Kingdom has arrived or when it will.
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16Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
In plain English: As Jesus walked along the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Simon's brother Andrew casting a net into the sea. They were fishermen.
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17Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men.”
In plain English: Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you into fishers of men (or: of people)."
The Greek word: "Men" is anthropos. The dictionary gives "a human being".
How it is translated: This Bible prints "men" here. The same Greek word is printed "Son of Man" in 13 verses of Mark.
What changes: Read as "human beings", Jesus says he will make them fishers of people. This Bible prints "men" here.
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18Immediately they left their nets, and followed him.
In plain English: At once they left their nets and followed him.
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19Going on a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.
In plain English: He went on a little further and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and James's brother John. They were in their boat, mending the nets.
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20Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.
In plain English: At once he called them. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and went after Jesus.
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21They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.
In plain English: They went into Capernaum. On the Sabbath day Jesus went at once into the synagogue and taught.
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22They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.
In plain English: The people were astonished at his teaching. He taught them like someone who has authority, and not like the scribes.
The Greek word: "Authority" is exousia. The dictionary gives "privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery ... delegated influence".
How it is translated: It is in 9 verses of Mark, and in all 9 this Bible prints "authority".
What changes: Read as "power", the crowd is astonished at what his teaching can do. Read as "authority", they are astonished at the right with which he speaks. The Greek word allows both.
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23Immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,
In plain English: Right away there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,
The Greek words: "Unclean spirit" is pneuma akatharton. Pneuma is "a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; ... a spirit". Akathartos is "impure (ceremonially, morally (lewd) or specially, (demonic))".
How it is translated: Akathartos is in 11 verses of Mark, and in all 11 this Bible prints "unclean".
What changes: Read as "impure", the word names ceremonial or moral uncleanness. Read together with "spirit", it names a spirit that is unclean. The text uses both "unclean spirit" (verses 23 to 27) and "demons" (verses 32 to 39).
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24saying, “Ha! What do we have to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God!”
In plain English: "Ha! What do we have to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God!"
Good to know: The text says the man with the unclean spirit cried out, and gives the words with "we" and "us". The words are the unclean spirit's words, not God's.
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25Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”
In plain English: Jesus rebuked the spirit and said, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"
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26The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.
In plain English: The unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions, cried out with a loud voice, and came out of him.
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27They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What can this new doctrine be? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!”
In plain English: They were all amazed, so they asked each other, "What is this? What is this new teaching? With authority he gives orders even to the unclean spirits, and they obey him!"
The Greek word: "Doctrine" is didache. The dictionary gives "instruction (the act or the matter)".
How it is translated: It is in 5 verses of Mark. This Bible prints "teaching" in 4 and "doctrine" in 1 (this verse). In the same word is "teaching".
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28The report of him went out immediately into all the region of Galilee and its surrounding area.
In plain English: The news about Jesus went out at once into the whole region around Galilee.
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29Immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
In plain English: As soon as they came out of the synagogue, they went into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
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30Now Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about her.
In plain English: Simon's wife's mother was lying sick with a fever, and right away they told Jesus about her.
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31He came and took her by the hand and raised her up. The fever left her immediately, and she served them.
In plain English: He came to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her at once, and she served them.
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32At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by demons.
In plain English: That evening, when the sun had set, people brought to Jesus everyone who was sick and everyone who was possessed by demons.
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33All the city was gathered together at the door.
In plain English: The whole city was gathered at the door.
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34He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons. He didn’t allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.
In plain English: Jesus healed many who were sick with all kinds of diseases and drove out many demons. He would not let the demons speak, because they knew him.
The Greek word: "Demons" is daimonion. The dictionary gives "a dæmonic being; by extension a deity".
How it is translated: It is in 11 verses of Mark. This Bible prints "demons" in 8 and "demon" in 3.
What changes: Read as "a dæmonic being", the word names a being of the spirit world. The dictionary notes the word can also mean a deity. In this verse the text says only that the demons "knew him" and that Jesus would not let them speak.
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35Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there.
In plain English: Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, went out, and went away to a deserted place. There he prayed.
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36Simon and those who were with him searched for him.
In plain English: Simon and those who were with him went looking for Jesus.
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37They found him and told him, “Everyone is looking for you.”
In plain English: They found him and said to him, "Everyone is looking for you."
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38He said to them, “Let’s go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because I came out for this reason.”
In plain English: He said to them, "Let's go somewhere else, to the next towns, so that I can preach there too. That is why I came out."
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39He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.
In plain English: He went through all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
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40A leper came to him, begging him, kneeling down to him, and saying to him, “If you want to, you can make me clean.”
In plain English: A leper came to Jesus, begging him on his knees, and said, "If you want to, you can make me clean."
The Greek word: "Leper" is lepros. The dictionary gives "scaly, i.e. leprous (a leper)".
How it is translated: It is in 2 verses of Mark, and in both this Bible prints "leper". The Greek word covers more than one skin disease. The text says only that the man was a leper, and says in verse 42 that the leprosy left him.
Good to know: sets out the law for a swelling, scab or bright spot on the skin, and says the person is to be brought to the priest.
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41Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, “I want to. Be made clean.”
In plain English: Jesus felt compassion. He stretched out his hand, touched the man, and said to him, "I want to. Be made clean."
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42When he had said this, immediately the leprosy departed from him and he was made clean.
In plain English: As soon as Jesus said this, the leprosy left the man, and he was made clean.
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43He strictly warned him and immediately sent him out,
In plain English: Jesus strictly warned him and sent him away at once.
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44and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.”
In plain English: He said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone. Go and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a witness to them."
Good to know: Jesus tells the man to show himself to the priest and offer what Moses commanded. gives "the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing" and says he is to be brought to the priest.
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45But he went out, and began to proclaim it much, and to spread about the matter, so that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but was outside in desert places. People came to him from everywhere.
In plain English: But the man went out and began to talk about it a great deal and to spread the news everywhere. So Jesus could no longer go openly into a city. He stayed outside in deserted places, and people came to him from everywhere.
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