BibleWord.ai›Bible›Mark›Chapter 1

Mark Chapter 1

New Testament Gospel 45 Verses

What is Mark 1 about?

The fast-paced Gospel of action — Jesus as the Suffering Servant who came not to be served but to give his life as a ransom. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2Even as it is written in Isaiah the prophet, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way.
3The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight;
4John came, who baptized in the wilderness and preached the baptism of repentance unto remission of sins.
5And there went out unto him all the country of Judaea, and all they of Jerusalem; And they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
6And John was clothed with camel`s hair, and [had] a leathern girdle about his loins, and did eat locusts and wild honey.
7And he preached, saying, There cometh after me he that is mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
8I baptized you in water; But he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit.
9And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in the Jordan.
10And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens rent asunder, and the Spirit as a dove descending upon him:
11And a voice came out of the heavens, Thou art my beloved Son, in thee I am well pleased.
12And straightway the Spirit driveth him forth into the wilderness.
13And he was in the wilderness forty days tempted of Satan; And he was with the wild beasts; And the angels ministered unto him.
14Now after John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,
15and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe in the gospel.
16And passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishers.
17And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
18And straightway they left the nets, and followed him.
19And going on a little further, he saw James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending the nets.
20And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.
21And they go into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.
22And they were astonished at his teaching: For he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.
23And straightway there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
24saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus thou Nazarene? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
25And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
26And the unclean spirit, tearing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.
27And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What is this? a new teaching! with authority he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.
28And the report of him went out straightway everywhere into all the region of Galilee round about.
29And straightway, when they were come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
30Now Simon`s wife`s mother lay sick of a fever; and straightway they tell him of her:
31and he came and took her by the hand, and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
32And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were sick, and them that were possessed with demons.
33And all the city was gathered together at the door.
34And he healed many that were sick with divers diseases, and cast out many demons; and he suffered not the demons to speak, because they knew him.
35And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed.
36And Simon and they that were with him followed after him;
37and they found him, and say unto him, All are seeking thee.
38And he saith unto them, Let us go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also; for to this end came I forth.
39And he went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.
40And there cometh to him a leper, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
41And being moved with compassion, he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou made clean.
42And straightway the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean.
43And he strictly charged him, and straightway sent him out,
44and saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
45But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to spread abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
Mark 2 →

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, etc..] Not that the Gospel first began to be preached at this time, for it was preached by Isaiah, and other prophets before; and long before that, was preached unto Abraham; yea, it was preached as early as the times of our first parents, in Eden's garden; and is indeed that mystery, which was hid in God before the creation of the world; and was ordained before that was, to the glory of the saints: but the sense is, that this narrative Mark was about to write, began with the ministry of John the Baptist, and of Christ; which was a Gospel one, and was the beginning of…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“PREACHING AND BAPTISM OF JOHN. ( = Mat 3:1-12; Luke 3:1-18). (Mar 1:1-8) The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God--By the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ here is evidently meant the blessed Story which our Evangelist is about to tell of His Life, Ministry, Death, Resurrection, and Glorification, and of the begun Gathering of Believers in His Name. The abruptness with which he announces his subject, and the energetic brevity with which, passing by all preceding events, he hastens over the ministry of John and records the Baptism and Temptation of Jesus--as if impatient to come to the Public Life of the…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“The beginning of the gospel - The word “gospel” literally signifies good news, and particularly the good tidings respecting the way of salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ. Some have understood the word “gospel” here to mean “history” or “life - the beginning of the history,” etc.; but Mark says nothing of the early life of the Saviour. The word “gospel” here has reference rather to the preaching of John, an account of which immediately follows, and means the beginning of the good news, or annunciation respecting the Messiah. It was very customary thus to prefix a title to a book. The Son of God - This title was…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - The evangelist speaks with strict propriety: for the beginning of the Gospel is in the account of John the Baptist, contained in the first paragraph; the Gospel itself in the rest of the book. Mat 3:1; Luk 3:1 Mark 1:2”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“1:1 Mark opens with an introduction. This Gospel is about Jesus. With every account in Mark, one should ask, “What is Mark teaching about Jesus in this passage?” • Good News, a frequent term in Mark (see 1:14-15; 8:35; 10:29; 13:10; 14:9), is frequently translated gospel. See study note on Mark 1:15. • The Hebrew word mashiakh (Messiah) is equivalent to the Greek term christos (Christ). Both words mean “anointed.” In the Old Testament, priests (Exod 28:41; Lev 16:32; 21:10), kings (2 Sam 1:14, 16; 19:21; Ps 2), and prophets (1 Kgs 19:16) were anointed with oil to indicate the Lord’s presence, blessing, and…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“beginning: Luk 1:2, Luk 1:3, Luk 2:10, Luk 2:11; Act 1:1, Act 1:2 Christ: Joh 20:31; Rom 1:1-4; Jo1 1:1-3, Jo1 5:11, Jo1 5:12 son: Psa 2:7; Mat 3:17, Mat 14:33, Mat 17:5; Luk 1:35; Joh 1:14, Joh 1:34, Joh 1:49, Joh 3:16, Joh 6:69; Rom 8:3, Rom 8:32; Heb 1:1, Heb 1:2 Mark 1:2”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Mark overviewCompare translationsOpen this chapter in the study reader

Sources and verification