Mark 1:13

“And he was there in the wilderness forty days, etc..] The Vulgate Latin, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions add, “and forty nights”: for so long was he there, tempted of Satan: the several temptations of Satan, and how they were overcome by Christ, are particularly related by the Evangelist Matthew, (<400403>Matthew 4:3-11), which are here omitted; and what is not mentioned there, is here recorded: and was with the wild beasts: which shows, that he was now in an uncultivated and uninhabited part of the desert by men, and where only the most fierce and most savage of creatures dwelt; and yet was as secure and unhurt by them, being the Lord of them, as Adam in Eden's garden, or Daniel in the lions'…”

“Here Mark relates concisely what Matthew has recorded more at length in Mark 4:0. The Spirit driveth - The word “driveth” does not mean that he was compelled forcibly against his will to go there, but that he was inclined to go there by the Spirit, or was led there. The Spirit of God, for important purposes, caused him to go. Compare Matthew 9:25, where the same word is used in the original: “And when they were all put forth” in Greek, “all driven out.” And was with the wild beasts - This is added to show the desolation and danger of his dwelling there. In this place, surrounded by such dangers, the temptations offered by Satan were the stronger. Amid want and perils, Satan might suppose…”

“And he was there forty days, tempted by Satan - Invisibly. After this followed the temptation by him in a visible shape, related by St. Matthew. And he was with the wild beasts - Though they had no power to hurt him. St. Mark not only gives us a compendium of St. Matthew's Gospel, but likewise several valuable particulars, which the other evangelists have omitted. Mark 1:14”

“forty: Exo 24:18, Exo 34:28; Deu 9:11, Deu 9:18, Deu 9:25; Kg1 19:8 tempted: Heb 2:17, Heb 2:18, Heb 4:15 and the: Kg1 19:5-7; Mat 4:11, Mat 26:53; Ti1 3:16 Mark 1:14”