1The gospel beginneth with the preaching of John the Baptist. 9Jesus is baptized, witnessed to from heaven; 12and tempted of the devil: 14preacheth in Galilee; 16calleth Peter, Andrew, James, and John: 23healeth one possessed of an unclean spirit, 29Simon's mother in law, 32and various other diseased persons: 35prayeth alone, and goeth on to preach: 40cleanseth a leper.
1The1 beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
* This Mark is thought to have been the same of whom we read Acts 12:12, 25; 15:37, 39, a nephew to Barnabas, Col. 4:10, in whose mother’s house the apostles assembled, Acts 12:12, a companion of Paul and Barnabas, Acts 12:25, for whose sake there arose a sharp contention between Paul and Barnabas, Acts 15:37, 39, who yet afterwards came again to Paul, as may be collected out of Col. 4:10; 2 Tim. 4:11; Philemon verse 24, and was also a faithful disciple of the holy apostle Peter, who calls him his son, 1 Peter 5:13, although some think that these were two several persons, and that this Gospel was written by him whom Peter calls his son. The ancient teachers witness that afterwards he taught the Gospel in the school at Alexandria in Egypt. See Eusebius, Historia Ecclesiastica, lib. 2, cap. 15. Hieronymus, praefatio in Marco.
1 Mark begins his Gospel where Malachi ends his prophesy, namely, from the coming of Christ’s forerunner, so, as it were, to connect the Old and New Testament to one another. For, all the prophets prophesied until John, Mat. 11:13, who was the first preacher of the Gospel in the New Testament.
2As it is written 2in the prophets, Behold,a I send my 3messenger before 4thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
2 Namely, Isa. 40:3 and Mal. 3:1, for, both these prophecies are here joined together.
a Mal. 3:1; Mat. 11:10; Luke 7:27.
3 Or, angel. For, the Greek word angelos signifies a messenger, Luke 7:24 and is commonly ascribed to the angels of heaven. But sometimes also to the ministers of the church, because they are sent forth from God as messengers to hold forth God’s will and commandments unto men, Mal. 2:7; Rev. 2:1, 8.
4 Here God the Father speaks to His Son, and in Malachi the Son Himself speaks to the church, and therefore says: before my face, that is, before My coming which shall presently follow thereupon.
3Theb voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths 5straight.
b Isa. 40:3; Mat. 3:3; Luke 3:4; John 1:23.
5 Or, plain.
4Johnc did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism 6of repentance for the remission of sins.
c Mat. 3:1; Luke 3:3; John 3:23.
6 Baptism is so called because it was administered to those who confessed their sins and promised repentance, and to be a sign and seal unto them that their sins were forgiven them by God for Christ’s sake, Acts 19:4; Rom. 4:11.
5Andd there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
d Mat. 3:5; Luke 3:7.
6Ande7John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locustsf and 8wild honey;
e 2 Kings 1:8; Mat. 3:4.
7 See the exposition of this history of John in the annotations at Matthew 3:4ff, where it is related almost in the same words.
f Lev. 11:22.
8 That is, which is found in the wild woods or fields.
7Andg preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latcheth of whose shoes I am not 9worthy to stoop down and unloose.
g Mat. 3:11; Luke 3:16; John 1:27.
h strap, lace
9 Gr. capable, or, sufficient.
8 Ii indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you withj the Holy Ghost.
i Mat. 3:11; Acts 1:5; 11:16; 19:4.
j Isa. 44:3; Joel 2:28; Acts 2:4; 11:15.
9And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from 10Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
10 Namely, where He was brought up and had dwelt until that time. See Luke 2:51 and 4:16.
10Andk straightway coming up out of the water, 11he saw the heavens 12opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending 13upon him:
k Mat. 3:16; Luke 3:21; John 1:32.
11 Namely, John the Baptist.
12 Gr. rent or, cloven.
13 Namely, upon Jesus. See John 1:32, 33.
11And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thoul art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
l Psalm 2:7; Isa. 42:1; Mat. 3:17; 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 3:22; 9:35; Col. 1:13; 2 Peter 1:17.
12Andm immediately the 14Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.
m Mat. 4:1; Luke 4:1.
14 Namely, the Holy Ghost. See Luke 4:1.
13And he was there in the wilderness forty days, 15tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
15 Especially after He had fasted forty days and nights. See Mat. 4:2.
14Nown after that John was 16put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, 17preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
n Mat. 4:12; Luke 4:14; John 4:43.
16 Namely, delivered up. Whereof see in more detail Mat. 14:3.
17 Although He had begun to preach before, John 3:24, yet after John’s imprisonment, He entered solemnly and perfectly upon His office of preaching with His apostles.
15And saying, The 18time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repento ye, and believe the gospel.
18 Namely, which was determined by God and foretold by the prophets, Gal. 4:4.
o Isa. 56:1.
16Nowp as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw 19Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
p Mat. 4:18.
19 Who was surnamed Peter by Christ. See Mat. 4:18.
17And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become 20fishers of men.q
20 The preaching of the Gospel is compared to fishing, Mat. 13:47, seeing men are thereby drawn out of the world, and brought to Christ.
q Jer. 16:16; Ezek. 47:10.
18Andr straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
r Mat. 19:27; Mark 10:28; Luke 5:11; 18:28.
19Ands when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
s Mat. 4:21.
20And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
21Andt they went into 21Capernaum; and straightway on the 22sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
t Mat. 4:13; Luke 4:31.
21 Where He was come to dwell since He separated from Nazareth, Mat. 4:13.
22 Gr. sabbaths.
22Andu they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had 23authority, and not as the scribes.
u Mat. 7:28; Luke 4:32.
23 See Mat. 7:29.
23Andv there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
v Luke 4:33.
24Saying, 24Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to 25destroy us? I know thee who thou art, 26the Holy One of God.
24 Or, O! Ah!
25 Namely, before the time. See Mat. 8:29.
26 Or, Thou Holy One of God, that is, the true Messiah, for, the high priest bore this title, the holiness of the Lord, on his forehead as a type of Christ. See Exod. 28:36. See also Luke 4:34.
25And Jesus rebuked him, saying, 27Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
27 Gr. Be thou muzzled. See of this word, Mat. 22:12. This Christ says because He would not have the truth spread abroad or confirmed by the testimony of the devil, who is the father of lies, as Paul also does in Acts 16:18.
26And when the unclean spirit had 28torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
28 That is, drawing and throwing him hither and thither, as if he would tear him in pieces and yet not being able to hurt him. See Luke 4:35.
27And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
28And immediately 29his fame spread abroadw throughout all the region round about Galilee.
29 That is, the fame of Him.
w over a wide area
29Andx forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
x Mat. 8:14; Luke 4:38.
30But Simon’s 30wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anony they tell him of her.
30 Thus Peter has had a wife, whom he, being become an apostle, did not forsake, as appears here, and 1 Cor. 9:5.
y immediately
31And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
32Andz at even, when the 31sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.
z Mat. 8:16; Luke 4:40.
31 Because it was on the sabbath, as appears out of verse 21, therefore they waited till the going down of the sun with which the sabbath ended.
33And all the city was gathered together at the door.
34And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and 32suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
32 Or, suffered them not to say that they knew him, namely, because He did not want to have any testimony from these lying spirits.
35Andaa in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a 33solitary place, andab there prayed.
aa Luke 4:42.
33 Or, desolate place.
ab Mat. 14:23.
36And Simon and 34they that were with him followed after him.
34 Namely, the other three apostles, who are mentioned in verse 29, with many more of the people, as appears in Luke 4:42.
37And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.
38And he said unto them, Letac us go into the next 35towns, that I may preach there also: forad therefore came I forth.
ac Luke 4:43.
35 Gr. unwalled cities, or villages, that is, towns which are open and without walls, of which sort there were many in Galilee, of which Josephus testifies that in each of them there were no less than ten thousand persons.
ad Isa. 61:1; Luke 4:18.
39And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.
40Andae there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
ae Mat. 8:2; Luke 5:12.
41And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
42And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
43And he 36straitlyaf charged him, and forthwith 37sent him away;
36 Or, sharply forbidden with threatenings, namely, to make this known.
af strictly, closely
37 Gr. drove him out, that is, caused him to go speedily away from Him.
44And saith unto him, 38See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Mosesag commanded, for a testimony unto them.
38 See the cause hereof in Mat. 12:16.
ag Lev. 13:2; 14:1.
45But he went out, and began to publish it 39much, and to blaze abroad 40the matter, insomuch that 41Jesus could no more openly enter 42into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
39 Namely, what was done to him, and what he had heard and seen of Christ.
40 That is, that word.
41 Or, he; namely, Jesus. See Luke 5:15, 16.
42 Namely, Capernaum, as it appears at the beginning of the following chapter, namely, because of the great concourse of people.