Mark 1

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

And 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.

And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;

And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.

And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.

And 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.

And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

And 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.

And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.

And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.

And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

And all the city was gathered together at the door.

And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.

And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

And 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.

And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;

And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

What does Mark 1:27 mean?

Explanation

The verse Mark 1:27 comes from a passage where Jesus is teaching in a synagogue in Capernaum and an encounter occurs with a man possessed by an unclean spirit. Jesus commands the unclean spirit to come out of the man, which it does, leaving the people astonished.

This verse captures the crowd's reaction to the exorcism.

They are amazed because Jesus teaches with a new kind of authority, different from the scribes, and He demonstrates His authority through His command over even the unclean spirits who obey Him.

The use of "new doctrine" can suggest not only the content of His teachings but also the manner and power with which He teaches and acts.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

At the time this Gospel was written, Jewish religious life was centered around the synagogue and the teachings of the Torah through religious leaders, such as scribes and Pharisees.

These leaders were known for their strict adherence to tradition and the interpretations of the Law of Moses.

Jesus' teachings, which were often accompanied by miracles and signs, represented something new and astonishing to His early Jewish followers and the general population.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse can be seen as a demonstration of Jesus' divine authority, distinguishing Him from other religious teachers of His time.

The fact that He commands unclean spirits and they obey Him is viewed as evidence that Jesus has authority over the spiritual realm.

Theological interpretations may vary between denominations, but the acknowledgement of Jesus’ authority is a common theme.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of this verse may include the belief in the authority of Jesus' teachings and the power of His word.

For individuals, this might translate into living a life in line with the teachings of Jesus, trusting in His command over both physical and spiritual issues, and recognizing His unique role as a spiritual authority.

Cross-References

Luke 4:36: "And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out."
Matthew 7:29: "For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."
Acts 19:11-12: "And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul."

Language Study

The key phrase in the original Greek that stands out is "καινὴ διδαχή" (kainē didachē) which is translated as "new doctrine" or "new teaching." The term "καινή" (kainē) implies something that is not only new but also fresh or unprecedented. "διδαχή" (didachē) refers to doctrine, teaching, or instruction.

The use of these words underlines the novelty and originality of Jesus' teaching and power.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader context of the ancient world, the concept of spiritual beings like demons being subject to a higher power was not unique to Judaism or early Christianity.

Various cultures had exorcism rituals where a priest or exorcist would command spiritual beings.

However, Jesus's acts of exorcism, as depicted in Mark 1:27, stand out because of His personal authority and the absence of elaborate rituals.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the understanding of unclean spirits being commanded to obey Jesus does not fit into a modern scientific framework, as the concept of demonic possession is not recognized in the field of psychology or medicine.

However, the human response to witnessing something perceived as miraculous, such as astonishment and questioning, is consistent with psychological reactions to events that challenge existing beliefs or understandings.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators often emphasize the contrast between the traditional teaching methods of the time and the authoritative teaching of Jesus.

They note that the amazement of the crowd in Mark 1:27 is an indication of the profound impact Jesus had on those who witnessed His works.

Many commentaries also focus on this event as one of the early signs of Jesus’ divinity and His mission to establish the Kingdom of God through both word and deed.

Mark 1

Mark 1

What does Mark 1:27 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 1:27 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?