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 1:28 mean?

Explanation

Mark 1:28 speaks about the rapid spread of Jesus' fame throughout the region of Galilee.

This verse follows the account of Jesus teaching with authority in a synagogue and casting out an unclean spirit. The amazement of the people at His teaching and miraculous powers leads to widespread reporting of His deeds.

The verse highlights the immediate impact of Jesus' ministry and the implication that news of His work spread quickly and widely in the area, emphasizing the remarkable nature of His activities and the power of word-of-mouth in the ancient world.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, Galilee was a region in the northern part of ancient Israel.

It was a diverse area with a mixture of Jews and Gentiles, with a variety of religious and cultural backgrounds.

Communication in ancient societies was predominantly oral.

The mention of Jesus' fame spreading "abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee" suggests that people were deeply affected by His actions and teachings and spoke of them to others, facilitating a rapid spread of His reputation.

Theological Insights

This verse offers theological insights into the divine authority of Jesus and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies regarding the coming Messiah.

His ability to teach with authority and perform miracles was seen as evidence of His special relationship with God.

The spread of His fame can be interpreted as a fulfillment of God's plan to reveal Jesus to the people of Israel and, ultimately, to the entire world.

From a theological perspective, this verse may also speak to the nature of witness and testimony as important elements of faith. The spreading of Jesus' fame can be seen as an early form of evangelism or bear witness to God's work in the world.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of Mark 1:28 involve the understanding of the power of personal testimony and the impact individuals can have when sharing about transformative experiences.

The verse encourages believers to share the impact of their faith with others and recognize that the way they live their lives can serve as a testimony to the difference their faith makes.

Cross-References

Mark 1:37 - "And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee."
Luke 4:14 - "And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about."
Luke 4:37 - "And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about."
Matthew 4:23-24 - "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

And his fame went throughout all Syria..."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word translated as "fame" is ἀκοὴ (akoē), which can mean "hearing," "report," or "fame." This reflects the auditory culture of the time, where news would be spread by hearing from person to person.

The word for "spread abroad" is ἐξήλθεν (exēlthen), which can mean "went out," "came out," or "spread." This imparts a sense of movement and propagation of Jesus' reputation across the region.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, the concept of an individual's reputation or fame spreading quickly due to their remarkable actions is common.

In the context of religious interpretations, the spread of Jesus' fame can be compared to other traditions where the works of prophets or holy figures were quickly disseminated among the populace, often foreshadowing their significance in the faith's history.

Scientific Perspectives

From a modern scientific standpoint, the spread of information can be analyzed in the context of social dynamics and communication models.

While ancient societies did not have the technology-driven communication platforms of today, the oral transmission of news and information was highly effective in tightly knit communities.

The retelling of Jesus' miracles and teachings would have followed natural patterns of social interactions and network theory.

commentaries

Biblical commentaries offer insight into Mark 1:28, often focusing on the nature of Jesus' authority and the public's reaction to it.

Matthew Henry's Commentary emphasizes the power of Christ's miracles in moving the people's hearts and minds.

The Expositor's Greek Testament discusses the societal impact that Jesus' actions had, noting how quickly word of His deeds would spread in small provincial areas.

Other commentaries, like those by John Calvin, delve into the prophetic fulfillment evident in the widespread news of Jesus' works.

These experts contribute a diverse set of perspectives, examining this verse through theological, historical, and social lenses.

Mark 1

Mark 1

What does Mark 1:28 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 1:28 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?