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 1:29 mean?

Explanation

Mark 1:29 speaks of Jesus Christ and His disciples leaving a synagogue and entering the home of Simon (also known as Peter) and Andrew.

This follows after Jesus taught in the synagogue and healed a man with an unclean spirit.

The passage mentions that Simon and Andrew lived with James and John, indicating a close relationship between these pairs of brothers, who were among the first disciples called by Jesus.

The verse sets the stage for the following verses where the healing of Simon's mother-in-law and other miracles take place.

The deeper meaning of this verse may reflect the immediacy with which Jesus begins His ministry of teaching and healing after calling His first disciples.

It shows that the good news and the healing power of Jesus are not confined to the religious setting of the synagogue but are also present in the ordinary settings of homes and daily life.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The verse is set in Capernaum, a fishing village on the Sea of Galilee, during the early first century.

This was the period during which Jesus began His public ministry, following His baptism by John the Baptist and the temptation in the wilderness.

Capernaum became the center of Jesus' activities in Galilee and is mentioned frequently in the Gospel accounts.

The cultural and historical context of the first century included the Jewish customs and the political occupation of Judea by the Roman Empire.

Theological Insights

Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant theologians may emphasize different aspects of this verse:

Roman Catholic: May highlight the role of Peter (Simon) in this verse as significant, given their doctrine of Petrine primacy, which regards Peter as the first Pope.

Thus, Jesus entering Peter's house may symbolize the Church.

Eastern Orthodox: May focus on the personal transformation of the disciples as they follow Jesus and invite Him into their homes, symbolizing the invitation to let Christ enter one's life.
Protestant: May emphasize the aspect of the immediate response of the disciples to Jesus' call, reflecting the importance of immediate obedience and faith in action.

Practical Applications

This verse illustrates the importance of hospitality, fellowship, and sharing one's life with Jesus and His followers. Inviting Jesus into our homes metaphorically speaks to making Him central in our personal and family lives.

Additionally, it underscores the notion that one's faith should not be limited to places of worship but should extend into our daily living spaces and routines.

Cross-References

Matthew 8:14-15: "And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them."

Luke 4:38-39: "And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house.

And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.

And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them."

Acts 10:9-10: "On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour..."

Language Study

In the original Greek language, the phrase "they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew" is "εἰσῆλθον εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν Σίμωνος καὶ Ἀνδρέου." "εἰσῆλθον" is a form of "εἰσέρχομαι," meaning "to enter" and carries with it a sense of immediacy and purpose. "οἰκίαν" translates to "house" or "home," implying a private, familial space as opposed to a public one like "synagogue" (συναγωγή) mentioned earlier.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Similar to other ancient religious traditions, the practice of hospitality, or inviting teachers of religious wisdom into one's home, was central to Middle Eastern culture.

This act can be compared to the Greek tradition of xenia, or hospitality, where guests could be seen as divine messengers and were to be treated with great respect.

Scientific Perspectives

Modern psychological research on the effects of social interactions and environments could be said to intersect with this verse. Inviting meaningful figures into one’s personal space could contribute to enhanced well-being and stress relief.

While not directly addressing the miraculous elements of the narrative, science does acknowledge the profound impacts that faith and community have on human health.

commentaries

John Calvin comments that this passage exemplifies Christ's virtues, He does not remain idle after performing one miracle but continues on to perform another, showing dedication to His ministry.
Matthew Henry notes the significance of Jesus entering a house where sickness resided, implying that Christ is welcome not only in the hearts of those who are well but also of those who are spiritually or physically ill.
William Barclay often emphasizes the simplicity of Jesus' actions and how His miracles were woven into daily life, underscoring the immediacy and intimacy of His ministry.

Mark 1

Mark 1

What does Mark 1:29 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 1:29 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?