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 1:39 mean?

Explanation

The verse Mark 1:39, "And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils," refers to the early ministry of Jesus Christ as depicted in the Gospel of Mark.

This sentence succinctly summarizes a significant aspect of Jesus' work during that period, teaching in the Jewish synagogues and performing exorcisms.

The literal meaning is clear: Jesus went around the region of Galilee, speaking in places of Jewish worship and driving out evil spirits from those who were possessed.

Deeper meanings can be discerned from the activities Jesus chose to engage in.

Preaching in synagogues indicates that he was addressing the religious community directly and presenting his message within the context of established Jewish faith.

The act of casting out devils (i.e., performing exorcisms) demonstrates Jesus' authority over evil and the spiritual realm, as well as his concern for the physical and spiritual well-being of individuals.

This dual aspect of his ministry, teaching and healing, underscores the holistic approach Jesus had towards salvation and restoration.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

During the time of Jesus, Galilee was a region with a mixed population of Jews and Gentiles.

Synagogues were central to community life, serving not only as places of worship but also as centers for education and legal discussions.

Galilee itself was known for its diverse religious and philosophical interactions, thanks to the trade routes that passed through it.

In this context, Jesus’ ministry began after his baptism by John the Baptist and his temptation in the wilderness, with this verse encapsulating the start of his public work.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, preaching in synagogues fulfills Old Testament prophecies about a Messiah who would teach and provide guidance to the people of Israel.

The exorcisms are significant as they manifest the kingdom of God over the powers of darkness, signaling the inauguration of a new era.

Some theologians also view Jesus' casting out of demons as evidence of the ultimate victory over sin and death that would be accomplished through his crucifixion and resurrection.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of this verse can be multifaceted.

For Christians, it highlights the importance of teaching the Gospel and engaging with the religious community.

It also underscores the call to confront evil in the world, whether that be spiritual, social, or moral, with the authority that believers have through faith in Christ.

Additionally, the balance of word (preaching) and deed (healing) in Jesus' ministry serves as a model for holistic service in helping others.

Cross-References

Luke 4:14-15: "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.

And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all."

Matthew 4:23: "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."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the term for casting out is "ἐκβάλλω" (ekballo), which can mean "to drive out" or "expel." This is a strong term that denotes authority and force.

The word for devils is "δαιμόνια" (daimonia), which often refers to evil spirits or demons. The use of these words implies an active confrontation with and victory over malevolent forces.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient religions, exorcisms were also performed but often involved elaborate rituals and incantations.

In contrast, Jesus’s exorcisms as described in the New Testament are marked by a simple command displaying his authority. The Jewish culture of the time also had beliefs in spirits and the demonic, yet Jesus’ power over them was unparalleled and would have stood out as unique.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives typically do not corroborate the existence of demonic entities or the concept of possession as represented in ancient texts.

The modern understanding of mental and neurological disorders has led to naturalistic explanations for what might have been regarded as possession in ancient times.

However, science does recognize the influence of belief and faith on an individual’s mental and physical well-being.

Commentaries

John Calvin: Focused on the obedience of Christ to God's calling, preaching where he had been sent.
Matthew Henry: Stressed both Jesus' preaching and his healings as part of his divine mission.
William Barclay: Highlighted the importance of Jesus' authority in his exorcisms and how he differed from contemporary religious teachers.
N.T.

Wright: Suggests that Jesus' actions were both symbols of the overthrow of evil and foretastes of the kingdom of God.

France: Emphasizes the structure of Mark’s Gospel and how this summary statement characterizes the early Galilean ministry of Jesus.

Mark 1

Mark 1

What does Mark 1:39 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 1:39 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?