Mark 1 Berean Standard Bible
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
1 The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way.”
2 As it is written in the prophets, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you:
3 “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight!’”
4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.
5 People went out to him from all of Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
5 All the country of Judea and all those of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins.
6 John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
6 John was clothed with camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist. He ate locusts and wild honey.
7 And he began to proclaim: “After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
7 He preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and loosen.
8 I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
8 I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
9 In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.
10 Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
11 A voice came out of the sky, “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
12 At once the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness,
12 Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness.
13 and He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to Him.
13 He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals; and the angels were serving him.
14 After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.
14 Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom,
15 “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”
15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”
16 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
16 Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.
17 “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”
17 Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men.”
18 And at once they left their nets and followed Him.
18 Immediately they left their nets, and followed him.
19 Going on a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat, mending their nets.
19 Going on a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets.
20 Immediately Jesus called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.
20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.
21 Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach.
21 They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught.
22 The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
22 They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.
23 Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue:
23 Immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,
24 “What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
24 saying, “Ha! What do we have to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God!”
25 But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!”
25 Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”
26 At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out with a loud shriek.
26 The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.
27 All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!”
27 They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What can this new doctrine be? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!”
28 And the news about Jesus spread quickly through the whole region of Galilee.
28 The report of him went out immediately into all the region of Galilee and its surrounding area.
29 As soon as Jesus and His companions had left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.
29 Immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
30 Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever, and they promptly told Jesus about her.
30 Now Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about her.
31 So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.
31 He came and took her by the hand and raised her up. The fever left her immediately, and she served them.
32 That evening, after sunset, people brought to Jesus all who were sick and demon-possessed,
32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by demons.
33 and the whole town gathered at the door.
33 All the city was gathered together at the door.
34 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.
34 He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons. He didn’t allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.
35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray.
35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there.
36 Simon and his companions went to look for Him,
36 Simon and those who were with him searched for him.
37 and when they found Him, they said, “Everyone is looking for You!”
37 They found him and told him, “Everyone is looking for you.”
38 But Jesus answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns so I can preach there as well, for that is why I have come.”
38 He said to them, “Let’s go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because I came out for this reason.”
39 So He went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
39 He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.
40 Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
40 A leper came to him, begging him, kneeling down to him, and saying to him, “If you want to, you can make me clean.”
41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!”
41 Being moved with compassion, he stretched out his hand, and touched him, and said to him, “I want to. Be made clean.”
42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed.
42 When he had said this, immediately the leprosy departed from him and he was made clean.
43 Jesus promptly sent him away with a stern warning:
43 He strictly warned him and immediately sent him out,
44 “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.”
45 But the man went out and openly began to proclaim and spread the news. Consequently, Jesus could no longer enter a town in plain view, but He stayed out in solitary places. Yet people came to Him from every quarter.
45 But he went out, and began to proclaim it much, and to spread about the matter, so that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but was outside in desert places. People came to him from everywhere.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Zebedee
A fisherman in whose boat his sons James and John were mending nets when Jesus called them; they left him in the boat with the hired men.
Cited in the guide: Matthew 4:21; Matthew 20:20; Mark 1:20
Cross references (44)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 1 John 5:11–12; Matthew 4:3; Matthew 3:17; John 20:31; Matthew 17:5
- 2 Malachi 3:1; Luke 1:76; Matthew 11:10; Matthew 3:1–11; Luke 1:15–17
- 3 Isaiah 40:3–5; Matthew 3:3; Luke 3:4–6; John 3:28–36; John 1:15
- 4 Acts 19:3–4; Matthew 3:6; Acts 13:24–25; John 3:23; Matthew 3:1–2
- 5 Leviticus 26:40–42; Acts 19:18; Matthew 3:5–6; Acts 2:38; Matthew 4:25
- 6 2 Kings 1:8; Leviticus 11:22; Zechariah 13:4; Matthew 3:4
- 7 Acts 13:25; Luke 3:16; John 1:27; Matthew 3:11; Luke 7:6–7
- 8 Acts 1:5; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 19:4–6; Acts 2:4; Acts 10:45
- 9 Matthew 3:13–17; Matthew 2:23; Luke 3:21–22
- 10 John 1:31–34; Luke 3:22; Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 64:1; Matthew 3:16
- 11 Isaiah 42:1; Mark 9:7; Matthew 3:17; Psalm 2:7; Colossians 1:13
- 12 Matthew 4:1–11; Luke 4:1–13
- 13 Hebrews 2:17–18; Hebrews 4:15; Exodus 34:28; Matthew 26:53; 1 Kings 19:5–8
- 14 Matthew 4:23; Matthew 4:12; Luke 8:1; Matthew 9:35; Ephesians 2:17
- 15 Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17; Acts 2:36–38; Acts 20:21; Ephesians 1:10
- 16 Matthew 4:18–22; John 1:40–42; John 6:8; Luke 6:14; Mark 3:16
- 17 Luke 5:10; Matthew 4:19–20; Acts 2:38–41; Ezekiel 47:10
- 18 Luke 18:28–30; Philippians 3:8; Luke 14:33; Matthew 19:27–30; Mark 10:28–31
- 19 Matthew 4:21; Acts 1:13; Mark 9:2; Acts 12:2; Mark 10:35
- 20 Luke 14:26; Mark 10:29; Matthew 10:37; Matthew 8:21–22; 2 Corinthians 5:16
- 21 Mark 6:2; Mark 1:39; Matthew 4:23; Acts 13:14–52; Acts 17:2
- 22 Matthew 7:28–29; Matthew 13:54; Luke 4:32; John 7:46; Luke 21:15
- 23 Mark 9:25; Mark 1:34; Mark 5:2; Matthew 12:43; Mark 7:25
- 24 James 2:19; Matthew 8:29; Luke 4:34; Acts 3:14; Revelation 3:7
- 25 Mark 1:34; Mark 3:11–12; Luke 4:41; Acts 16:17; Mark 9:25
- 26 Mark 9:26; Mark 9:20; Luke 11:22; Luke 9:39; Luke 9:42
- 27 Mark 7:37; Luke 9:1; Matthew 15:31; Matthew 9:33; Luke 4:36
- 28 Matthew 9:31; Luke 4:37; Micah 5:4; Matthew 4:24; Mark 1:45
- 29 Matthew 8:14–15; Luke 4:38–39; Mark 1:21; Luke 9:58; Mark 1:23
- 30 1 Corinthians 9:5; John 11:3; Mark 5:23; James 5:14–15
- 31 Acts 9:41; Psalm 103:1–3; Psalm 116:12; Luke 8:2–3; Mark 5:41
- 32 Matthew 8:16; Luke 4:40; Matthew 4:24; Mark 3:2; Mark 1:21
- 33 Mark 1:5; Acts 13:44
- 34 Luke 4:41; Mark 3:12; Acts 16:16–18; Matthew 4:23; Mark 1:25
- 35 Luke 6:12; Luke 5:16; Luke 22:39–46; Ephesians 6:18; Psalm 5:3
- 37 John 12:19; Zechariah 11:11; John 3:26; Mark 1:5; John 11:48
- 38 Luke 4:43; Isaiah 61:1–3; John 17:8; John 17:4; Luke 4:18–21
- 39 Matthew 4:23; Mark 1:21; Luke 4:41; Luke 4:43–44; Mark 7:30
- 40 Luke 5:12–14; Matthew 8:2–4; Leviticus 13:1–14; 2 Samuel 3:29; Matthew 17:14
- 41 Matthew 9:36; Hebrews 4:15; Luke 7:12–13; Mark 5:41; Hebrews 2:17
- 42 John 15:3; Matthew 15:28; Psalm 33:9; John 4:50–53; Mark 1:31
- 43 Matthew 9:30; Mark 3:12; Mark 7:36; Luke 8:56; Mark 5:43
- 44 Leviticus 14:1–32; Matthew 8:4; Luke 17:14; 1 Corinthians 10:11; Romans 15:4
- 45 Matthew 9:31; Mark 2:13; Psalm 77:11; John 6:2; Luke 5:15–17
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… Mark, the interpreter and follower of Peter, does thus commence his Gospel narrative: "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. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, …
The devils themselves knew this manifestation of God so well, that they said to the Lord though clothed with the infirmity of flesh, "What have we to do with Thee, Jesus of Nazareth? Art Thou come to destroy us before the time?" From these words, it is clear that they had great knowledge, and no charity.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
Having then found Him in the wilderness, and in a pathless wilderness (for that the wilderness was such, Mark hath declared, saying, that He "was with the wild beasts" ), behold with how much craft he draws near, and wickedness; and for what sort of opportunity he watches.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
For it saith, The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, &c.: John came baptising in the wilderness.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 7 (1894)
Wherefore Mark also says: "The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; as it is written in the prophets." Knowing one and the same Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was announced by the prophets, who from the fruit of David's body was Emmanuel, "the messenger of great counsel of the Father;" through whom God caused …