1 The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it has been written by the prophet Isaiah: “Behold, I send my Angel before your face, who shall prepare your way before you. 3 The voice of one crying out in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight his paths.” 4 John was in the desert, baptizing and preaching a baptism of repentance, as a remission of sins. 5 And there went out to him all the region of Judea and all those of Jerusalem, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 And John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist. And he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying: “One stronger than me comes after me. I am not worthy to reach down and loosen the laces of his shoes. 8 I have baptized you with water. Yet truly, he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 9 And it happened that, in those days, Jesus arrived from Nazareth of Galilee. And he was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And immediately, upon ascending from the water, he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit, like a dove, descending, and remaining with him. 11 And there was a voice from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased.” 12 And immediately the Spirit prompted him into the desert. 13 And he was in the desert for forty days and forty nights. And he was tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the Angels ministered to him. 14 Then, after John was handed over, Jesus went into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying: “For the time has been fulfilled and the kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent and believe in the Gospel.” 16 And passing by the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew, casting nets into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 18 And at once abandoning their nets, they followed him. 19 And continuing on a little ways from there, he saw James of Zebedee and his brother John, and they were mending their nets in a boat. 20 And immediately he called them. And leaving behind their father Zebedee in the boat with his hired hands, they followed him. 21 And they entered into Capernaum. And entering into the synagogue promptly on the Sabbaths, he taught them. 22 And they were astonished over his doctrine. For he was teaching them as one who has authority, and not like the scribes. 23 And in their synagogue, there was a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 saying: “What are we to you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.” 25 And Jesus admonished him, saying, “Be silent, and depart from the man.” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, departed from him. 27 And they were all so amazed that they inquired among themselves, saying: “What is this? And what is this new doctrine? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And his fame went out quickly, throughout the entire region of Galilee. 29 And soon after departing from the synagogue, they went into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But the mother-in-law of Simon lay ill with a fever. And at once they told him about her. 31 And drawing near to her, he raised her up, taking her by the hand. And immediately the fever left her, and she ministered to them. 32 Then, when evening arrived, after the sun had set, they brought to him all who had maladies and those who had demons. 33 And the entire city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were troubled with various illnesses. And he cast out many demons, but he would not permit them to speak, because they knew him. 35 And rising up very early, departing, he went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon, and those who were with him, followed after him. 37 And when they had found him, they said to him, “For everyone is seeking you.” 38 And he said to them: “Let us go into the neighboring towns and cities, so that I may preach there also. Indeed, it was for this reason that I came.” 39 And he was preaching in their synagogues and throughout all of Galilee, and casting out demons. 40 And a leper came to him, begging him. And kneeling down, he said to him, “If you are willing, you are able to cleanse me.” 41 Then Jesus, taking pity on him, reached out his hand. And touching him, he said to him: “I am willing. Be cleansed.” 42 And after he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. 43 And he admonished him, and he promptly sent him away. 44 And he said to him: “See to it that you tell no one. But go and show yourself to the high priest, and offer for your cleansing that which Moses instructed, as a testimony for them.” 45 But having departed, he began to preach and to disseminate the word, so that he was no longer able to openly enter a city, but had to remain outside, in deserted places. And they were gathered to him from every direction.
Mark · Catholic Public Domain Version
Mark 1 Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
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 …