Marcos 1

¹ The beginning of the Gospel of Iesus Christ, the Sonne of God:

² John goes before Christ as it was foretold by the prophets.As it is written in theThis is the figure of speech called metonymy, by which is meant the books of the prophets Malachi and Isaiah.prophets, Behold,The prophet uses the present tense when he speaks of a thing to come, as he is as sure of it as if he had already seen it.I send my messengerA metaphor taken from the practice of kings, who used to have ushers go before them.before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

³ The voyce of him that cryeth in the wildernesse is, Prepare the way of the Lord: make his paths straight.

⁴ The sum of John's doctrine, or rather Christ's, is remission of sins and amendment of life.John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach theThe Jews used many kinds of washings: but here a peculiar kind of washing is spoken of, which contains within it true baptism, amendment of life, and forgiveness of sins.baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

⁵ And al ye countrey of Iudea, & they of Hierusalem went out vnto him, and were all baptized of him in the riuer Iordan, confessing their sinnes.

⁶ Nowe Iohn was clothed with camels heare, and with a girdle of a skinne about his loynes: and he did eate Locusts and wilde hony,

⁷ John and all ministers cast their eyes upon Christ the Lord.And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy toThe evangelist is expressing here the condition of the basest servant.stoop down and unloose.

⁸ I indeed haveHe shows that all the power of baptism proceeds from Christ, who baptizes the inner man.baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

⁹ Christ consecrates our baptism in himself.And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

¹⁰ The vocation of Christ from heaven, as head of the Church.And straightwayJohn, who went down into the water with Christ.coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

¹¹ And there came a voice from heaven, [saying], Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am{{See Mat_3:17}}well pleased.

¹² Christ being tempted overcomes.And immediately the Spirit«Driveth» here does not refer to something violent and forcible: but the divine power clothes Christ (who had lived until this time as a private man) with a new person, and prepares him for the battle that was at hand, and for his ministry.driveth him into the wilderness.

¹³ And he was there in the wildernesse fourtie daies, and was tempted of Satan: hee was also with the wilde beastes, and the Angels ministred vnto him.

¹⁴ After John is taken Christ shows himself more fully.Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

¹⁵ And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdome of God is at hand: repent and beleeue the Gospel.

¹⁶ The calling of Simon and Andrew.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.

¹⁷ Then Iesus said vnto them, Folow me, and I will make you to be fishers of men.

¹⁸ And straightway they forsooke their nets, and folowed him.

¹⁹ The calling of James and John.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.

²⁰ And anon hee called them: and they left their father Zebedeus in the shippe with his hired seruants, and went their way after him.

²¹ And they went intoFrom the city of Nazareth.Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

²² And they were astonied at his doctrine, for he taught them as one that had authoritie, and not as the Scribes.

²³ He preaches that doctrine by which alone Satan is driven out of the world, which he also confirms by a miracle.And there was in their synagogue a manLiterally, «a man in an unclean spirit», that is to say, possessed with an evil spirit.with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

²⁴ Saying, Let [us] alone; what have we to do with thee, thouHe was born in Bethlehem, but through the error of the people he was called a Nazarene, because he was brought up in Nazareth.Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, theHe alludes to the name that was written in the golden plate which the high Priest wore; (Exo_28:36)Holy One of God.

²⁵ And Iesus rebuked him, saying, Holde thy peace, and come out of him.

²⁶ And when the unclean spiritSee below, (Mar_9:20).had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

²⁷ And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questionedAs men who were amazed.among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine [is] this? for with authorityBy his own authority, or as a lord.commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

²⁸ And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the regionNot only into Galilee, but also into the countries bordering upon it.round about Galilee.

²⁹ By healing different diseases he shows that he has brought true life into the world.And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

³⁰ And Symons wiues mother lay sicke of a feuer, and anon they told him of her.

³¹ And he came and tooke her by the hand, and lifted her vp, and the feuer forsooke her by and by, and shee ministred vnto them.

³² And whe euen was come, at what time the sunne setteth, they brought to him all that were diseased, & them that were possessed with deuils.

³³ And the whole citie was gathered together at the doore.

³⁴ And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; andFor it is not proper for the demons to preach the gospel; (Act_16:18)suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

³⁵ And in the morning very early before day, Iesus arose & went out into a solitarie place, and there praied.

³⁶ And Simon, and they that were with him, followed carefully after him.

³⁷ And when they had found him, they sayde vnto him, All men seeke for thee.

³⁸ And he said unto them, Let us go into theVillages which were like cities.next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

³⁹ And hee preached in their Synagogues, throughout all Galile, and cast the deuils out.

⁴⁰ By healing the leprous he shows that he came for this reason: to wipe out the sins of the world with his touch.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.

⁴¹ And Iesus had compassion, and put foorth his hand, and touched him, and said to him, I wil: be thou cleane.

⁴² And assone as he had spoken, immediatly ye leprosie departed fro him, & he was made cleane.

⁴³ And after he had giue him a streight commandement, he sent him away forthwith,

⁴⁴ He shows that he was not motivated by ambition, but only by the desire for his Father's glory, and by his love towards poor sinners.And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to theAll the posterity of Aaron had the authority to judge a leper.priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

⁴⁵ But when he was departed, hee began to tel many things, and to publish the matter: so that Iesus could no more openly enter into the citie, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from euery quarter.