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Mark 1

1The beginning of the good news of Jesus the Messiah.

2As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way. 3A voice crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’”

4John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6John wore camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7He proclaimed, “After me comes one stronger than I am. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. 8I baptized you with water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”

9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. 10And immediately, as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove into him. 11And a voice came from the heavens: “You are my beloved Son; in you I take delight.”

12And immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness. 13He was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels served him.

14After John was handed over, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent and believe in the good news.”

16As he passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Simon's brother Andrew casting a net in the sea, for they were fishermen. 17Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you become fishers of people.” 18Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19Going a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John, also in a boat, putting their nets in order. 20Immediately he called them. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired workers and went after him.

21They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he taught in the synagogue. 22They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23And immediately there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, 24“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God!” 25Jesus rebuked him: “Be muzzled, and come out of him!” 26The unclean spirit convulsed him and, crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27They were all amazed and debated with one another: “What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!” 28Immediately the report about him spread everywhere throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

29Immediately they left the synagogue and went into Simon and Andrew's house with James and John. 30Simon's mother-in-law was lying down with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31He came to her, took her hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she served them.

32When evening came, after the sun had set, they brought him all who were ill and those afflicted by demons. 33The whole town was gathered at the door. 34He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. He would not let the demons speak, because they knew him.

35Very early, while it was still quite dark, he got up, went out, and departed to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36Simon and those with him hunted him down. 37They found him and said, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38He said to them, “Let us go elsewhere, to the nearby towns, so that I may proclaim there too; that is why I came out.” 39He went throughout Galilee, proclaiming in their synagogues and driving out demons.

40A man with a defiling skin disease came to him, begging him and kneeling: “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” 41Moved with anger, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I am willing. Be made clean.” 42Immediately the skin disease left him, and he was made clean. 43Jesus sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, 44saying, “See that you say nothing to anyone. Instead, go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 45But the man went out and began proclaiming it widely and spreading the report, so that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly. He stayed outside in deserted places, and people came to him from everywhere.

Translation notes 7

1:1 — Opening and “Son of God.” “Good news” is the word traditionally rendered “gospel”; “Messiah” expresses the title commonly transliterated “Christ.” Many witnesses add “Son of God,” a reading with strong support. This draft follows the shorter opening of its provisional Greek base, SBLGNT. The omission is a disputed textual judgment, not a denial of the title used elsewhere in Mark.

1:2–3 — Isaiah. The quotation combines wording associated with Exodus 23:20 and Malachi 3:1 with Isaiah 40:3. “Isaiah the prophet” is retained rather than corrected to “the prophets,” which occurs in another textual reading.

1:8, 10 — Spirit and water. At verse 8, “with water” and “in the Holy Spirit” could also be rendered “in water” and “with the Holy Spirit.” At verse 10, “into him” preserves the direction expressed by eis; “upon him” is also defensible in this context and much more familiar. The wording does not by itself establish when Jesus became God's Son. “Torn apart” is the same verb used of the sanctuary curtain at 15:38.

1:25; 4:39 — “Be muzzled.” The Greek verb can mean muzzle or silence. The translation retains its forceful image; the command means “Be silent!” It does not describe fitting a physical muzzle.

1:36 — “Hunted him down.” The verb describes an intensive pursuit or search. It need not imply hostile intentions here.

1:40–44; 14:3 — Skin disease. The traditional “leper” represents an ancient category of defiling skin disease, not a precise identification with modern Hansen's disease. “Clean” and “cleansing” retain the ritual dimension. At 14:3 the term is retained in Simon's identifying designation; the passage does not describe his current medical condition.

1:41 — “Moved with anger.” Most Greek witnesses read “moved with compassion,” followed by many translations and by NA28. SBLGNT instead reads “moved with anger,” attested by a small group of witnesses. This draft follows its base provisionally; compassion remains a strong alternative. If anger is read, its target is not stated. We should not add “at the disease” or “at the man.”