THE

GOSPEL

ACCORDING TO

SAINT MARK.

CHAP. I.

2

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, who shall prepare thy way 3 before thee; the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, 4 make his paths straight. John did baptize in

the wilderness, and preach the baptism of re5 pentance, for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him at the river of Jordan, confessing 6 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 7 honey And preached, saying, There cometh

one after me mightier than I,* the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down 8 and unloose. I indeed baptized you with but he shall baptize you with the

water

*There cometh one after me greater than I-referring to Christ, for whose appearance he came preaching repentance.

9 Holy Spirit.

And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.† 10 And immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like. 11 a dove descending upon him. And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 12 And immediately the Spirit led him into 13 solitary places.§ And he was there in the wilderness forty day's tempted of Satan and was with the wild beasts; and the angels 14 ministered unto him. Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee preach15 ing 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 16 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

The disciples of Christ were baptized with the Holy Spirit by effusion, or pouring it out upon them. The water baptism was probably by pouring also; otherwise it would not resemble the baptism of the Spirit.

† John was six months older than Christ, and probably began his ministry only a few months before our Lord.

The same word which is translated Ghost, in 8th verse, and it ought always to be rendered Spirii.

§ This account is more concise than that given by Matthew, but substantially the same.

Or preaching the good tidings of the reign of God. The reign of God is about to commence. It is worthy remark, that the Jews at that period were expecting the Messiah. Their prophecies pointed to that time for his coming.

17 were fishermen.

And Jesus said unto them,

Come after me, and I will make you to become 18 fishers of men. And straightway they forsook 19 their nets, and followed him.* And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. 20 And immediately he called them and they left their father Zebedee in the ship, with the 21 hired servants, and went after him. And

they went into Capernaum; and immediately on the sabbath-day he entered into the synago22 gue, and taught. And they were astonished

at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And there was in their synagogue a man with 24 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 25 Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out 26 of him. And when the unclean spirit had

They had probably heard John's declaration concerning Christ. Besides, there was a general expectation at that time of the coming of the Messiah.

† We are not to consider the apostles as of the lowest of the people. They were of the common rank, but not learued, or belonging to powerful families.

Y

It will be remembered, the Jews assembled in their synagogues every sabbath to worship, and hear the law of Moses read and explained.

The Jews despised and hated the people of Galilee; and had a tradition, that the Messiah, when he should appear would destroy them, alluded to here probably.

torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came 27 out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned one another, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they 28 obey him. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about 29 Galilee. As soon as they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and 30 John. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever; and immediately they tell him of her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand, and

lifted her up and immediately the fever left 32 her, and she ministered unto them. And at

evening, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all who were diseased, and them 33 who were possessed with devils. And all the 34 city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew 35 him. And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out and departed 36 into a solitary, place and there prayed. And Simon, and they that were with him, followed 37 after him. And when they had found him, 38 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 there39 fore came I forth. And he preached in their

* Or had thrown him into convulsions.

synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast 40 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 41 make me clean. And Jesus moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 42 And immediately the leprosy departed from 43 him, and he was cured. And he strictly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; 44 and saith unto him, see thou say nothing to any man but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for the cleansing those things which Moses commanded for a testi45 mony 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.

CHAP. II.

1

AND again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised* that he 2 was in the house. And immediately many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no not even about the door: and he preached, the word 3 unto them. And they come unto him, bring

ing one sick of the palsy, who was borne of 4 four. And when they could not come nigh

*It was reported or said.