Mark 1

The preaching of the gospel beginneth with the ministry of John who preacheth and baptized in the wilderness, being much followed 1.Christ is baptized by him and witnessed from heaven to be the beloved Son of God 9. is tempted in the wilderness 12.preacheth in Galilee 14.and calleth Simon and Andrew 16. As also James and John 19. teacheth his Capernaum 21. casteth out an unclean spirit 23.healeth Peters mother-in-law of fever 29 and all manner of sick and possessed persons 32. Departs into a solitary place to pray 35. goeth from thence to preach in the next cities 38. cleanseth a Leper whom he commands to hold his peace and to shew himself to the priest 40.

1. The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the son of God [Mark begins his gospel where Malachi endeth his prophecy namely for the coming of Jesus Christ forerunner so as it were to conjoin the old and the new testament to one another for all the prophets prophesied until John Matthew 11:13 who was the first preacher of the gospel in the new testament.]

2. As is written in the prophets [Namely Malachi 3:1 and Esa 40.3 for both these prophets are here joined together.] behold I send mine Angels [or messenger for the Greek word Angelos signified a messenger Luke 7 verse 24 and is commonly ascribed to the Angels of Heaven. But sometimes also to the ministers of the church because they are sent forth from God as messengers to hold forth Gods will and commandment unto man Malachi 2verse 7 Revelations 2.1.8] before thy face which shall prepare thy way before thee [here God the father speaks to his son and in Malachi the son himself speak to the church and therefore faith before my face that is before my coming which shall presently follow thereupon.]

3. The voice of the one crying in the wilderness prepares ye the way of the Lord make his paths straight or plain.]

4. John was baptized in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins were forgiven them by God for Christ sake Acts 19:4 Romans 4:11.

5. And all the land of Judea went out to him and those of Jerusalem and were all baptized of him in the river Jordan confessing their sins.

6. And John was clothed with camels hair [the exposition of his history of John see the annotate on the third chapter of Matthew were it is related almost in the same words] and with leathern girdle about his lions and did his grasshoppers and wild honey .[That is which is found in he wild woods or fields]

7. And he preached saying after me there cometh he that is stronger then I for whom I am not worthy [Gr fit or sufficient] stooping down to unloose the latchet of his shoes.

8. I indeed have baptized with water but he shall baptize ye with the holy ghost.

9. And it came to pass those days that Jesus came from Nazareth situate in Galilee [namely where he was brought up and had dwelt until that time see Luke 2.51and 4.16] and was baptized of John in the Jordan.

10. And straightway as he came up out of the water he [namely John the Baptist] saw the heavens open [Gr rent or cloven] and the spirit like a dove descended upon him [namely upon Jesus see John 1:32,3.]

11. And there happened a voice out of the heavens thou art my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.

12. And immediately the Spirit [namely the Holy Ghost. See Luke 4:7.] drive him out into the wilderness.

13. And he was there in the wilderness forty days tempted of Satan [especially after that he had fasted forty days and forty nights see Matthew 4:2] and was with the wild beasts and the Angels saved him.

14. And after that John was delivered over [namely into prison whereof see more largely Matthew 14:3] Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of God [although he had begun to preach before John 3:4 yet after John s imprisonment he entered solemnly and perfectly upon his office of preaching attended with his apostle .]

15. And saying the time is fulfilled [namely which was determined by God and foretold by prophets Galatians 4:4] the kingdom of God come nigh repent ye and believe in the gospel.

16. And walking by the sea of Galilee he saw Simon [whom by Christ was surnamed Peter see Matthew4.18] and Andrew his brother casting their net into the sea for they were fishers.

17. And Jesus said unto them follow after me and I shall make ye fishers of men [the preaching of gospel is compared to fishing Matthew 13:47 seeing men are thereby drawn out of the world and brought to Christ.]

18. And they straightway forsaking their nets followed him.

19. And being gone a little further from then he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother and the same in the ship mending their nets .

20. And straightway he called them and they leaving their father Zebedee in the ship with the hirelings followed after him.

21. And they came into Carpanaum [where he wasto dwell since he departed from Nazareth Matthew 4:13] and straightway on the Sabbath day [Gr Sabbaths] being entered into the synagogue he taught.

22. And they were astonished for his doctrine for he taught them as having power [see Matthew 7:29] and not as the scribes.

23. And there was in the synagogue a man with an unclean spirit and he cried out.

24. Saying forebear [or O! Ah!] what have we to do with thee thou Jesus the Nazarite? art thou come to destroy us? [Namely before the time see Matthew 8:29]I know thee who thou art namely the holy one of God [or thou holy one of God that is the true Messias for the high priest bare this title the boltness of the Lord on his forehead as a type of Christ see Exodus 28.36see also Luke 4:34]

25. Jesus rebuked saying hold thy peace [Gr. be thou muzzled see this word Matthew 22:12 this Christ faith because he would not have the truth spread abroad or confirmed by the testimony of the devil who is the father of lies as Paul also doth Acts 16:18]and go out of him .

26. And the unclean spirit tearing him [that is drawing and throwing him thither as if he would tear him in pieces and yet not being able to hurt him see Luke 4:35] and crying with a great voice went forth out of him.

27. They were all amazed so that they inquired one amongst another saying what is this? what new doctrine is this that with power be likewise commandeth the unclean spirit and they are obedient unto him ?

28. And his fame [that is the fame of him] went forth present that is into the whole land of Galilee lying round about.

29. And straightway being gone out of the synagogue they came into the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.

30. And Simons wives mother [so then had a wife whom being become an apostle he did not forsake as appears here and 1 Corinthian 9.5] lay sick of the fever and by and by they told him of her.

31. And going to her he took her by the hand and set her up and straightway the fever left her and she ministered unto them

32. Now when it was become evening when the sun went down [because it was on the Sabbath as appears out of verse 21 therefore they waited till the going down of the sun with which the Sabbath ended] they brought unto him all that were ill at ease and possessed of the devil.

33. And the whole city was gathered together about the door.

34. And he healed many which were ill of divers diseases and cast out of many devils to speak because they knew him [or suffered them not to say that they knew him namely because he would have no testimony from these lying spirits .]

35. And early in the morning while it was yet deep in the night being xisen he went out and went away into a waste place [or solitary place] and prayed there.

36. And Simon and they that were with him [namely the other three apostles which are named verse 29 with many more of the people as appears Luke 4:42] followed after him.

37. And having found him they said unto him they all seek thee.

38. And he said unto them let us go into the towns adjoining them [Gr. village cities that is open unwalled town of which sort they were many in Galilee whereof Josephus testified that in each of them they were no less than ten thousand persons] that I may preach there also for therefore came I forth.

39. And he preached in their synagogues throughout Galilee and cast out the devils

40. And there came leper beseeching him and falling on his knees before and saying unto him if thou wilt thou canst make me clean.

41. And Jesus being inwardly moved with compassion stretched forth his hand touched him and said unto him I will be thou cleansed.

42. And when he had said this immediately the leprosy departed from him mand he was cleansed.

43. And when he had straightly forbidden him [or with threatening sharply forbidden namely to make this known] he made him presently to depart from him [Gr. drove him out that is caused him to go speedily away from him.]

44. And said unto him see that thou and say nothing to any man [see the cause hereof Matthew 12:16] but go thy way shew thyself to the priest and cleanse thy that which Moses commanded for a testimony unto them.

45. But he being forth began to publish many things [namely both what was done to him and what he had heard and seen of Christ besides] and to spread abroad that word [that is this thing] so that he [namely Jesus see Luke 5 verse 15,16]could no more openly come into the city [namely of Capernaum as appears in the beginning of the following chapter namely because of the great concourse of people]but was without in desert places and they came to him from all quarters.