Reference: Mark, The Gospel According To
Fausets
(See ACTS; BARNABAS; GOSPELS.) "John (his Hebrew name) whose surname was Mark" (his Roman name): Mr 12:12,25; 13/5/type/common'>13:5,13; 15:39; Col 4:10; 2Ti 4:11; Phm 1:24. The Roman supplanted the Jewish name, as Paul did Saul. The change marks his entrance on a new and worldwide ministry. The fathers unanimously testify that Mark was "interpreter" (hermeneutees, Papias in Eusebius, H. E. iii. 39; Irenaeus, Haer. iii. 1,10, sec. 6) to Peter; meaning one who expresses and clothes in words the testimony of another. Papias, or John Presbyter (in Eusebius, H. E. iii. 39), states that Mark wrote "not in order," i.e. he wrote "some" leading facts, not a complete history. He attests Mark's accuracy, saying "he committed no error," but made it his aim "to omit nought of what he heard and to state nothing untrue."
Peter's name and presence are mentioned on occasions where apparently there is no reason for it; Mark herein wished to bring the apostle forward as his authority (see Mr 1:36; 5:37; 11:20-26; 13:3). There are indications of the author having been a Galilean, which Peter was. Thus, Herod the tetrarch is styled "king"; the "lake' (as Lu 8:22 calls it, for he knew larger sects) is called "the sea of Galilee" (Mr 5:1). Only in Mr 6:30 the term of dignity, "apostle," is found; in Luke, as writing later, it frequently occurs. Things to their discredit are ingenuously stated by Matthew and Mark (Peter), as we might expect from apostles writing about themselves; but are sparingly introduced by Luke (Mt 16:9; Mr 7:18; 10:41; 14:31; 6:52; 9:10; 10:32, the last three not in Matthew).
The account of many things is marked by vivid touches suitable to an eye-witness only, which Peter was; e.g. Mr 6:39, "the green grass" in the feeding of the 5,000; "the pillow of the ship" (Mr 4:38); Mr 10:50, "casting away his garment"; Mr 11:4, "the colt tied by the door without in a place where two ways met." The details of the demon-possessed Gadarene: "no man could bind him, no not with chains, because he had often been bound, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces; neither could any man tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, crying, and cutting himself with stones," etc. (Mr 5:2-5); and also the wild cry of another reproduced, "Ea" ("Ha!" not as KJV, "let us alone"), Mr 1:24.
Jesus' looks, Mr 3:5, "He looked round about on them in anger" (Mr 3:34); Mr 8:33; 10:21-23, "Jesus beholding loved him," etc.; Mr 8:12, He sighed deeply in spirit ... why doth this generation seek after a sign?" Mr 1:41, "Jesus moved with compassion put forth His hand" touching the leper. All these minute touches, peculiar to him, show his Gospel is no epitome of the others but an independent witness, Mark tells Peter's humble origin (Mr 1:16-20), his connection with Capernaum (Mr 1:29), that Levi was son of Alphaeus (Mr 2:14), that Boanerges was the title given by Christ to James and John (Mr 3:17), that, the ruler of the synagogue was named Jairus (Mr 5:22), that Jesus was a "carpenter" (Mr 6:3), that the Canaanite woman was a Syrophoenician (Mr 7:26). Mark gives Dalmanutha for Magdala (Mr 8:10; Mt 15:39).
He names Bartimaeus (Mr 10:46), states that "Jesus would not suffer any to carry any vessel through the temple" (Mr 11:16), that Simon of Cyrene was father of Alexander and Rufus (Mr 15:21). Peter would be the probable source of these particulars of Mark's information. Jesus' rebuke of Peter is recorded, but His preeminent praise of him is omitted (Mr 8:32-33; compare Mt 16:18,23). The account of the thrice denial is full, but "bitterly" is omitted from his repentance (Mr 14:72). This is just what we might expect from an apostle writing about himself. The Roman character preponderates, abounding in facts rather than doctrines, and practical details told with straightforward, energetic, manly simplicity.
Of passages peculiar to Mark are Mr 3:20-21, Christ's friends' attempt on Him; Mr 4:26-29, parable of the seed growing secretly; Mr 7:31-37, healing the deaf mute; Mr 8:22-26, gradual cure of the blind; Mr 11:11; 14:51-52; 16:7, the special message to Peter after the resurrection, to cheer him in his despondency after the thrice denial. Only twice Mark quotes Old Testament himself (Mal 3:1; Isa 40:3), namely, Mr 1:2-3; but often introduces Christ and those addressing Him quoting it. The Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, and Alexandrinus manuscripts omit Mr 15:28, which is an interpolation from Lu 22:37. Mark alone has "the sabbath was made for man" (Mr 2:27), and the scribe's admission that love is better than sacrifices (Mr 12:33); all suited for Gentile readers, to whom Peter, notwithstanding subsequent vacillation, first opened the door (Acts 10).
He notices Jesus being "with the wild beasts" when tempted by Satan in the wilderness; contrast Adam tempted amidst the tame animals in Eden (Genesis 2; 3). Adam changed paradise into a wilderness, Jesus changes the wilderness into paradise. Other scenes to Peter's honor omitted are Lu 5:1-11, his walking on the sea (Mt 14:28-31), his commission to get, the tribute money from the fish (Mt 17:24-27), Jesus' special intercession for him (Lu 22:31-32), his being one of the two sent to prepare the Passover (Lu 22:8). Mark's explanations of Jewish customs and names (Jordan is called a "river"; the Pharisees' fasting and customs, Mr 1:5; 2:18; 7:1-4; the Sadducees' tenets, Mr 12:18; the Passover described, Mr 14:1,12) which Jews would not need, and the absence of appeals by himself to Old Testament prophecy, also of the genealogy and of the term nomos, the Mosaic "law," show he wrote for Gentiles not for Jews.
Accordingly he omits the offensive references to the Gentiles found in Mt 6:7-8; 10:5-6; compare Mr 6:7-11; so Luke writing for Gentiles (Lu 9:1-5). Moreover Mark (Mr 11:17) inserts what is not in Matthew or Luke, "My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer." He abounds in Latinisms, agreeably to the theory that he wrote for Romans, whose terms his and Peter's intimacy with them would dispose him to use: thus "centurion" for hekatontarchos elsewhere in New Testament, paidiothen = "a puero", kodrantes = "quadrans", denarion = "denarius", halas analon = "sal insulsum", "specoulator", "censos", "fragelloo" (flagello), xestes (sextarius), megistanes = "magnates", legeon = "legio". The explanation of a Greek term aulee by the Latin proetorium (Mr 15:16) could only be for Roman readers. Style. Unusual Greek expressions occur: exapina, epistentrechein, pistike, eneileo, efie, proelaben murisai, alalos, enangkalizesthai. Diminutives abound, thugatrion, korasion, otarion, kunaria.
He employs as the phrase most characteristic of his Gospel eutheoos, "straightway," "immediately," 41 times. His use of the present tense for the past gives vivid present reality to his pictures. He details minutely localities, times, and numbers. He introduces persons' speaking directly. He is often abrupt as he is graphic, e.g. Mark 1, where he hurries on to our Lord's: official life, which he sketches with lifelike energy. "While the sequence and connection of the longer discourses was that which the Holy Spirit peculiarly brought to Matthew's mind, the apostle from whom Mark's record is derived seems to have been deeply penetrated by the solemn iterations of cadence and expression, and to have borne away the very words themselves and the tone of the Lord's sayings" (Alford), e.g. the sublime reply Mr 9:39-50, the thrice repeated "where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched," sounding in the ears as a peal of doom.
This Gospel especially pictures Jesus' outward gestures, e.g. His actions in curing the deaf (Mr 7:33-34), He takes him aside from the multitude, puts His fingers into his ears, spits, touches his tongue, looks up to heaven, sighs, and saith, "Ephphatha". Hebrew (Aramaic) words are used, but explained for Gentile readers: Mr 3:17,22; 5:41, Talitha kumi; Mr 7:11, korban; Mr 9:43, gehenna; Mr 10:46, Bar-timaeus; Mr 14:36, Abba; Mr 15:22, Golgotha. The style, though abounding in Latinisms, is more related. to the Hebraistic style of Matthew than to Luke's pure Greek.
From the Latinisms, and the place where, and t
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And when you pray, do not use empty repetitions as the Gentiles do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them: "Do not go among the Gentiles, or enter any town of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." So he said, "Come". Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. read more. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
And he sent away the crowds, got into the boat, and went to the region of Magadan.
Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered?
And I tell you, that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."
When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the half-shekel tax went up to Peter and said, "Does not your teacher pay the temple tax?" He said, "Yes." And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from others?" read more. And when Peter said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. Nevertheless, so that we may not offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you open its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for me and you."
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way"; "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.'"
And all the land of Judea, and the people from Jerusalem, went out to him and they were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
And as he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the Sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Come follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." read more. And immediately they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little farther from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him.
saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Did you come to destroy us? I know who you arethe Holy One of God!"
As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew.
And Jesus, moved with compassion, put out his hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be clean."
As he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, "Follow me." So he rose and followed him.
Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. And people came and said to him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"
And he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at the hardness of their hearts, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.
James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, "Sons of Thunder";
James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, "Sons of Thunder";
James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, "Sons of Thunder";
Then he went home; and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." read more. And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub, and by the prince of demons he casts out the demons."
And he looked at those who sat in a circle around him, and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers!
And he said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. read more. All by itself the earth produces grainfirst the blade, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."
But he was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care if we perish?"
They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when he had come out of the boat, there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, read more. who lived among the tombs; and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains. But the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out, and cutting himself with stones.
Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name. And seeing him, he fell at his feet,
And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.
He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha cumi!" which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.
And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staffno bag, no bread, no money in their belts read more. but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. And he said to them, "Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place. And if any place will not receive you and they refuse to hear you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them."
The apostles gathered to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.
Then he commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass.
for they had not understood about the loaves, because their hearts were hardened.
Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered together to him, they saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. read more. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash themselves. And there are many other traditions which they observe, the washing of cups and pitchers and copper vessels.)
But you say that if a man says to his father or mother, 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban' (that is, a gift devoted to God),
So he said to them, "Are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him,
Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
Then he departed from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, through the region of the Decapolis. Then they brought to him a man who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged him to put his hand on him. read more. And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue.
And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened."
And looking up to heaven he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." And [immediately] his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly. read more. And he commanded them to tell no one; but the more he charged them, the more widely they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak."
he immediately got into the boat with his disciples, and went to the region of Dalmanutha.
And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, "Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation."
And they came to Bethsaida; and some people brought a blind man to him, and begged him to touch him. So he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. And when he had spit on his eyes and put his hands on him, he asked him "Do you see anything?" read more. And he looked up and said, "I see men; but they look like trees, walking." Then he put his hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored, and saw everything clearly. And he sent him away to his home, saying, "Do not even go into the village."
He spoke plainly about this. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when he had turned around and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."
But when he had turned around and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter, and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."
So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.
But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who does a miracle in my name can soon afterward speak evil of me. For he who is not against us is for us. read more. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, will by no means lose his reward. "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, to the fire that shall never be quenched.
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, to the fire that shall never be quenched. (...)
(...) And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. read more. (...)
(...) And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, read more. where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'
where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.' For every one will be salted with fire. read more. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."
Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing; go and sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." But he fell sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. read more. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!"
They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And he took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what was to happen to him.
And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside begging.
And they came to Jericho. And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great multitude, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside begging.
And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.
They went away and found a colt tied at the door outside in the open street, and they untied it.
Jesus entered Jerusalem, and went into the temple. And when he had looked round at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
And he would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers."
In the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to him, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered." read more. And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. (...)
And they sought to arrest him, but feared the multitude, for they knew he had spoken the parable against them. So they left him and went away.
Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him; and they asked him a question, saying:
For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.'
and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."
Now as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately,
And you will be hated by all men for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
It was now two days before the Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth, and kill him.
Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?"
But he spoke more vehemently, "If I have to die with you, I will not deny you!" And they all said the same.
And he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me; yet not what I will, but what you will."
And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth around his body. And they seized him, and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.
And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." And he broke down and wept.
The soldiers led him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and they called together the whole battalion.
Then they compelled a certain man, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, as he was coming out of the country and passing by, to carry his cross. And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull).
(...)
So when the centurion, who stood opposite him, saw that he cried out like this and breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"
But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you."
Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. read more. And when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe it. After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either. Later he appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen him after he had risen. And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. Then they went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the signs that accompanied it. Amen.
Then they went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the signs that accompanied it. Amen.
Now as the people pressed around him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. And he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. read more. Then he got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch." And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and caught nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets were breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken; and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men." So when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.
One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." So they set out.
Then he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. And he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. read more. And he said to them, "Take nothing for the journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart. And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them."
So he sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat."
"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren."
For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, 'And he was numbered with transgressors'; for what is written about me has its fulfillment."
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, and also Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you have received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him.)