Mark 1:21–45

Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit

1:21–28pp—Lk 4:31–37

²¹They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.^{y 22}The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.^{z 23}Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, ²⁴“What do you want with us,^a Jesus of Nazareth?^b Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”^c

²⁵“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”^{d 26}The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.^e

²⁷The people were all so amazed^f that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” ²⁸News about him spread quickly over the whole region^g of Galilee.

Jesus Heals Many

1:29–31pp—Mt 8:14,15; Lk 4:38,39 1:32–34pp—Mt 8:16,17; Lk 4:40,41

²⁹As soon as they left the synagogue,^h they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. ³⁰Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. ³¹So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up.ⁱ The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

³²That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.^{j 33}The whole town gathered at the door, ³⁴and Jesus healed many who had various diseases.^k He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.^l

Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place

1:35–38pp—Lk 4:42,43

³⁵Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.^{m 36}Simon and his companions went to look for him, ³⁷and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

³⁸Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”^{n 39}So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues^o and driving out demons.^p

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy

1:40–44pp—Mt 8:2–4; Lk 5:12–14

⁴⁰A man with leprosy^h came to him and begged him on his knees,^q “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

⁴¹Jesus was indignant.ⁱ He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” ⁴²Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

⁴³Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: ⁴⁴“See that you don’t tell this to anyone.^r But go, show yourself to the priest^s and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing,^t as a testimony to them.” ⁴⁵Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places.^u Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.^v