Links to all of the notes associated with each verse are accessed here. For reference, the NIV text is used here to show the verses. You can reference the Greek and Latin translations from the notes pages. My progress through the book is indicated by the number of Chapters shown: the canonical Mark has sixteen chapters.
Chapter 1
Chapter Summary
The chapter begins with John the Baptist declaring in word and action that the people of Judea, especially those of Jerusalem, are doomed, and predicts the coming of Caesar. Jesus of Galilee is anointed by Caesar to deliver this message to Judea, and is thus given vast amounts of authority to do so. Jesus goes to the heart of the rebellion against Rome and speaks directly to the Zealots and rebellious fishermen, convincing many to return to Rome and sending away those who disagree.
Another Jesus, a rebel, begins to gather members for his house and attends to the synagogues throughout Galilee, attempting to gather followers and reject vigilantes. He attracts all of the townspeople to his door as he speaks and addresses the great number of rebels in the area.
A third Jesus appears on the scene with miraculous healing powers. About this time, folks are beginning to mistake the various Jesuses for each other.
This story reflects a time when General Vespasian was touring Galilee with a legion and crushing the fishing villages that had sided with the Zealots. Not long after this, Vespasian was tapped to become the emperor, beginning the Flavian dynasty.
Table of Scenes
Scene | Verses | Subject |
Prophetic Old Testament reference | 1-3 | Mars |
John the Baptist preaches to Judea | 4-8 | John the Baptist |
Jesus of Galilee anointed by God | 9-11 | Jesus Anointed |
Jesus of Galilee in the wilderness | 12-13 | Jesus Anointed |
First four Apostles gathered | 14-20 | Jesus Rebel |
Unclean Spirit in the synagogue | 21-28 | Jesus A & Jesus R |
Healing of Simon’s Mother-in-Law | 29-31 | Jesus Rebel |
Healing of the crowds | 32-34 | Jesus Anointed |
Jesus Poops | 35-37 | Jesus Rebel |
Teaching throughout Galilee | 38-39 | Jesus Rebel |
Healing of the Leper | 40-45 | Jesus Physician |
The Text, with notes
Chapter 2
Chapter Summary
The Anointed Jesus and Rebel Jesus meet when the later is dropped through the ceiling of the former’s home. This interaction is followed by Rebel Jesus returning to the sea shore to raise rebellion.
Pharisees become upset that Anointed Jesus eats at the wrong times and with the wrong people when he is eating like Romans, with Romans. Jesus responds with aphorisms about the role of a doctor, social activity during weddings, rules regarding fiber arts and winemaking, in which he indirectly says unflattering and unpleasant things about Judeans.
This is followed by Pharisees finding fault with Rebel Jesus for his followers gathering grain on the Sabbath, for which Rebel Jesus presents a ludicrous defense from scripture.
Table of Scenes
Scene | Verses | Subject |
Healing the paralytic | 1-12 | Jesus A & Jesus R |
Teaching by sea shore | 13-14 | Jesus Rebel |
Pharisees complain about dinner guests | 15-17 | Jesus Anointed |
Pharisees complain about not fasting | 18-22 | Jesus Anointed |
Pharisees complain about gathering grain | 23-28 | Jesus Rebel |
The Text, with notes
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And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. [Notes…]
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Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. [Notes…]
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Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. [Notes…]
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And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. [Notes…]
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When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” [Notes…]
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And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, [Notes…]
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“Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” [Notes…]
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But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? [Notes…]
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Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’? [Notes…]
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But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, [Notes…]
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“I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” [Notes…]
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Immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” [Notes…]
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Then He went out again by the sea; and all the multitude came to Him, and He taught them. [Notes…]
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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 arose and followed Him. [Notes…]
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Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. [Notes…]
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And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” [Notes…]
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When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” [Notes…]
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The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” [Notes…]
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And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. [Notes…]
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But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. [Notes…]
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No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse. [Notes…]
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And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.” [Notes…]
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Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. [Notes…]
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And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” [Notes…]
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But He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: [Notes…]
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how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?” [Notes…]
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And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. [Notes…]
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Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.” [Notes…]