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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Mark 1 Matthew Poole's Commentary</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/commentaries/poole/mark/11.htm" /><link href='//fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Cardo&subset=greek-ext' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css'><link rel="stylesheet" href="/5001.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 4800px), only screen and (max-device-width: 4800px)" href="/4801.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link media="handheld, only screen and (max-width: 1550px), only screen and (max-device-width: 1550px)" href="/1551.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" /><link 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/></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/mark/1.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcom/mark/1-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="/commentaries/">Commentary</a> > <a href="../">Poole</a> > <a href="../mark/">Mark</a></div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../matthew/28.htm" title="Matthew 28">◄</a> Mark 1 <a href="../mark/2.htm" title="Mark 2">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Matthew Poole's Commentary</div><div class="chap"> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-1.htm">Mark 1:1</a></div><div class="verse">The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;</div><span class="bld">Mar 1:1-8</span> The Gospel begins with the preaching of John the Baptist.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Mar 1:9-11</span> Jesus is baptized, witnessed to from heaven,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Mar 1:12-13</span> and tempted of the devil,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Mar 1:14-15</span> preacheth in Galilee,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Mar 1:16-22</span> calleth Peter, Andrew, James, and John,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Mar 1:23-28</span> healeth one possessed of an unclean spirit,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Mar 1:29-31</span> Simeon's mother-in-law,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Mar 1:32-34</span> and divers other diseased persons,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Mar 1:35-39</span> prayeth alone, and goeth on to preach,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">Mar 1:40-45</span> cleanseth a leper.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span> The Gospel seems to have taken its name, euaggelion, from the angel's words to the shepherds, <span class="bld">Luk 2:10</span>, <span class="ital">I bring you good tidings of great joy; </span> for the word in the Greek signifies a good message, or good news or tidings. It sometimes signifieth the historical narration of the coming of Christ, John Baptist's and Christ's preaching, and what he did in the world, his birth, life, death, &c.; sometimes the doctrine of salvation by Christ, in opposition to that of the law; sometimes, the dispensation of it, or that period of time when God began to publish <span class="ital">the mystery hid from ages</span> openly to the world. It seemeth here to signify the latter; for both Matthew and Luke seem to begin the history higher. Luke, from the history of John the Baptist and Christ, as to what things preceded their birth. Matthew, from the birth of Christ. But the dispensation of the gospel began with the preaching of John the Baptist. Before his time the doctrine of the gospel was made known to Adam, and Abraham and David; prophesied by Jacob, Isaiah, and several of the prophets; but John was the first in whom those promises and prophecies were fulfilled, the first public and plain preacher of the doctrine of the gospel; for <span class="ital">the law and the prophets prophesied until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it, </span><span class="bld"> Mat 11:13 Luk 16:16</span>. So as John's preaching was the beginning of the gospel; for though the doctrine of the gospel was before darkly made known, yet it then began to be plainly and publicly declared to the world. He was the first in whom the gospel prophecies began to have an end, as both the prophecies and the types of it had a more full completion in Christ. Two prophecies at least had their completion in John, which we find in <span class="bld">Mal 3:1</span>, which the evangelist mentions in the next verse, and <span class="bld">Mar 4:5</span>, concerning Elias first to come, which our Saviour applies to John, <span class="bld">Mat 11:14 Mar 9:11-13</span>, and the angel before him, <span class="bld">Luk 1:17</span>; besides Isaiah's prophecy, <span class="bld">Isa 40:3</span>, applied unto him by <span class="bld">Mat 3:3 Mar 1:3</span>, and by John applied to himself, <span class="bld">Joh 1:23</span>. This Gospel is called <span class="ital">the Gospel of Jesus Christ, </span> because the history of Christ's birth, life, and death is the matter of it. Christ was by Matthew called <span class="ital">the Son of David, the son of Abraham, </span> to let us know that he was truly man, a native Jew, and of the royal family, and derived from those two families, to whom the promises of the Messias were made. By Mark he is called <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">the Son of God, </span> to let us know that he was more than mere man. And indeed who, but he who was the Son of God, could fully reveal his Father's will, determine the law of Moses and introduce a new way of worship, and publish a mystery of salvation, hid from all preceding ages, though not from all individual persons in them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="2"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-2.htm">Mark 1:2</a></div><div class="verse">As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.</div>Ver. 2,3. The prophets Malachi and Isaiah (saith the evangelist) prophesied of this <span class="ital">beginning of the gospel.</span> Malachi prophesied that before the great King should come unto Zion, a harbinger should come before him, to prepare his way. The angel, <span class="bld"><a href="/luke/1-17.htm" title="And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.">Luke 1:17</a></span>, expounds both their prophecies, and also that <span class="bld"><a href="/malachi/4-5.htm" title="Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:">Malachi 4:5</a></span>; <span class="ital">And he shall</span> <span class="ital">go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts</span> <span class="ital">of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom</span> <span class="ital">of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.</span> John by his preaching turned the ears of the people to the sound of the gospel, and so prepared them for Christ. For further explication of these words: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/matthew/3-3.htm" title="For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.">Matthew 3:3</a>"</span>. <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/matthew/11-10.htm" title="For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before your face, which shall prepare your way before you.">Matthew 11:10</a>"</span>. This name given to John the Baptist, <span class="ital">A voice crying, </span> gives us the right notion of a gospel minister. Here is but a <span class="ital">voice crying, </span> speaking what God hath first suggested to him. Thus God saith to Moses, <span class="bld"><a href="/exodus/4-15.htm" title="And you shall speak to him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with your mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do.">Exodus 4:15</a></span>, <span class="ital">Thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his</span> <span class="ital">mouth; and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth.</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="3"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-3.htm">Mark 1:3</a></div><div class="verse">The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-2.htm" title="As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before your face, which shall prepare your way before you.">Mark 1:2</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="4"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-4.htm">Mark 1:4</a></div><div class="verse">John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.</div> Luke saith that John began about the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar. He baptized <span class="ital">in the wilderness, </span> that is, a place little inhabited. By his baptism is not to be strictly understood baptism, but his preaching and doctrine, his whole administration; which is called <span class="ital">the baptism of repentance, </span> because repentance was the great thing he preached, a seal of which baptism was to be; the consequent of which was to be <span class="ital">the remission of sins, </span> or the argument which he used to press repentance was the remission of sins. <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/matthew/3-5.htm" title="Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,">Matthew 3:5</a>"</span>. <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/matthew/3-6.htm" title="And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.">Matthew 3:6</a>"</span>, where we before had these words. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="5"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-5.htm">Mark 1:5</a></div><div class="verse">And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.</div> No text from Poole on this verse. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="6"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-6.htm">Mark 1:6</a></div><div class="verse">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 honey;</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/matthew/3-4.htm" title="And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leather girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.">Matthew 3:4</a>"</span>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="7"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-7.htm">Mark 1:7</a></div><div class="verse">And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.</div>Ver. 7,8. We had the same, with very little difference in the phrase in Matthew. <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/matthew/3-11.htm" title="I indeed baptize you with water to repentance. but he that comes after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear. he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.">Matthew 3:11</a>"</span>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="8"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-8.htm">Mark 1:8</a></div><div class="verse">I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-7.htm" title="And preached, saying, There comes one mightier than I after me, the lace of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.">Mark 1:7</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="9"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-9.htm">Mark 1:9</a></div><div class="verse">And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.</div>Ver. 9-11. Christ, who, <span class="bld"><a href="/luke/2-51.htm" title="And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.">Luke 2:51</a></span>, went with his parents to <span class="ital">Nazareth, and was subject to them, </span> after he had been disputing with the doctors in the temple, now goes from Nazareth, a city in Galilee, to that part of Galilee near Jordan, or rather to Bethabara, where John was baptizing, and was baptized: <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/matthew/3-13.htm" title="Then comes Jesus from Galilee to Jordan to John, to be baptized of him.">Matthew 3:13</a>"</span>. <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/matthew/3-16.htm" title="And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, see, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting on him:">Matthew 3:16</a>"</span>. <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/matthew/3-17.htm" title="And see a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.">Matthew 3:17</a>"</span>. <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/john/1-28.htm" title="These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.">John 1:28</a>"</span>, where this piece of history is more fully related. Luke addeth, that Christ was now about thirty years of age. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="10"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-10.htm">Mark 1:10</a></div><div class="verse">And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-9.htm" title="And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.">Mark 1:9</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="11"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-11.htm">Mark 1:11</a></div><div class="verse">And there came a voice from heaven, <i>saying</i>, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-9.htm" title="And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.">Mark 1:9</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="12"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-12.htm">Mark 1:12</a></div><div class="verse">And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.</div>Ver. 12,13. Both Matthew and Luke relate the history of our Saviour’s temptations by the devil more fully. <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/matthew/4-1.htm" title="Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.">Matthew 4:1</a>"</span>. <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/matthew/4-2.htm" title="And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.">Matthew 4:2</a>"</span>. Mark saith <span class="ital">immediately, </span> but it is not to be taken strictly for the next moment, but after a day or two, as it should seem. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="13"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-13.htm">Mark 1:13</a></div><div class="verse">And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-12.htm" title="And immediately the spirit drives him into the wilderness.">Mark 1:12</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="14"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-14.htm">Mark 1:14</a></div><div class="verse">Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,</div>Ver. 14,15. It should seem that John had but a short time wherein he exercised his public ministry: he was the son of a priest, Zacharias, <span class="bld"><a href="/luke/1-13.htm" title="But the angel said to him, Fear not, Zacharias: for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elisabeth shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.">Luke 1:13</a></span>, and it is probable that he entered not upon his public ministry till he was thirty years of age (it was the priestly age, and the age at which Luke tells us our Saviour entered upon his public ministry). He was but about six months older than our Saviour, and was imprisoned as soon as our Saviour entered upon his ministry, indeed before we read of his entrance upon it. Upon his imprisonment, Christ begins to preach in Galilee the gospel by which he set up his kingdom, and which leadeth men to the kingdom of God. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">And saying, The time is fulfilled, </span> the time determined of God for the revelation of the Messias, and the grace of the gospel through him, foretold by the prophets, <span class="bld"><a href="/daniel/2-44.htm" title="And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.">Daniel 2:44</a></span>: hence Christ is said to have come in <span class="ital">the fulness, </span> and <span class="ital">in the dispensation of the</span> fulness of time, <span class="bld"><a href="/galatians/4-4.htm" title="But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,">Galatians 4:4</a> <a href="/ephesians/1-10.htm" title="That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:">Ephesians 1:10</a></span>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">And the kingdom of God is at hand; </span> the gracious dispensation of God in the gospel is at hand, or hath approached. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">Repent ye, </span> turn from the wickedness of your ways, <span class="ital">and believe</span> <span class="ital">the gospel, </span> or, in the gospel: to believe the gospel is one thing, to believe in the gospel (as it is here in the Greek) is another. The former phrase signifies no more than a firm and fixed assent to the proposition of the gospel; but to believe in the gospel, is to place our hope of salvation in the doctrine and promises of the gospel, which are the proximate object of our faith, though the primary object of it be the person of the Mediator. There is a repentance that must go before faith, that is the applicative of the promise of pardoning mercy to the soul; though true evangelical repentance, which is a sorrow for sin, flowing from the sense of the love of God in Christ, be the fruit and effect of faith. Our Saviour’s preaching agreeth with the Baptist’s, <span class="bld"><a href="/matthew/3-2.htm" title="And saying, Repent you: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.">Matthew 3:2</a> <a href="/john/3-23.htm" title="And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.">John 3:23</a></span>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="15"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-15.htm">Mark 1:15</a></div><div class="verse">And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-14.htm" title="Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,">Mark 1:14</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="16"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-16.htm">Mark 1:16</a></div><div class="verse">Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.</div>Ver. 16-20. We heard of the call of these four apostles before, in Matthew. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/matthew/4-18.htm" title="And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.">Matthew 4:18</a>"</span>, and following verses to <span class="bld"><a href="/matthew/4-22.htm" title="And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.">Matthew 4:22</a></span>, upon which may be found whatsoever is necessary for the explication of these verses, (having nothing new in them), as also the reconciling of what John saith, <span class="bld"><a href="/john/1-40.htm" title="One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.">John 1:40</a></span>, about the calling of Andrew and Simon, to what these two evangelists say about it. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="17"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-17.htm">Mark 1:17</a></div><div class="verse">And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-16.htm" title="Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.">Mark 1:16</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="18"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-18.htm">Mark 1:18</a></div><div class="verse">And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-16.htm" title="Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.">Mark 1:16</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="19"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-19.htm">Mark 1:19</a></div><div class="verse">And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the <i>son</i> of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-16.htm" title="Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.">Mark 1:16</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="20"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-20.htm">Mark 1:20</a></div><div class="verse">And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-16.htm" title="Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.">Mark 1:16</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="21"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-21.htm">Mark 1:21</a></div><div class="verse">And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.</div>Ver. 21,22. We heard before that the synagogues were much of the nature of our parish churches, places where people ordinarily met together on the sabbath days, to worship God by prayer, and reading the law and the prophets, and hearing the words of exhortation, from such as the rulers of the synagogues appointed thereunto. Christ ordinarily preached in them. The evangelists often mention the people’s admiring, being amazed, and astonished at his doctrine; but it is one thing for people to be astonished and amazed at a new doctrine, and to admire the preacher, another thing to believe: we read of many amongst the Jews that were affected at the hearing of Christ with astonishment and admiration, but of few that believed in him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">For he taught them as one that had authority:</span> a small derivative from this is yet seen in the gravity, awful presence, and authority which (as a great gift of God) we see still given to some faithful ministers of Christ, such especially as God maketh a more eminent use of in the conversion of souls; but this great preacher had the Spirit above human measure. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">Not as the scribes, </span> the ordinary teachers of the Jews, who read their lectures of the law, but so coldly, and without life and power, as the hearts of the people were not at all affected with them, no more than with the dull telling a tale, with which neither tellers nor hearers were much affected. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="22"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-22.htm">Mark 1:22</a></div><div class="verse">And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-22.htm" title="And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.">Mark 1:22</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="23"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-23.htm">Mark 1:23</a></div><div class="verse">And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,</div>Ver. 23,24. Luke reports the same passage, <span class="bld"><a href="/luke/4-33.htm" title="And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,">Luke 4:33</a>,34</span>; he saith, <span class="ital">There was a man which had a spirit of an unclean devil.</span> The devil is called an unclean spirit in opposition to the Spirit of God, which is the Holy Spirit. The man that had this unclean spirit, or rather the unclean spirit in the man, cries out, <span class="ital">Let us alone; </span> <span class="ital">what have we to do with thee.</span> He doubtless feared what followed, viz. that he should be cast out. He counts himself destroyed when he cannot do mischief; like wicked men, who are the seed of this old serpent, who <span class="ital">sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their</span> <span class="ital">sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall, </span><span class="bldvs"> <a href="/proverbs/4-16.htm" title="For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.">Proverbs 4:16</a></span>. The devil here owneth Christ to be <span class="ital">the Holy One of God.</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="24"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-24.htm">Mark 1:24</a></div><div class="verse">Saying, Let <i>us</i> 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 Holy One of God.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-23.htm" title="And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,">Mark 1:23</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="25"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-25.htm">Mark 1:25</a></div><div class="verse">And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.</div>Ver. 25,26. It is both here and in many other places observable, that when the devils made a confession of Christ, yet neither Christ nor his apostles would ever take any notice of it. Truth is never advantaged from the confession of known liars, as the devil was from the beginning. Christ needed not the devil’s testimony, either to his holiness, or his being the Son of God, nor would he have people allow the least faith to the devil’s words. Nor was he to be imposed upon by the devil’s good words; he was to make no truce with him, but to destroy him and his works, he therefore charges him to hold his peace, and to come out. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">And when the unclean spirit had torn him.</span> The Greek word here, oparaxan, is ill translated <span class="ital">torn, </span> as appears by <span class="bld"><a href="/luke/4-35.htm" title="And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold your peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the middle, he came out of him, and hurt him not.">Luke 4:35</a></span>, where it is said it did him no hurt: the word signifies no more than a violent convulsion, or shaking; and it is observed that those possessed by devils had only their members made use of by the devils, but without any wounding or laceration of them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="ital">He cried out with a loud voice, and came out of him.</span> Oh how loth is the devil to part with his possession! But possibly also Christ would have him cry out with a loud voice, that his miraculous operation might be the more taken notice of. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="26"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-26.htm">Mark 1:26</a></div><div class="verse">And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-25.htm" title="And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold your peace, and come out of him.">Mark 1:25</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="27"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-27.htm">Mark 1:27</a></div><div class="verse">And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine <i>is</i> this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.</div> The Jews had exorcists amongst them, who sometimes cast out devils by some forms of invocation they had; but Christ commanded them out; he neither did it by any kind of entreaty from any compact with the devil, nor yet by any invocation of God, but by an authoritative command. This was new to the Jews, and especially confirming a new doctrine that he had published. But still we read of no believing, no agnation of him as God, or the Son of God, or the Messias and Saviour of the world; only the generality are amazed they could not obtain of themselves to believe this new doctrine, nor yet so far command their passions, but they must be startled and amazed at it. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="28"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-28.htm">Mark 1:28</a></div><div class="verse">And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.</div> The <span class="bld">fame</span> of his miracles, rather than of his doctrine; by this means many were brought to him to be cured, many were brought also to hear him, some of whom believed, others were hardened. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="29"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-29.htm">Mark 1:29</a></div><div class="verse">And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.</div>Ver. 29-31. <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/matthew/8-14.htm" title="And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.">Matthew 8:14</a>"</span>. <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/matthew/8-15.htm" title="And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered to them.">Matthew 8:15</a>"</span>, where we met with this history. Our Saviour sometimes showed his power in diseases not accounted incurable. The miracle appeared, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span>1. In the cure of her without the use of any means. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span>2. In the instantaneousness of the act; she did not recover gradually, but in a moment, and to such a degree as she could minister unto them, suppose at dinner or supper, &c. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="30"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-30.htm">Mark 1:30</a></div><div class="verse">But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-29.htm" title="And immediately, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.">Mark 1:29</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="31"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-31.htm">Mark 1:31</a></div><div class="verse">And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-29.htm" title="And immediately, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.">Mark 1:29</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="32"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-32.htm">Mark 1:32</a></div><div class="verse">And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.</div>Ver. 32-34. It was upon the sabbath day, (as appeareth from what went before), therefore the time is noted, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="bld">at even, when the sun did set.</span> Before that time, when the sabbath was determined, the Jews thought it unlawful to carry any burdens, but after sunset they judged it lawful. The usage of the particle <span class="ital">all</span> here, <span class="bld"><a href="/mark/1-32.htm" title="And at even, when the sun did set, they brought to him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.">Mark 1:32</a>,33</span>, is again observable to show the vanity of those who will from general particles conclude propositions contrary to the analogy of faith, those particles being often used in a restrained sense. Luke saith, that the devils cried out, <span class="ital">Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them, suffered them not to speak, because</span> (or that) <span class="ital">they knew him.</span> Christ desired not to be published so soon under that notion, but he much less desired the devil’s testimony in the case: see <span class="bld"><a href="/mark/1-25.htm" title="And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold your peace, and come out of him.">Mark 1:25</a> <a href="/acts/16-18.htm" title="And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.">Acts 16:18</a></span>. The good words of the devil and his seed are indeed a defamation to Christ and his seed. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="33"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-33.htm">Mark 1:33</a></div><div class="verse">And all the city was gathered together at the door.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-32.htm" title="And at even, when the sun did set, they brought to him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.">Mark 1:32</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="34"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-34.htm">Mark 1:34</a></div><div class="verse">And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-32.htm" title="And at even, when the sun did set, they brought to him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.">Mark 1:32</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="35"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-35.htm">Mark 1:35</a></div><div class="verse">And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.</div> Secret prayer stands commended to us, as by the precept of Christ, <span class="bld"><a href="/matthew/6-6.htm" title="But you, when you pray, enter into your closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father which is in secret; and your Father which sees in secret shall reward you openly.">Matthew 6:6</a></span>, so by his frequent example, to teach us that our duty in prayer is not discharged without it: we are to pray with all prayer and supplication. There is in public and private prayer a more united strength and interest, but in secret prayer an advantage for more free and full communication of our souls unto God. Christ for this chooseth the morning, as the time freest from distractions and company; and a solitary place, as fittest for a secret duty. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="36"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-36.htm">Mark 1:36</a></div><div class="verse">And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.</div>Ver. 36-39. Peter probably pitieth the multitude, because many amongst them needed Christ’s presence, for their bodily infirmities. Our Saviour knew their hearts better than Peter; and that which made them so much seek for him, was either in some a curiosity to see miracles wrought, or at best but a desire of some bodily benefit from him. Whereas his working of miracles was but a secondary work, subservient to his work in preaching, and done to confirm his doctrine, and to advantage them as to their faith in him as the Messias. As therefore he refused to gratify the curiosity of the Pharisees in giving them a sign, so here our Saviour takes no notice of the multitude seeking for him, but saith to his disciples, <span class="ital">Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also; for therefore came I forth.</span> Paul saith that God sent him <span class="ital">not to baptize, but to preach, </span><span class="bldvs"> <a href="/1_corinthians/1-17.htm" title="For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.">1 Corinthians 1:17</a></span>. Our Saviour saith not, <span class="ital">Let us go into the next towns, </span> that I may work miracles, but <span class="ital">that I may preach there also; </span> he doth not say he came forth to work miracles, but to preach: how it comes to pass that some are possessed of so slight an opinion of preaching as to think that it is needless, which our Saviour and St. Paul counted to be their principal work, where, in the mean time, they pretend to derive from Christ, I cannot tell. I am sure preaching was the greatest part of Christ’s work; how it comes to be the least part of ministers’ work since, or how any of them think it sufficient to discharge that work by journeymen, which he thought it not beneath him to do himself, may deserve their examination which make it so. We do not say that preaching is a greater work than prayer, or that it is not ministers’ duty to pray; nor yet that it is greater than administering the sacrament: but this we say, we read of Christ’s preaching often in the synagogues, on the mountain, in a ship; of his public praying we read not, though of his private and secret prayer often. We read expressly that he baptized none. We must have leave to think that our greatest work which our Lord and his apostles were most employed in, and do think others will be of our minds as soon as they shall understand, that if the end of preaching be not turning men from one opinion to another, but from the love and practice of sin to God, there is as much need of it as ever; and that the turning of men from one opinion to another, without a change of heart, as to the love of sin, is but a turning of men from one quarter of the devil’s kingdom to another. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="37"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-37.htm">Mark 1:37</a></div><div class="verse">And when they had found him, they said unto him, All <i>men</i> seek for thee.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-36.htm" title="And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.">Mark 1:36</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="38"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-38.htm">Mark 1:38</a></div><div class="verse">And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-36.htm" title="And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.">Mark 1:36</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="39"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-39.htm">Mark 1:39</a></div><div class="verse">And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.</div>Ver. 39 <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-36.htm" title="And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.">Mark 1:36</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="40"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-40.htm">Mark 1:40</a></div><div class="verse">And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.</div>Ver. 40-45. We before had this piece of history, in Matthew, <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/matthew/8-2.htm" title="And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.">Matthew 8:2</a>"</span> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/matthew/8-3.htm" title="And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be you clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.">Matthew 8:3</a>"</span> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/matthew/8-4.htm" title="And Jesus said to him, See you tell no man; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.">Matthew 8:4</a>"</span>, we shall also meet with it hereafter in <span class="bld"><a href="/luke/5-14.htm" title="And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.">Luke 5:14</a>,15</span>. Our Lord being <span class="ital">moved with compassion, </span> or affected in his bowels, (as the word signifies), is often used as expressive of the cause of his acts of mercy: thus in curing the leper, he at once both showed himself the Son of man, one who could have compassion on our infirmities, and indeed could not but have such a commiseration toward mankind; and the Son of God, that he could in an instant, by a touch, or by the word of his power, command off a disease of so difficult cure. For his charging of him to <span class="ital">say</span> <span class="ital">nothing to any man, </span> we are not able to give a perfect account of it, whether it was to avoid a suspicion of ostentation, or to avoid a throng of company pressing upon him, or to avoid the odium which he knew the doing of these mighty works would bring him under with the scribes and Pharisees, until the time came for the fuller revelation of himself. Much less can we tell how to excuse the leper for doing contrary to this charge, which we find many others to have done who had the like charge, yet we read not of our Saviour’s blaming them for it. Mark addeth, that his publication of it caused <span class="ital">that Jesus</span> <span class="ital">could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in</span> <span class="ital">desert places; </span> by which is to be understood only places less inhabited; some think, places near the shore, where by going into a ship (as he often did) he could more easily quit himself of the throng of people, for (as it followeth) <span class="ital">they came to him from every</span> <span class="ital">quarter.</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="41"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-41.htm">Mark 1:41</a></div><div class="verse">And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth <i>his</i> hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-40.htm" title="And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying to him, If you will, you can make me clean.">Mark 1:40</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="42"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-42.htm">Mark 1:42</a></div><div class="verse">And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-40.htm" title="And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying to him, If you will, you can make me clean.">Mark 1:40</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="43"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-43.htm">Mark 1:43</a></div><div class="verse">And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-40.htm" title="And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying to him, If you will, you can make me clean.">Mark 1:40</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="44"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-44.htm">Mark 1:44</a></div><div class="verse">And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "Mar 4:44"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><A name="45"></a> <div class="versenum"><a href="/mark/1-45.htm">Mark 1:45</a></div><div class="verse">But he went out, and began to publish <i>it</i> 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.</div> <span class="bld">See Poole on "<a href="/mark/1-40.htm" title="And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying to him, If you will, you can make me clean.">Mark 1:40</a>"</span> <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">Matthew Poole's Commentary<br /><br />Text Courtesy of <a href="//biblesupport.com" target="_top">BibleSupport.com</a>. 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