Mark 1 39
What is Mark 1:39 about? Read the meaning and summary with full commentary explained, historical context, verse insights, word analysis, and cross-references.
Mark chapter 1 - The Gospel Of Action
Mark 1 documents the rapid-fire launch of Jesus' public ministry, starting with John the Baptist and moving quickly through Jesus' baptism and temptation. It portrays Jesus as a Man of Action, immediately calling disciples and driving out demons to demonstrate that the Kingdom of God has arrived with power.
Mark 1:39
ESV: And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
KJV: And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.
NIV: So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
NKJV: And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.
NLT: So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.
Meaning
Mark 1:39 details the ongoing ministry of Jesus after His initial miracles in Capernaum. It succinctly outlines the two core components of His public work throughout Galilee: the proclamation of the Gospel and the demonstration of His authority over spiritual evil. He traveled widely, utilizing the established synagogues as platforms for His message, and consistently drove out demons, validating His identity and the message of God's Kingdom.
Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 1:14-15 | ...preaching the gospel of God... | Core of Jesus's message. |
| Matt 4:17 | From that time Jesus began to preach... | Parallel emphasis on preaching. |
| Lk 4:43 | ...I must preach the good news of the kingdom... | Jesus's self-declared mission. |
| Isa 61:1-2 | ...to preach good news to the poor... | Prophetic foretelling of messianic mission. |
| Rom 1:16 | ...the gospel...is the power of God for salvation... | Explains the power behind Jesus's message. |
| 1 Cor 1:18 | ...the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. | Power in the preached message. |
| Acts 1:8 | ...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you...and you will be my witnesses... | Commission for continued proclamation. |
| Matt 9:35 | And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. | A fuller summary of similar ministry. |
| Mk 6:12 | So they went out and preached that people should repent. | Disciples emulate Jesus's preaching. |
| Matt 4:23 | ...preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. | Matthew's summary of early Galilean ministry. |
| Lk 4:15-16 | ...He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. | Synagogues as established teaching venues. |
| Acts 13:5 | When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. | Paul and Barnabas followed this pattern. |
| Acts 14:1 | Now at Iconium they entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way... | Continuing the mission in synagogues. |
| Matt 6:5 | "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners..." | Synagogues were public, prominent places. |
| Matt 8:16 | ...he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. | Jesus's power over spirits and sickness. |
| Lk 4:41 | And demons also came out of many, crying out, "You are the Son of God!" | Demons acknowledge Jesus's identity. |
| Lk 11:20 | But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. | Exorcism as proof of Kingdom presence. |
| Acts 10:38 | ...how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil... | Apostolic summary of Jesus's work, including demon expulsion. |
| Col 2:15 | He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame... | Broader victory over spiritual powers. |
| Eph 6:12 | For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness... | Context of spiritual warfare Jesus engaged in. |
| 1 Jn 3:8 | ...The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. | Jesus's ultimate purpose in defeating evil. |
| Matt 12:28 | But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. | Kingdom inauguration linked to exorcisms. |
| Isa 9:1-2 | ...Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light... | Prophecy identifying Galilee as a place of divine revelation. |
| Mk 3:15 | ...to have authority to cast out demons. | Authority Jesus explicitly granted His disciples. |
Context
This verse immediately follows a busy period in Capernaum where Jesus healed many people and cast out numerous demons (Mk 1:32-34). The crowd was immense, leading Jesus to withdraw to a solitary place for prayer (Mk 1:35). When His disciples found Him, informing Him that everyone was looking for Him, Jesus responded that they must move on to other towns to preach there also (Mk 1:37-38). Mark 1:39, therefore, depicts Jesus acting upon this stated intention, broadening the scope of His mission beyond Capernaum. It sets a pattern for Jesus's itinerant ministry, emphasizing the proclamation of the Kingdom and the visible manifestation of its power over evil spirits as non-negotiable elements of His work. Historically, Galilee was a fertile region with a diverse population, known as "Galilee of the Gentiles" due to its mixed Jewish and pagan inhabitants, making it a strategic area for the launch of Jesus's inclusive message.
Word analysis
- And he went (καὶ ἐξελθὼν - kai exelthōn): "And" connects this action to Jesus's decision to leave Capernaum for broader ministry (Mk 1:38). "He went out" implies an intentional departure and continuous movement, highlighting Jesus's proactive and decisive nature in initiating His mission throughout the region. It shows His purpose was not merely to reside in one place and heal, but to evangelize broadly.
- throughout all Galilee (εἰς ὅλην τὴν Γαλιλαίαν - eis holēn tēn Galilaian): "Throughout all" indicates a comprehensive, systematic coverage of the region, not just sporadic visits. Galilee, distinct from Judea, was fertile ground, prophetically identified as where a "great light" would shine (Isa 9:1-2). Its varied population underscored the universal scope of the Gospel from its very inception, contrasting with more exclusive perspectives sometimes found in Jerusalem-centric Judaism.
- preaching (κηρύσσων - kērussōn): This verb means "to proclaim as a herald" or "to make a public announcement." It implies an authoritative, public declaration of a message, rather than mere teaching or discussion. The content of Jesus's preaching was the "gospel of God," a call to repentance and belief that the Kingdom of God had drawn near (Mk 1:14-15). It was an authoritative proclamation of a new spiritual reality and summons to a response. This distinguishes it from simply giving moral instruction.
- in their synagogues (ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς αὐτῶν - en tais synagōgais autōn): Synagogues served as vital community centers for Jewish religious, social, and educational life. They were established places of public assembly, offering a ready audience for Jesus's message. By preaching there, Jesus rooted His message within existing Jewish frameworks, yet He brought a radical, new interpretation of their sacred texts and a living manifestation of God's presence and power. It also signifies accessibility to the common people and aligns with a Rabbinic style of engaging scripture.
- and casting out demons (καὶ ἐκβάλλων τὰ δαιμόνια - kai ekballōn ta daimonia): "Casting out" (ἐκβάλλων - ekballōn) conveys a forceful expulsion, demonstrating overwhelming power. It's not just "healing" or "delivering" but a definitive, authoritative removal. Exorcisms were a visible, undeniable proof of Jesus's authority and validated His message. These acts served as concrete demonstrations that the "strong man's" (Satan's) domain was being plundered by the arrival of God's Kingdom (Mk 3:27). They directly confronted the prevailing forces of spiritual darkness and oppression, affirming His divine mission and marking Him as a uniquely powerful figure.
Commentary
Mark 1:39 is a concise programmatic statement defining the core nature of Jesus's Galilean ministry. It reveals that Jesus was not primarily a healer, though healing was part of His ministry, but a preacher. His main purpose was the verbal proclamation of the "gospel of God" – the good news of the arriving Kingdom of God (Mk 1:14-15). This verbal declaration was coupled with visible demonstrations of divine authority through the forceful expulsion of demons. These two activities, preaching and exorcism, were inextricably linked, each authenticating the other. The preaching declared the presence of the Kingdom, and the casting out of demons powerfully manifested its arrival and Jesus's victory over the forces of evil. By consistently targeting synagogues, Jesus reached the heart of Jewish communities, presenting His radical message within familiar structures. This established a model for the disciples and the early Church, emphasizing both the spoken word and the power accompanying it as essential for effective ministry.
Bonus section
- The tandem of preaching and casting out demons highlights a foundational tenet of Jesus's ministry: the clash between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. The verbal message declared war, and the exorcisms were decisive battles being won.
- Mark often emphasizes Jesus's authority, and this verse vividly demonstrates it over spiritual forces. The response of the demons to Jesus (as seen in earlier verses like Mk 1:23-26, 34) underscores this unique authority.
- This itinerary through Galilee previews the pattern for the mission of the twelve disciples (Mk 6:7, 12-13) and later for the broader church, where preaching the Gospel and demonstrating power were central to their commission.
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