Side by side
Mark 1
Our retelling next to the Bible text it comes from. Each row lines up one scene with the verses it retells.
Between scenesVerses 1 to 20
This part isn't retold as its own scene.
1This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way.” 3“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’” 4John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5People went out to him from all of Jerusalem and the countryside of Judea. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 7And he began to proclaim: “After me will come One more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove. 11And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” 12At once the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness, 13and He was there for forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered to Him. 14After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God. 15“The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!” 16As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 18And at once they left their nets and followed Him. 19Going on a little farther, He saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat, mending their nets. 20Immediately Jesus called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.
Scene 1: A New Kind of TeacherVerses 21 to 22
Jesus and his four new followers went to Capernaum.
On the Sabbath, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, a day of rest and worship. A synagogue is a place where people met to pray and hear God's word.
The people were astonished at his teaching. Astonished means very surprised.
Jesus taught "as one who had authority, and not as the scribes" (1:22). The scribes were teachers of God's law. They often explained what other teachers had said. Jesus spoke as someone who had the right to say what God means.
21Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach. 22The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
Scene 2: A Shout in the SynagogueVerses 23 to 26
Suddenly a man in the synagogue cried out. He had an unclean spirit. An unclean spirit is an evil spirit, a demon.
"What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!" (1:24).
The spirit knew who Jesus was. It was afraid of him.
Jesus spoke sharply to the spirit. "Be silent!" he said. "Come out of him!" (1:25).
The spirit shook the man hard and came out of him with a loud scream.
The spirit was gone. The man was free.
23Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue: 24“What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 25But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!” 26At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out with a loud shriek.
Scene 3: "What Is This?"Verses 27 to 28
Everyone was amazed. They asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!" (1:27).
Jesus did not shout or fight. He only spoke, and the spirit had to obey.
News about Jesus spread quickly through the whole area of Galilee.
27All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!” 28And the news about Jesus spread quickly through the whole region of Galilee.
Scene 4: A FeverVerses 29 to 31
Jesus and his followers left the synagogue. They went to the house of Simon and Andrew. James and John came too.
Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever. They told Jesus about her right away.
Jesus went to her. He took her by the hand and helped her up.
The fever left her. Then she began to serve them, taking care of her guests.
29As soon as Jesus and His companions had left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever, and they promptly told Jesus about her. 31So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.
Scene 5: The Whole Town at the DoorVerses 32 to 34
That evening, after the sun went down, people brought everyone who was sick to Jesus. They also brought people who had demons.
The whole town gathered at the door.
Jesus healed many people who had all kinds of diseases. He drove out many demons.
He did not let the demons speak, because they knew who he was.
32That evening, after sunset, people brought to Jesus all who were sick and demon-possessed, 33and the whole town gathered at the door. 34And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and drove out many demons. But He would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.
Scene 6: Praying in the DarkVerses 35 to 39
Very early the next morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up. He went out to a quiet place where he could be alone. There he prayed.
Simon and the others went looking for him.
When they found him, they said, "Everyone is looking for You!" (1:37).
But Jesus said, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns so I can preach there as well, for that is why I have come" (1:38).
So Jesus went all through Galilee. He preached in their synagogues and drove out demons.
35Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray. 36Simon and his companions went to look for Him, 37and when they found Him, they said, “Everyone is looking for You!” 38But Jesus answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns so I can preach there as well, for that is why I have come.” 39So He went throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Between scenesVerses 40 to 45
This part isn't retold as its own scene.
40Then a leper came to Jesus, begging on his knees: “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” 42And immediately the leprosy left him, and the man was cleansed. 43Jesus promptly sent him away with a stern warning: 44“See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 45But the man went out and openly began to proclaim and spread the news. Consequently, Jesus could no longer enter a town in plain view, but He stayed out in solitary places. Yet people came to Him from every quarter.
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