Literary and historical context · Gospel
World, setting, and sequence
Keep places, audiences, sequence, and historical claims clearly labeled.
Use this page with the passage open. Follow the references, test each conclusion, and return to the whole book for context.
A clear route through the whole book
The units preserve the book’s order. Read the surrounding passage whenever a unit crosses a chapter boundary, and do not let a memorable verse replace the argument or story around it.
- Mark 1:1–13John’s urgent wilderness ministry, Jesus’ baptism, and the Spirit driving him into the wilderness
- Mark 1:14–45Fishermen leaving their nets, Jesus teaching with authority, healing in Capernaum, and touching the leper
- Mark 2:1–3:6Friends lowering the paralyzed man through the roof, Levi called, and Sabbath conflict hardening the leaders
- Mark 3:7–35Crowds pressing toward Jesus, the twelve appointed, and Jesus redefining family around doing God’s will
- Mark 4Jesus teaching parables from the boat and later sleeping during the storm before rebuking wind and sea
- Mark 5The restored man among the tombs, Jairus pleading, the suffering woman touching Jesus’ garment, and the girl raised
- Mark 6Rejection at Nazareth, the twelve sent, John’s death reported, the crowd fed, and Jesus walking on the sea
- Mark 7Jesus confronting defilement from the heart, the Gentile woman answering with faith, and the deaf man healed
- Mark 8The four thousand fed, the blind man healed in stages, Peter confessing Jesus, and the first clear cross prediction
- Mark 9The Transfiguration, the suffering boy delivered, and the disciples corrected for seeking greatness
- Mark 10Jesus blessing children, the rich man leaving sorrowful, servant leadership taught, and Bartimaeus calling from the roadside
- Mark 11Jesus entering Jerusalem, examining and cleansing the temple, and the fig tree becoming a warning
- Mark 12Tenant farmers in parable, traps about tribute and resurrection, and the widow placing her small offering in the treasury
- Mark 13Jesus leaving the temple and teaching four disciples about destruction, endurance, watchfulness, and the coming of the Son of man
- Mark 14:1–31Jesus anointed at Bethany, Judas arranging betrayal, and the Passover meal
- Mark 14:32–72Jesus in Gethsemane, the arrest, the hearing before the council, and Peter weeping after his denials
- Mark 15Jesus before Pilate, mocked, crucified, dying, and placed in the tomb
- Mark 16:1–8The women entering the tomb, seeing it empty, and fleeing in trembling astonishment after receiving the message