Mark 1

“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;” Naming Christ keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” Naming John keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And there went out unto him all the land of Judæa, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of…” Naming Jerusalem and Jordan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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…” Naming John keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:” The verse names Spirit rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Naming Son and Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.” The verse names Spirit rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels…” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,” Naming Galilee keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“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…” Naming Andrew and Galilee keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include followed, forsook, nets. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in…” Naming James and John keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after…” Naming Zebedee keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.” Naming Capernaum keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,” The line’s distinctive content terms include cried, spirit, synagogue. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.” Naming Hold and Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include cried, loud, spirit. Its relationship to verses 25 and 27 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.” Naming Galilee keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James…” Naming Andrew and James keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.” Naming Simon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto…” The line’s distinctive content terms include fever, hand, immediately. Its relationship to verses 30 and 32 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with…” The line’s distinctive content terms include devils, diseased, possessed. Its relationship to verses 31 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And all the city was gathered together at the door.” The line’s distinctive content terms include city, door, gathered. Its relationship to verses 34 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak…” The line’s distinctive content terms include devils, diseases, divers. Its relationship to verses 33 and 35 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there…” The line’s distinctive content terms include departed, morning, place. Its relationship to verses 34 and 36 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.” Naming Simon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.” Naming All keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.” Naming Galilee keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst…” The line’s distinctive content terms include beseeching, canst, clean. Its relationship to verses 39 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.” The line’s distinctive content terms include cleansed, departed, immediately. Its relationship to verses 41 and 43 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.