Mr 1:2
1:2 {1} As it is written in the {a} prophets, Behold, {b} I send
    my messenger {c} before thy face, which shall prepare thy
    way before thee.

 (1) John goes before Christ as it was foretold by the prophets.
     (a) This is the figure of speech called metonymy, by which
         is meant the books of the prophets Malachi and Isaiah.
     (b) The prophet uses the present tense when he speaks of a
         thing to come, as he is as sure of it as if he had
         already seen it.
     (c) A metaphor taken from the practice of kings,
         who used to have ushers go before them.

Mr 1:4
1:4 {2} John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the {d}
    baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

 (2) The sum of John's doctrine, or rather Christ's, is
     remission of sins and amendment of life.
     (d) The Jews used many kinds of washings: but here a
         peculiar kind of washing is spoken of, which contains
         within it true baptism, amendment of life, and
         forgiveness of sins.

Mr 1:7
1:7 {3} And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I
    after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to {e}
    stoop down and unloose.

 (3) John and all ministers cast their eyes upon Christ the
     Lord.
     (e) The evangelist is expressing here the condition of the
         basest servant.

Mr 1:8
1:8 I indeed have {f} baptized you with water: but he shall
    baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

    (f) He shows that all the power of baptism proceeds from
        Christ, who baptizes the inner man.

Mr 1:9
1:9 {4} And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from
    Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

 (4) Christ consecrates our baptism in himself.

Mr 1:10
1:10 {5} And straightway {g} coming up out of the water, he saw
     the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending
     upon him:

 (5) The vocation of Christ from heaven, as head of the Church.
     (g) John, who went down into the water with Christ.

Mr 1:11
1:11 And there came a voice from heaven, [saying], Thou art my
     beloved Son, in whom I am {h} well pleased.

     (h) \\See Geneva "Mt 3:17"\\

Mr 1:12
1:12 {6} And immediately the Spirit {i} driveth him into the
     wilderness.

 (6) Christ being tempted overcomes.
     (i) "Driveth" here does not refer to something violent and
          forcible: but the divine power clothes Christ (who had
          lived until this time as a private man) with a new
          person, and prepares him for the battle that was at
          hand, and for his ministry.

Mr 1:14
1:14 {7} Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into
     Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

 (7) After John is taken Christ shows himself more fully.

Mr 1:16
1:16 {8} 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.

 (8) The calling of Simon and Andrew.

Mr 1:19
1:19 {9} And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw
     James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also
     were in the ship mending their nets.

 (9) The calling of James and John.

Mr 1:21
1:21 And they went into {k} Capernaum; and straightway on the
     sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

     (k) From the city of Nazareth.

Mr 1:23
1:23 {10} And there was in their synagogue a man {l} with an
     unclean spirit; and he cried out,

 (10) He preaches that doctrine by which alone Satan is driven
      out of the world, which he also confirms by a miracle.
      (l) Literally, "a man in an unclean spirit", that is to
          say, possessed with an evil spirit.

Mr 1:24
1:24 Saying, Let [us] alone; what have we to do with thee, thou
     {m} Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know
     thee who thou art, the {n} Holy One of God.

     (m) He was born in Bethlehem, but through the error of the
         people he was called a Nazarene, because he was
         brought up in Nazareth.
     (n) He alludes to the name that was written in the golden
         plate which the high Priest wore; Ex 28:36

Mr 1:26
1:26 And when the unclean spirit {o} had torn him, and cried
     with a loud voice, he came out of him.

     (o) See below, Mr 9:20.

Mr 1:27
1:27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned {p}
     among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new
     doctrine [is] this?  for with authority {q} commandeth he
     even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

     (p) As men who were amazed.
     (q) By his own authority, or as a lord.

Mr 1:28
1:28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the
     region {r} round about Galilee.

     (r) Not only into Galilee, but also into the countries
         bordering upon it.

Mr 1:29
1:29 {11} And forthwith, when they were come out of the
     synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew,
     with James and John.

 (11) By healing different diseases he shows that he has brought
      true life into the world.

Mr 1:34
1:34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and
     cast out many devils; and {f} suffered not the devils to
     speak, because they knew him.

     (s) For it is not proper for the demons to preach the
         gospel; Ac 16:18

Mr 1:38
1:38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the {t} next towns,
     that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

     (t) Villages which were like cities.

Mr 1:40
1:40 {12} 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.

 (12) By healing the leprous he shows that he came for this
      reason: to wipe out the sins of the world with his
      touch.

Mr 1:44
1:44 {13} And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man:
     but go thy way, shew thyself to the {u} priest, and offer
     for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a
     testimony unto them.

 (13) He shows that he was not motivated by ambition, but only
      by the desire for his Father's glory, and by his love
      towards poor sinners.
      (u) All the posterity of Aaron had the authority to judge
          a leper.