MRK 1:21-28

Jesus Expels an Unclean Spirit

21And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. [1:22] And they were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who has authority and not as the scribes. [1:23] And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, [1:24] saying, 'What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God.' [1:25] And Jesus rebuked him, saying, 'Be silent and come out of him!' [1:26] And the unclean spirit, having thrown him into convulsions and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. [1:27] And they were all so astonished that they questioned among themselves, saying, 'What is this? A new teaching — with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.' [1:28] And the report about him went out immediately everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

In the world it was spoken into

In first-century Capernaum, the synagogue was the central institution for Jewish communal life, where teaching and Torah interpretation occurred. Scribes, as learned interpreters of the Law, typically taught by citing precedents and traditions, grounding their authority in established sources. Jesus’ teaching, however, is marked by an inherent (authority), which contrasts sharply with the scribal method. This authority would have been understood as deriving from a divine or supernatural source, not human tradition. The presence of an unclean spirit in the synagogue underscores the tension between holiness and impurity in Jewish ritual space. Spirits were believed to possess knowledge of divine realities, as seen when the spirit identifies Jesus as “the Holy One of God.” Jesus’ command, (be silent), uses language of restraint, often associated with muzzling animals, emphasizing His control over the spiritual realm. The violent convulsion of the spirit’s departure highlights the disruptive power of Jesus’ authority, leaving the crowd astonished , a term suggesting they were struck out of their senses.

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How other translations render this

MRK 1:21

KJV: And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
BSB: Then Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach.
Koinōnos: And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching.

MRK 1:22

KJV: And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
BSB: The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
Koinōnos: And they were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who has authority and not as the scribes.

MRK 1:23

KJV: And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
BSB: Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue:
Koinōnos: And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,

MRK 1:24

KJV: Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
BSB: “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!”
Koinōnos: saying, 'What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God.

MRK 1:25

KJV: And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
BSB: But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!”
Koinōnos: And Jesus rebuked him, saying, 'Be silent and come out of him!

MRK 1:26

KJV: And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
BSB: At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out with a loud shriek.
Koinōnos: And the unclean spirit, having thrown him into convulsions and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.

MRK 1:27

KJV: And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
BSB: All 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!”
Koinōnos: And they were all so astonished that they questioned among themselves, saying, 'What is this? A new teaching — with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.

MRK 1:28

KJV: And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
BSB: And the news about Jesus spread quickly through the whole region of Galilee.
Koinōnos: And the report about him went out immediately everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

MRK 1:22

they were astonished:The word translated 'astonished' here implies a shock so profound it almost knocks one off balance, suggesting a deep, unsettling impact rather than mere surprise.
authority:The term used here for 'authority' refers to a legitimate right or power to act, often granted by a higher source, rather than just raw strength or influence.

MRK 1:25

do be silent:The command 'do be silent' uses a word that literally means to muzzle, implying a forceful and complete silencing, as one would muzzle an animal.

MRK 1:26

having thrown into convulsions:The phrase 'having thrown into convulsions' uses a word that describes a violent tearing or rending, indicating a severe and forceful physical reaction.