BISHOP WILLIAM THOMSON, D. D.—All ancient testimony makes Mark the author of the Gospel which has come down to us bearing his name. Eusebius says, on the authority of Clement of Alexandria, that the hearers of Peter at Rome desired Mark, the follower of Peter, to leave with them a record of his teachings, upon which Mark wrote his Gospel, which the apostle afterward sanctioned with his authority, and directed that it should be read in the churches (Euseb. H. E., II., 15). Tertullian also speaks of the Gospel of Mark as being connected with Peter, and as having his authority (Cont. Marc. IV., 5). Both Justin Martyr and Irenmus quote from this Gospel.—Smith's Dict. of Bible, art. " Gospel of Mark."
PAPIAS.—This also John the elder said:—Mark being the interpreter of Peter, wrote down exactly whatever things he remembered, but yet not in the order in which Christ either spoke or did them; for he was neither a hearer nor a follower of the Lord's, but he was afterward a follower of Peter.— Euseb. H. E., III., 39.
See Matt. 1:1.
The Baptist's Ministry
Mark 1:4, 5.—John did baptize in the wilderness, and preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
JOSEPHUS. —John, who was called the Baptist, was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God, and so to come to baptism. The people came in crowds about him, for they were greatly moved by hearing his words, and they seemed ready to do anything he should advise.—Antq, 18, 5, 2
Mark 1:6.—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 honey. See Matt. 3:4.
Mark 1:7.—There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
See Matt. 3:11.
Christ in the Wilderness
Mark 1:13.—And was with the wild beasts.
REV. F. W. FARRAR, D. D., F. R. S.—It is not a natural thing that the wild creatures should attack with ferocity, or fly in terror from, their master man. The terror or the fury of animals, though continued by hereditary instinct, was began by cruel and wanton aggression; and historical instances are not wanting in which both have been overcome by the sweetness, the majesty, the gentleness of man.-Life of Christ, Vol. I., p. 120.
Mark 1:16.—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. See Matt. 4:18.
Mark 1:19.—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.
See Matt. 4:21.
Mark 1:21.—And they went into Capernaum, etc.
See Matt. 4:13.
Mark 1:22.—And they were astonishes at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
See Matt. 7:28.
Mark 1:23, 24.—And there was in the synagogue a man with an unclean spirit: and he cried out, saying, Let us alone, what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? etc.
See Matt. 8:29-32.
Mark 1:30, 31—But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever: and anon they tell him of her. And he came and took her by the hand, etc.
See Matt. 8:14.
Mark 1:40.—And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, etc.
See Matt. 8:2, 3.
Mark 2:11.—Arise and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thy house.
See Matt. 9:6.
Mark 2:14.—And as he passed by he saw Levi the son of Alpheus, sitting at the receipt of custom, etc.
See Matt. 9:9.
Mark 2:17.—They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick. See Matt. 9:12.
Mark 2:22.—And no man putteth new wine into old bottles, etc. See Matt. 9:17.
Mark 2:23.—And it came to pass, that he went through the corn-fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn.
See Matt. 12:1, 2
Mark 3:6.—And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
See Matt. 22:16.
Boanerges
Mark 3:17.—And he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder.
PLUTARCH. —We are told that Pericles, in his harangues, thundered and lightened; and that his tongue was armed with thunder.—Percl., c. 8.
PLINY. —With what glowing language do you thunder forth the praises of your father?—Hist. Nat. Dedic.
Christ Suspected of Insanity
Mark 3:21.—For they said, He is beside himself.
DR. F. W. FARRAR.—To the world there has been ever a tendency to confuse the fervor of enthusiasm with the eccentricity of a disordered genius. " Paul, thou art mad! " was the only comment which the Apostle's passion of exalted eloquence produced on the cynical and blasé intellect of the Roman Procurator. " Brother Martin has a fine genius! " was the sneering allusion of Pope Leo X. to Luther. " What crackbrained fanatics," observed the fine gentlemen of the eighteenth century when they spoke of Wesley and Whitefield.—Life of Christ, Vol. I., p. 282.
Mark 3:23, 24.—How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
See Matt. 12:25.
Mark 4:3-8.—Behold there went out a sower to sow: and it came to pass as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, etc.
See Matt. 13:3-9.
Mark 4:30, 31.—And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, etc.
See Matt. 13:31.
The Great Storm
Mark 4:38.—And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow.
DR. HENRY J. VAN-LENNEP.—At the extreme end of the stern is often seen a small low bench, upon which the steersman sits for a change. Here the captain often rests his head when, as is his custom, he sleeps upon the quarterdeck. This little bench may generally be seen in the fishing crafts, particularly those which ply on the Sea of Galilee, a circumstance which explains the nature of the pillow upon which rested the head of our Lord during the sudden storm narrated in Mark. Passengers of distinction alone are allowed a place upon the quarter-deck.—Bible Lands, p. 62.
Demoniac from the Tombs
Mark 5:1, 2.—And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.
See Matt. 8:28-32.
The Diseased Woman
Mark 5:25, 26.—And a certain woman which had an issue of blood twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, when she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind and touched his garment.
DR. F. W. FARRAR.—Legend has assigned to this woman Veronica as a name, and Paneas (Cæsarea Philippi) as a residence. An ancient statue of bronze at this place was believed to represent her in the act of touching the fringe of Christ's robe; and Eusebius and Sozomen both mention this statue, which is believed to have been so curious a testimony to the reality of Christ's miracle, that Julian the Apostate is charged with having destroyed it.—Life of Christ, I., 356.
The Damsel Restored
Mark 5:39.—Why make ye this ado and weep? the damsel is not dead but sleepeth.
JAHN. —The grief of the Orientals formerly, on an occasion of death, was, and it is to this day in the East, very extreme. As soon as a person dies, the females of the family with a loud voice set up a sorrowful cry. They continue it as long as they can without taking breath, and the first shriek of wailing dies away in a low sob. After a short space of time, they repeat the same cry, and so continue for eight days. Many other indications of grief are often given, such as tearing the hair and clothes, smiting the breast, lying down in ashes, putting dust upon the head, etc.—Bib. Archœol., sect. 211.
Mark 6:4.—A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
See Matt. 13:57
Mark 6:14-29.—And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad;) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him, etc.
See Matt. 14:1-12.
Mark 6:35-44.—And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: send them away that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread, etc.
See Matt. 14:15-21.
Mark 6:53.—And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.
See Matt. 14:34.
Mark 7:1, 2.—Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say with unwashen hands, they found fault.
See Matt. 15:1, 2.
Mark 7:14,15.—And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, these are they that defile a man.
See Matt. 15:11.
Mark 7:24, etc.—And from thence he arose and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, etc.
See Matt. 15:21.
Mark 8:1-9.—In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, I have compassion on the multitude, etc.
See Matt. 15:32.
Mark 8:27.—And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Cæsarea Philippi; etc. See Matt. 16:13.
Mark 9:42.—And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.
See Matt. 18:6.
Mark 9:50.—Salt is good, but if the salt have lost his saltiness, etc. See Matt. 5:13.
Mark 10:2-52.—And the Pharisees came. to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him, etc. See Matt. 19:3-6.
Mark 10:13.—And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
See Matt. 19:13.
Mark 10:20.—And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
See Matt. 19:20.
Mark 10:23-27.—How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
See Matt. 19:23-26.
Mark 10:32.—And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem. and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed, etc. See Matt. 20:17,18.
Mark 10:39.—And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of: etc. See Matt. 20:23.
Mark 10:46.—And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimeus, etc.
See Matt. 20:29.
Mark 11:1.—And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, etc. See Matt. 21:1.
Mark 11:8.—And many spread their garments in the way; and others cut down branches of the trees and strewed them in the way. See Matt. 21:8.
Mark 11:12-14.—And on the morrow when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry; and seeing a fig-tree afar off, etc. See Matt. 21:19.
Mark 11:25.—And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any; etc. See Matt. 6:15.
Mark 11:27.—And they come again to Jerusalem, and as he was walking in the temple, there came to him the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders, and say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things?
See Matt. 21:23.
Mark 12:1.—And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set a hedge about it, etc. See Matt. 21:33.
Mark 12:13-17.—Is it lawful to give tribute to Cæsar or not?
See Matt. 22:15.
Mark 12:18.—Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection. And they asked him, saying, Master, Moses, etc.
See Matt. 22:23.
Mark 12:28.—And one of the scribes came... and asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
See Matt. 22:35.
Mark 12:38.—And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, etc.
See Matt. 23:1.
The Poor Widow
Mark 12:43.-Verily, I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury, etc.
XENOPHON.—Socrates, when he sacrificed, feared not that his offering would fail of acceptance because he was poor; but, giving according to his ability, he doubted not but in the sight of the. gods he equaled those men whose gifts and sacrifices overspread the whole altar.—Mem., lib. i., c. 3.
PLATO.—It would be a dreadful thing if the gods looked to the value of gifts and sacrifices, and not to the souls of those who offer them.-Alcib., II., 13.
ARISTOTLE.—Liberality is denominated according to the property which is possessed; for the liberal does not consist in the multitude of the gifts, but in the habit of the giver; and this habit gives according to the means of giving. Nothing hinders that he may be a more liberal man who gives fewer things, if he gives them from less means.—Eth., lib. iv., c. a.
OVID.—Although the power be wanting, yet the inclination is to be commended; with this I trust the gods are content. This is the reason why even the poor approach the altars acceptably; and why a lamb pleases not less than a slaughtered ox.—De Pont., lib. iii., eleg. 4.
Mark 13:1.—And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!
See Matt. 24 a, etc.
Mark 13:9.—But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils: and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: etc.
See Matt. 10:17,18, and 24:9.
Mark 13:10.—And the gospel must first be published among all nations. See Matt. 24:14.
Mark 13:12.—Now the brother shall betray the brother, etc.
See Matt. 10:21, and 24:10.
Mark 13:13.—And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
See Matt. 24:9.
Mark 13:14.—But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, etc.
See Matt. 24:15.
Mark 13:19.—For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation, etc.
See Matt. 24:21.
Mark 13:25.—And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or lo, he is there; etc. See Matt. 24:23.
Mark 13:24, 25.—But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, etc. See Matt. 24:29.
Mark 13:26.—And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
See Matt. 24:30.
Mark 14:1.—After two days was the feast of the Passover, etc.
See Matt. 26:3.
Mark 14:3.—And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box, etc.
See Matt. 26:7.
Mack 14:9.—Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of as a memorial of her.
See Matt. 26:12,13.
Mark 14:22-24.—And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed and brake it, and gave to them, etc.
See Matt. 26:26-28.
The Cock-Crowing
Mark 14:30.—And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
ARUNDELL. —It has often been remarked, in illustration of Scripture, that in the Eastern countries the cocks crow in the night, but the regularity with which they keep what may be called the watches has not been perhaps sufficiently noticed. I will, however, confine myself to one, and that is between eleven and twelve o'clock. I have often heard the cocks of Smyrna crowing in full chorus at that time, and with scarcely the variation of a minute. The second cockcrowing is between one and two o'clock. Therefore when our Lord says, "In this night, before the cock crow twice," the allusion was clearly to these seasons.—Discoveries in Asia Minor.
Mark 14:32.—And they came to the place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
See Matt. 26:36.
Mark 15:1—And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the or elders and scribes, and the whole council, etc. See Matt. 27:1.
Mark 15:15.—And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
See Matt. 27:26.
The Pretorium
Mark 15:16.—And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Pretorium; and they call together the whole band.
DR. F. W. FARRAR.—At Jerusalem, Pontius Pilate occupied one of the two gorgeous palaces which had been erected there by the lavish architectural extravagance of the first Herod. It was situated in the Upper City, to the southwest of the Temple Hill, and like the similar building at Cæsarea, having passed from the use of the provincial king to that of the Roman governor, was called Herod's Prætorium. It was one of those luxurious abodes, "surpassing all description," which were in accordance with the tendencies of the age, and on which Josephus dwells with ecstasies of admiration. Between its colossal wings of white marble was an open space commanding a noble view of Jerusalem, adorned with sculptured porticos and columns of many-colored marble, paved with rich mosaics, varied with fountains and reservoirs, and green promenades.
Externally, it was a mass of lofty walls, and towers, and gleaming roofs, mingled in exquisite varieties of splendors; within, its superb rooms, large enough to accommodate a hundred guests, were adorned with gorgeous furniture and vessels of gold and silver.... In that kingly palace—such as in His days of freedom He had never trod—began, in three distinct acts, the fourth stage of that agitating scene which preceded the final agonies of Christ.—Life of Christ, II., 364.
See Matt. 27:27.
Mark 15:21.—And they compel one Simon, a Cyrenian, etc. See Matt. 27:32.
Mark 15:23.—And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not. See Matt. 27:34.
Mark 15:24—And when they had crucified him, etc.
See Matt. 27:35.
The Superscription
Mark 15:26.—And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
BURDER.—Thus Attalus the martyr was led round the amphitheater, with a tablet before him, inscribed, "This is Attalus the Christian." The same custom prevailed in crucifixions.-In loco.
See Matt. 27:37.
Mark 15:39.—The centurion said, Truly this man was the Son of God. See Matt. 27:54.
The Women at the Tomb
Mark 16:1.—And when the Sabbath was past Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
PLINY.—Take into account the vast number of funerals that are celebrated throughout the whole world each year, and the heaps of odors that are piled up in honor of the dead.—Hist. Nat., XII., 18.
PLUTARCH.—On the death of Sylla, so great a quantity of spices was brought by the women, that, exclusive of those carried in 210 great baskets, a figure of Sylla, at full length, and of a lictor besides, was made of cinnamon and the choicest frankincense.—Sylla, c. 38.
Mark 16:20.—And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. See Matt. 24:14.