Mark 1:39 — Community Reflections

MARK 1:39 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.”

So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons — the ministry summary confirms the geographic scope declared in verse 38. The whole Galilean circuit — synagogues throughout the region — is completed, and the two-part ministry of proclamation and exorcism characterizes every stop. The synagogue-by-synagogue pattern gives structure to the otherwise narratively compressed summary: this is not one event but a sustained campaign across the whole region. The driving out of demons is listed alongside the preaching as equally essential to the mission — the kingdom's arrival involves both announced and demonstrated power over every realm of human bondage.

Church Fathers on Mark 1:39

After that the Lord had cured the sick, He retired apart.
Theophylact · 11th century

But by this preaching, which, he says, 'He continued in all Galilee,' is also meant the sermon of the Lord delivered on the mount, which Matthew mentions, and Mark has entirely passed over, without giving any thing like it, save that he has repeated some sentences not in continuous order, but in scattered places, spoken by the Lord at other times.
Augustine · 4th century · de Con. Evan., ii, 19

Again, mystically if by the setting of the sun, the death of the Saviour is intended, why should not His resurrection be intended by the returning dawn? For by its clear light, He went far into the wilderness of the Gentiles, and there continued praying in the person of His faithful disciples, for He aroused their hearts by the grace of the Holy Spirit to the virtue of prayer.
Bede · 8th century

Read all 6 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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