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New Testament · Gospel · Book 41 of 66

Gospel of Mark

The fast-moving Gospel of the suffering Servant: Jesus the Son of God, who came to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.

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16 Chapters

Mark 1–16

Author

John Mark

Written

c. A.D. 55 – 70

Written For

Likely Gentile (Roman) Christians

Summary
Title
Author
Date
Outline
Galilee
Journey
Jerusalem
Cross
Overview

Gospel of Mark Summary

Mark is the shortest and most fast-paced of the four Gospels. It begins with the announcement of the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God (1:1), and moves quickly from one scene to the next, often using the word “immediately.” It has no birth story. It opens with John the Baptist and Jesus’ baptism and goes straight into His public ministry.

The first half shows Jesus’ authority in teaching, healing, driving out demons and calming the sea, along with growing opposition. A turning point comes at Caesarea Philippi, where Peter says Jesus is the Messiah and Jesus begins to teach that the Son of Man must suffer, die and rise (8:27–31). The second half is the road to Jerusalem and the cross, which takes up about a third of the book. The key saying is in 10:45, that the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.

Mark ends with the empty tomb and the angel’s announcement that Jesus has risen (16:1–8). Many of the earliest manuscripts end at verse 8, while others add a longer ending in verses 9–20. Most modern Bibles include both with a note, and this page lists the longer ending as a separate section.

About the Name

Title

The traditional Greek title is Kata Markon, “According to Mark.” The word “gospel” comes from the Old English godspel, “good news,” which translates the Greek word euangelion. Mark is the only Gospel to call itself the beginning of the gospel in its opening line.

“Mark” is the Latin name Marcus. Its author’s Hebrew name was John (Acts 12:12, 25).

Who Wrote It

Author Details

The Gospel does not name its author. Early church tradition identifies him as John Mark, a companion of Paul, Barnabas and Peter. His mother’s house in Jerusalem was a gathering place for the early church (Acts 12:12), Barnabas was his cousin (Colossians 4:10), and Peter calls him “my son” (1 Peter 5:13).

Papias, a church writer of the early second century, reported that Mark was Peter’s interpreter and wrote down what Peter remembered of Jesus’ teachings and deeds, though not in strict order. Some scholars doubt this tradition. This page follows it.

When It Was Written

Date of Writing

Mark is widely thought to be the earliest of the Gospels, and many scholars date it to about A.D. 55–70, either shortly before or shortly after the destruction of the Jerusalem temple in A.D. 70 (13:1–2). Matthew and Luke seem to have used it.

Early tradition places its writing in Rome, and its explanations of Jewish customs (7:3–4), its translations of Aramaic words (5:41; 15:34), and its Latin loanwords suggest readers who were not Jewish. Some Christians in Rome were facing persecution at the time.

Study Guide

Mark Outline

16 chapters in seven parts. Tap any section to expand it, and tap a verse reference to read it at BibleGateway.

Read Mark at BibleGateway
Part I

Preparation for Ministry

1:1–13 · John, the baptism and the temptation

Read this passage · 1:1–8

Read this passage · 1:9–11

Read this passage · 1:12–13

Part II

Authority in Galilee

1:14–3:6 · Jesus begins His ministry

  1. “The time has come”: repent and believe the good news · 1:14–15
  2. Four fishermen are called · 1:16–20
  1. Teaching with authority; the man with an impure spirit · 1:21–28
  2. Peter’s mother-in-law and many others healed · 1:29–34
  1. Jesus prays and moves on · 1:35–39
  2. A man with leprosy is healed · 1:40–45
  1. Jesus forgives and heals a paralyzed man · 2:1–12
  2. Levi is called; eating with sinners · 2:13–17
  3. A question about fasting · 2:18–22
  4. The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath · 2:23–28
  5. A man with a shriveled hand · 3:1–6
Part III

Crowds, Parables and Miracles

3:7–6:6 · Responses to Jesus

  1. Crowds gather by the lake · 3:7–12
  2. Jesus appoints the Twelve · 3:13–19
  1. The accusation, the strong man and blasphemy against the Spirit · 3:20–30
  2. Jesus’ mother and brothers · 3:31–35
  1. The parable of the sower and its meaning · 4:1–20
  2. A lamp, the measure, and the growing seed · 4:21–29
  3. The mustard seed; teaching in parables · 4:30–34
  1. Jesus calms the storm · 4:35–41
  2. The man with an impure spirit at Gerasa · 5:1–20
  3. Jairus’s daughter and the woman with bleeding · 5:21–43

Read this passage · 6:1–6

Part IV

Mission and Ministry Beyond Galilee

6:7–8:21 · The Twelve and the crowds

Read this passage · 6:7–13

Read this passage · 6:14–29

  1. The return of the Twelve; feeding the five thousand · 6:30–44
  2. Jesus walks on the water · 6:45–52
  3. Healings at Gennesaret · 6:53–56
  1. The tradition of the elders · 7:1–13
  2. What defiles a person · 7:14–23
  1. The Syrophoenician woman · 7:24–30
  2. A deaf and mute man is healed · 7:31–37
  1. Feeding the four thousand · 8:1–10
  2. The demand for a sign; the yeast of the Pharisees · 8:11–21
Part V

The Road to Jerusalem

8:22–10:52 · Who is Jesus, and the way of the cross

Read this passage · 8:22–26

  1. “You are the Messiah” · 8:27–30
  2. The Son of Man must suffer; take up your cross · 8:31–9:1

Read this passage · 9:2–13

Read this passage · 9:14–29

  1. Second prediction of His death · 9:30–32
  2. Who is the greatest; whoever is not against us · 9:33–41
  3. Causing others to stumble; salt · 9:42–50
  1. Teaching on divorce · 10:1–12
  2. Jesus blesses the little children · 10:13–16

Read this passage · 10:17–31

  1. Third prediction of His death · 10:32–34
  2. The Son of Man came to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many · 10:35–45

Read this passage · 10:46–52

Part VI

The Final Week in Jerusalem

11:1–13:37 · Authority, conflict and the Olivet discourse

Read this passage · 11:1–11

  1. Jesus curses the fig tree · 11:12–14
  2. Jesus clears the temple · 11:15–19
  3. The withered fig tree; faith and prayer · 11:20–26

Read this passage · 11:27–33

Read this passage · 12:1–12

  1. Paying taxes to Caesar · 12:13–17
  2. Marriage and the resurrection · 12:18–27
  3. The greatest commandment · 12:28–34
  4. Whose son is the Messiah?; the widow’s offering · 12:35–44
  1. The destruction of the temple foretold · 13:1–4
  2. Signs and persecution · 13:5–13
  3. The great distress · 13:14–23
  4. The coming of the Son of Man; keep watch · 13:24–37
Part VII

The Passion and Resurrection

14:1–16:20 · The cross and the empty tomb

  1. The plot; the anointing at Bethany · 14:1–9
  2. Judas agrees to betray Jesus · 14:10–11
  1. The Passover meal and the betrayer · 14:12–21
  2. The Lord’s Supper · 14:22–26
  3. Peter’s denial predicted · 14:27–31
  1. Jesus prays in Gethsemane · 14:32–42
  2. Jesus is arrested · 14:43–52
  1. The trial before the Sanhedrin · 14:53–65
  2. Peter denies Jesus · 14:66–72
  1. Pilate and Barabbas · 15:1–15
  2. The soldiers mock Jesus · 15:16–20
  1. The crucifixion · 15:21–32
  2. The death of Jesus; the centurion’s words · 15:33–41
  3. The burial · 15:42–47

Read this passage · 16:1–8

Read this passage · 16:9–20

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Verse references link to the NIV at BibleGateway.