Mark

Presents a fast-paced account of Jesus' actions and miracles, emphasizing His role as the suffering servant.

Chapter 2

1 And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

*After a while, he went back to Capernaum and people heard that he was at a house there.

2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

*Quickly, lots of people came together, so cramped that there wasn't even space near the door. He taught them important lessons.

3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

*They brought to him a person with paralysis who was carried by four people.

4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

*When people couldn't get close to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him. Then, they broke open the roof and lowered the bed with the paralyzed person on it right to Jesus.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

*When Jesus saw they believed, he told the paralyzed person, "Your sins are forgiven."

6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

*But some writers were sitting there, thinking to themselves.

7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

*Why does this person say such sacrilegious things? Who can forgive sins except for God alone?

8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

*As soon as Jesus knew they were thinking like that, he asked them, "Why are you thinking about these things in your minds?"

9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

*Is it simpler to tell someone who's sick and unable to move that their sins are forgiven, or to tell them to get up, pick up their bed, and start walking?

10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

*But so you can understand that the human Son has authority on Earth to forgive mistakes, (he tells the sick person with difficulty moving),

11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

*I tell you to get up, pick up your mattress, and go back to your home.

12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

*Immediately, the man stood up, picked up his bed, and left ahead of everyone. They were so surprised and praised God, saying they had never seen anything like that before.

13 And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.

*He went to the shore again, and many people came to him. He taught them.

14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.

*As Jesus walked by, he noticed Levi, the son of Alphaeus, working at the tax booth. Jesus told Levi to join him, and without hesitation, Levi got up and went with him.

15 And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.

*One day, while Jesus was eating with his followers, many tax collectors and sinners joined them. There were a lot of people, and they all followed Jesus.

16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?

*When the writers and religious leaders saw Jesus eating with people who collected taxes and those who did wrong things, they asked his followers, "Why does he eat and drink with these tax collectors and wrongdoers?"

17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

*When Jesus heard this, he told them that healthy people don't need a doctor, but sick people do. He didn't come to call those who already do good, but to invite those who make mistakes to change their ways.

18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?

*John's and Pharisee's followers fasted, and they asked Jesus, "Why don't your followers fast like John's and Pharisee's followers do?"

19 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

*Jesus asked if the wedding guests could fast when the groom is still there, and he said no, because they can't fast while the groom is with them.

20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

*But eventually, when the groom is gone, they'll fast during that time.

21 No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.

*A person doesn't put new fabric on an old clothing; otherwise, the new part will make the old part worse and cause more damage.

22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.

*Don't put new wine in old containers; otherwise, the wine will spoil, leak out, and damage the container. Instead, new wine needs to be placed in new containers.

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.

*Then, on the Sabbath, he walked through the grain fields with his followers, who started picking the grains while they walked.

24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?

*The Pharisees asked Jesus, "Why do they do something unallowed on the Sabbath day?"

25 And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him?

*He asked them, "Did you never read about what David did when he was in need and hungry, not just him but also those with him?"

26 How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him?

*He entered God's house during Abiathar's time as high priest, ate the holy bread that only priests are allowed to eat, and shared it with those who were with him.

27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:

*He told them, "The day of rest was created for people, not people for the day of rest."

28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

*So, the human Son is also the ruler of the rest day.

read summary

Back to Chapters

Back to Books

* work in progress, there will be mistakes