Mar 1:21-27 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Mark 1:21-28: 1:21-28 Jesus’ exorcisms reveal Jesus’ identity and his power over Satan (see study notes on Mark 1:12-13 and 3:27; see also 1:34 , 39 ; 3:11-12 , 22 ; 5:1-20 ; 6:13 ; 7:24-30 ; 9:14-29 ). 1:21 Mark introduces his first account of an exorcism with Jesus and his companions going into the synagogue in Capernaum. Jesus’ teaching in the synagogue suggests that he already had a reputation as a teacher and was therefore invited to speak (cp. Acts 13:15 ).

Summary for Mark 1:21-28: 1:21-28 ^a Jesus’ exorcisms reveal Jesus’ identity and his power over Satan (see study notes on Mark 1:12-13 and 3:27; see also 1:34 ^b, 39 ^c; 3:11-12 ^d, 22 ^e; 5:1-20 ^f; 6:13 ^g; 7:24-30 ^h; 9:14-29 ⁱ). 1:21 ^j Mark introduces his first account of an exorcism with Jesus and his companions going into the synagogue in Capernaum. Jesus’ teaching in the synagogue suggests that he already had a reputation as a teacher and was therefore invited to speak (cp. Acts 13:15 ^k).
1:22 ^l The teachers of religious law were professional scribes—scholars who taught, copied, and interpreted Jewish law for the people. They were primarily associated with the Pharisees. The scribes’ authority was derived from quoting other scribes (cp. Matt 5:21-48 ^m). Jesus’ teaching caused amazement because he spoke and acted with real authority (see Mark 1:27 ⁿ; 5:20 ^o; 6:2 ^p; 7:37 ^q; 10:24-32 ^r; 11:18 ^s; 15:5 ^t).
Summary for Mark 1:23-24: 1:23-24 ^u The demon spoke through the man who was possessed by an evil spirit (1:24 ^v). Demons frequently cause disease (9:17 ^w, 27 ^x; Matt 17:15 ^y) and self-destructive behavior (Mark 1:26 ^z; 5:2-5 ^aa; 9:17-18 ^ab, 20-22 ^ac). Demons know who Jesus is (1:34 ^ad); they consistently testify that he is the Holy One of God (see 3:11 ^ae; 5:7 ^af).

• In saying us, the evil spirit spoke on behalf of all demons. It recognized Jesus’ complete authority and understood that he had come to interfere with and destroy evil.
1:25 ^ag Jesus did not need to shout or utter magic words. He simply spoke with the authority of the Son of God (1:1 ^ah), and the evil spirit obeyed.

• Be quiet! Jesus commanded the evil spirit not to make him known. This is an instance of the “messianic secret,” an expression for passages in Mark in which Jesus commands demons or people not to reveal his identity (1:25 ^ai, 34 ^aj; 3:11-12 ^ak; 8:30 ^al; 9:9 ^am).
1:26 ^an The screams and convulsions caused by the evil (literally unclean; also in 1:27 ^ao) spirit were its parting cries of defeat (5:13 ^ap; 9:26 ^aq; cp. 15:37 ^ar).
Summary for Mark 1:27-28: 1:27-28 ^as The amazement caused by this exorcism quickly led to the spread of the news about Jesus.

• What sort of new teaching is this? Jesus’ healings and exorcisms were understood holistically as being part of his teaching (1:21-22 ^at, 27 ^au; cp. 1:38-39 ^av; 3:14-15 ^aw; 6:2 ^ax, 5 ^ay, 12-13 ^az, 30 ^ba).