Mark 1:14 kjv

Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

Mark 1:14 nkjv

Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

Mark 1:14 niv

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.

Mark 1:14 esv

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God,

Mark 1:14 nlt

Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God's Good News.

Mark 1 verses

Mark 1 14 Meaning

After John the Baptist's arrest, Jesus initiated His public ministry by moving into Galilee. There, He began to authoritatively declare the good news of God, marking a significant transition in God's redemptive plan and revealing the central message of His mission. This verse signals the shift of God's prophetic activity from John, the forerunner, to Jesus, the Messiah.

Mark 1 14 Context

This verse follows a brief yet significant prelude to Jesus’ ministry. John the Baptist, the fore-runner, prepared the way, preaching a baptism of repentance. Immediately preceding Mark 1:14, Jesus has been baptized by John (1:9-11), identifying with humanity and confirming His divine Sonship. This is swiftly followed by His temptation in the wilderness (1:12-13), demonstrating His triumph over evil. Thus, when John is arrested, Jesus steps forward. His emergence is not incidental but is the divinely appointed commencement of His public mission. Historically, John's arrest by Herod Antipas highlights the dangerous reality of proclaiming God's truth to corrupt power, setting a tone for suffering in Mark's narrative and emphasizing the divine timing for Jesus to take the stage in Galilee, a region considered peripheral by the Jerusalem elite but significant in prophetic anticipation.

Mark 1 14 Word analysis

• Now after (μετὰ δὲ - meta de): Signifies a direct temporal sequence and transition. John’s ministry had prepared the ground; his cessation creates the opening for Jesus. It’s a purposeful handover, not an abrupt incident.

• John (Ἰωάννην - Iōannēn): Refers to John the Baptist. His pivotal role as the forerunner who prepares the way for the Messiah is concluded in this phrase, shifting focus entirely to Jesus.

• was arrested (παρεδόθη - paredothē): From paradidomi, meaning "to hand over," "to betray," or "to deliver up." This term is highly significant in Mark, used not only for John’s fate but also for Jesus’ future betrayal by Judas, His delivery to Pilate, and ultimately His surrender to crucifixion (Mk 14:10-11, 15:15). It hints at a common thread of suffering and unjust "delivery" that God's faithful servants might face, central to Mark's passion theology.

• Jesus (Ἰησοῦς - Iēsous): The central figure of Mark’s Gospel now steps into prominence. His public ministry begins immediately upon John’s arrest, signifying God’s sovereign timeline.

• came into (ἤλθεν εἰς - ēlthen eis): Indicates a deliberate, active entry. Jesus intentionally initiates His mission by moving to a specific geographic region.

• Galilee (Γαλιλαίαν - Galilaian): A region in northern Palestine, culturally diverse and often disdained by Judeans, known as "Galilee of the Gentiles" (Isa 9:1). It's the primary base for Jesus’ ministry in Mark, emphasizing His mission to all, including those outside the strict traditional Jewish center.

• proclaiming (κηρύσσων - kērussōn): From kēryssō, meaning "to act as a herald," "to make a public announcement." It implies an authoritative, public, and urgent declaration, like a king’s decree. This is not gentle teaching but a powerful summons.

• the gospel (τὸ εὐαγγέλιον - to euangelion): The "good news" or "good message." Mark uses this term to define the entirety of Jesus' mission and message. In the Roman context, euangelion referred to imperial proclamations of good news (e.g., of an emperor’s birth or victory). Jesus’ proclamation of the euangelion of God asserts God's kingdom as the true ultimate reality, subtly challenging competing worldly authorities.

• of God (τοῦ Θεοῦ - tou Theou): Identifies the source and content of the "good news." It is God's own message, God's plan, and ultimately, God's reign and saving action that is being announced.

• Words-group analysis:

  • Now after John was arrested: This phrase underscores the precise divine timing. John’s ministry was a preparatory phase, concluded by his incarceration, which then ushered in Jesus' public work. It emphasizes a deliberate transition of divine activity and authority.
  • Jesus came into Galilee: Highlights the strategic location for Jesus’ ministry. Galilee, away from the religious and political center of Jerusalem, becomes the hub for announcing God's radical new reign, perhaps indicating receptiveness outside the traditional religious strongholds.
  • proclaiming the gospel of God: This defines the very essence of Jesus’ mission. It is an authoritative, public declaration of the good news that originates from God Himself, establishing His kingdom and challenging the world’s current order. It frames Jesus not merely as a teacher, but as God's herald.

Mark 1 14 Bonus section

• Galilean Emphasis: Mark, more than other Gospels, emphasizes Jesus’ primary ministry being in Galilee (Mk 1:14-7:23). This may be deliberate to portray Jesus as accessible and operating in a less-than-central, perhaps 'common' area, making the gospel universal.
• Urgency: Mark's narrative style is often characterized by urgency ("immediately," "straightaway"). While not in this exact verse, the abrupt transition from John's arrest to Jesus' public ministry conveys a sense of swift divine action and unfolding purpose.
• Contrast with Political "Good News": The term "gospel" (euangelion) would have resonated with the original Roman audience as imperial proclamations (e.g., a Caesar’s birth or victory). By speaking of "the gospel of God," Jesus implicitly announces a superior kingdom and an ultimate message that transcends worldly powers.
• Messianic Secret: While Jesus "proclaims" the gospel, Mark will later introduce elements of the "Messianic secret" where Jesus often silences demons or tells disciples not to reveal His identity fully until later. Here, the emphasis is on the message and its divine origin, not His specific title yet.

Mark 1 14 Commentary

Mark 1:14 serves as the pivotal turning point, marking the inauguration of Jesus’ public ministry. John's imprisonment creates a divine vacuum, immediately filled by Jesus. This swift succession signals a deliberate passing of the prophetic mantle and an acceleration of God's redemptive timeline. Jesus' choice of Galilee underscores a ministry extending beyond traditional religious confines, bringing the "good news" to all. His core mission is identified as "proclaiming the gospel of God" – a forceful, authoritative declaration of God's ultimate reign, calling humanity to repentance and faith. This declaration of divine "good news" implicitly critiques any lesser, worldly "good news" offered by empires, establishing God as the true sovereign. The initial mention of John being "handed over" also subtly prefigures the passion motif of suffering and being "handed over" that will later define Jesus’ own journey.