Mark 1:21 kjv

And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

Mark 1:21 nkjv

Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught.

Mark 1:21 niv

They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.

Mark 1:21 esv

And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching.

Mark 1:21 nlt

Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach.

Mark 1 verses

Mark 1 21 Meaning

Mark 1:21 describes Jesus's purposeful arrival with His first disciples in Capernaum and His immediate act of teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath day. This verse sets the stage for demonstrating Jesus's unique authority, which will soon be contrasted with that of the scribes and powerfully confirmed by His actions. It highlights His chosen method of ministry through public teaching in established religious settings.

Mark 1 21 Context

Mark 1:21 follows Jesus's initial call of Simon, Andrew, James, and John as His disciples by the Sea of Galilee (Mk 1:16-20). The phrase "and they went" explicitly includes these newly called followers, signifying their immediate immersion into Jesus's ministry. The immediate next verse (Mk 1:22) highlights the astonishment of the Capernaum audience at Jesus's teaching authority, contrasting it with the scribes. This sets the stage for Jesus's powerful exorcism of an unclean spirit within the very same synagogue (Mk 1:23-28), which further demonstrates His unique authority over both teaching and spiritual forces, validating the initial amazement of the crowd.

Historically and culturally, Capernaum was a prosperous fishing village on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, strategically important and functioning as a customs post. It became the base for much of Jesus's Galilean ministry. The synagogue (Greek: synagōgē, meaning "assembly" or "place of assembly") was the central institution for Jewish life in the Diaspora and also within Palestine alongside the Jerusalem Temple. It served as a place of prayer, public reading and exposition of Scripture, teaching, community gathering, and local court. It was customary for visiting rabbis or distinguished individuals to be invited to read from the Scripture and offer a commentary or teaching (e.g., Acts 13:14-15). Jesus's entering and teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath was therefore a conventional act, fitting within the accepted practices of the day, yet the content and authority of His teaching were revolutionary. The Sabbath was the designated day of rest and worship, making it a natural time for synagogue attendance.

Mark 1 21 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): A common Greek conjunction, used frequently by Mark. It serves as a simple connective, linking this event directly to the preceding calling of the disciples, implying a seamless flow of action and purpose.

• they went (εἰσπορεύονται - eisporeuontai): Present tense (historic present), lending immediacy and vividness to the narrative, a characteristic of Mark's style. The "they" refers to Jesus and His newly gathered disciples (Simon, Andrew, James, John). Their movement is purposeful and together.

• into Capernaum (εἰς Καφαρναούμ - eis Kapharnaoum): Capernaum. This location becomes Jesus's primary operational base in Galilee (e.g., Matt 4:13). It's a bustling town, allowing broad exposure to His ministry.

• and immediately (καὶ εὐθὺς - kai euthus): Mark's distinctive literary marker, occurring frequently in his Gospel (over 40 times). It emphasizes rapid, urgent action and contributes to the dynamic, fast-paced narrative. It indicates Jesus's promptness and intentionality in beginning His public ministry upon arrival.

• on the Sabbath (τοῖς σάββασιν - tois sabbasin): "On the Sabbaths" (dative plural). This sets the day of the week, a time traditionally dedicated to rest, worship, and Scripture study. It's a significant detail, as Jesus's Sabbath activities later become a source of conflict with religious authorities, though here His presence and teaching are initially welcomed within the traditional Jewish framework.

• he entered (εἰσελθὼν - eiselthōn): An aorist participle, meaning "having entered." It denotes a completed action leading into the next, focusing on the swift transition from entry to teaching.

• the synagogue (εἰς τὴν συναγωγὴν - eis tēn synagōgēn): The local Jewish house of assembly for prayer, reading Scripture, and instruction. This was the common and expected place for a religious teacher to operate. Jesus is not beginning in isolation but engaging directly with the established religious community.

• and taught (ἐδίδασκεν - edidasken): Imperfect tense. This conveys either continuous or repeated action, indicating that Jesus was regularly engaged in teaching or that His teaching during this specific Sabbath was an ongoing activity within the synagogue service. It was not a casual remark but a deliberate and substantial delivery of instruction.

• "And they went into Capernaum": This phrase emphasizes the collective movement and intentional arrival of Jesus and His first disciples into a strategically significant town, signaling the initiation of their public ministry phase there.

• "and immediately on the Sabbath": This group of words powerfully conveys Mark's characteristic sense of urgency. The temporal marker "immediately" stresses Jesus's promptness to begin His mission upon arrival. The mention of "the Sabbath" is crucial, setting the scene within a traditional, religious context where the populace would be gathered for worship, making it an opportune time for Jesus's message to reach a large audience within the established religious institution.

• "he entered the synagogue and taught": This phrase highlights Jesus's standard practice of public instruction in the designated places of worship. It implies a recognition of the synagogue's role as a platform for religious teaching and shows Jesus engaging directly with the community on its terms before transforming them. His entering and teaching signals His role as a respected teacher or rabbi, laying the groundwork for the ensuing revelation of His unique authority.

Mark 1 21 Bonus section

• The term "taught" (ἐδίδασκεν) suggests not just delivering a sermon but systematically instructing, implying a body of authoritative truth being conveyed.
• Jesus's consistent engagement with the synagogue implies His intention was not to abolish the Jewish faith but to bring it to its intended fulfillment. His presence in these community centers was a foundational step in spreading the Gospel throughout the region.
• The placement of this verse, following the call of the first disciples, underscores that they were immediately privy to Jesus's public teaching ministry, beginning their training and witnessing His power firsthand. This early immersion prepared them for their own future roles.
• This verse subtly foreshadows the clashes Jesus would have with religious authorities over interpretations of the Law, particularly regarding the Sabbath, by clearly stating His activity on that holy day. His entry and teaching in the synagogue is initially accepted, but the content and impact of His teaching will quickly challenge conventional expectations.

Mark 1 21 Commentary

Mark 1:21 establishes Capernaum as a pivotal location for Jesus's early Galilean ministry and introduces His primary mode of operation: teaching within the synagogues. Mark's frequent use of "immediately" emphasizes the brisk, purposeful initiation of Jesus's public work, portraying Him as a figure of immediate and decisive action. By choosing the synagogue on the Sabbath, Jesus situated His ministry within the recognized religious structures of Judaism, demonstrating His respect for and fulfillment of the Law and its institutions. However, His subsequent teaching and miraculous actions would swiftly reveal an authority radically different from and surpassing that of the scribal tradition (Mk 1:22). This initial scene sets up a fundamental theme of Jesus's ministry: He confronts spiritual darkness and offers the good news of God's Kingdom not in a vacuum, but by entering the existing structures, transforming them from within through His authoritative word and powerful deeds.