Chapter One
Exodus 26:2 2 "The length of each curtain shall be
twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each
curtain four cubits; all the curtains shall
have the same measurements.
3 "Five curtains shall be joined to one
another, and the other five curtains shall be
joined to one another.
4 "You shall make loops of blue on the
edge of the outermost curtain in the first
set, and likewise you shall make them on the
edge of the curtain that is outermost in the
second set.
5 "You shall make fifty loops in the one
curtain, and you shall make fifty loops on
the edge of the curtain that is in the second
set; the loops shall be opposite each other.
6 "You shall make fifty clasps of gold,
and join the curtains to one another with
the clasps so that the tabernacle will be a
unit.
Curtains of Goats' Hair
7 "Then a you shall make curtains of
goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle; you
shall make eleven curtains in all.
8 "The length of each curtain shall be thirty
cubits, and the width of each curtain four
cubits; the eleven curtains shall have the
same measurements.
9 "You shall join five curtains by themselves
and the other six curtains by themselves,
and you shall double over the sixth
curtain at the front of the tent.
10 "You shall make fifty loops on the edge
of the curtain that is outermost in the first
set, and fifty loops on the edge of the curtainthat is outermost in the second set.
11 "You shall make fifty clasps of bronze,
and you shall put the clasps into the loops
and join the tent together so that it will be
a unit.
12 "The overlapping part that is left over
in the curtains of the tent, the half curtain
that is left over, shall lap over the back of the
tabernacle.
13 "The cubit on one side and the cubit on
the other, of what is left over in the length of
the curtains of the tent, shall lap over the
sides of the tabernacle on one side and on
the other, to cover it.
14 "You shall make a covering for the tent
of rams' skins dyed red and a covering of
porpoise skins above.
Boards and Sockets
15 "Then you shall make the boards for
the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing
upright.
16 "Ten cubits shall be the length of each
board and one and a half cubits the width of
each board.
17 "There shall be two tenons for each
board, fitted to one another; thus you shall
do for all the boards of the tabernacle.
18 "You shall make the boards for the tabernacle:
twenty boards for the south side.
19 "You shall make forty sockets of silver
under the twenty boards, two sockets under
one board for its two tenons and two sockets
under another board for its two tenons;
20 and for the second side of the tabernacle,
on the north side, twenty boards,
21 and their forty sockets of silver; two
sockets under one board and two sockets
under another board.
22 "For the rear of the tabernacle, to the
west, you shall make six boards.
23 "You shall make two boards for the corners
of the tabernacle at the rear.
24 "They shall be double beneath, and
together they shall be complete to its top to
the first ring; thus it shall be with both of
them: they shall form the two corners.
25 "There shall be eight boards with their
sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two
sockets under one board and two sockets
under another board.
Mark
INTRODUCTION
See "The Synoptic Gospels," p. 1361.
Author
Although there is no direct internal evidence of authorship, it was the unanimous testimony of the early
church that this Gospel was written by John Mark. The most important evidence comes from Papias (c. A.D.
140), who quotes an even earlier source as saying: (1) Mark was a close associate of Peter, from whom he
received the tradition of the things said and done by the Lord; (2) this tradition did not come to Mark as a
finished, sequential account of the life of our Lord, but as the preaching of Peter-preaching directed to the
needs of the early Christian communities; (3) Mark accurately preserved this material. The conclusion drawn
from this tradition is that the Gospel of Mark largely consists of the preaching of Peter arranged and shaped
by John Mark (see note on Acts 10:37).
John Mark in the NT
It is generally agreed that the Mark who is associated with Peter in the early non-Biblical tradition is also
the John Mark of the NT. The first mention of him is in connection with his mother, who had a house in
Jerusalem that served as a meeting place for believers (Acts 12:12). When Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch
from Jerusalem after the famine visit, Mark accompanied them (Acts 12:25). Mark next appears as a
"helper" to Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:5), but he deserted them at Perga, in
Pamphylia, to return to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). Paul must have been deeply disappointed with Mark's actions
on this occasion, because when Barnabas proposed taking Mark on the second journey, Paul flatly refused, a
refusal that broke up their working relationship (Acts 15:36-39). Barnabas took Mark, who was his cousin,
and departed for Cyprus. No further mention is made of either of them in the book of Acts. Mark reappears
in Paul's letter to the Colossians written from Rome. Paul sends a greeting from Mark and adds: "about whom
you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him" (Col 4:10; see Philem 24, written about the same
time). At this point Mark was apparently beginning to win his way back into Paul's confidence. By the end of
Paul's life, Mark had fully regained Paul's favor (see 2 Tim 4:11).
Date of Composition
Some, who hold that Matthew and Luke used Mark as a major source, have suggested that Mark may have
been composed in the 50s or early 60s. Others have felt that the content of the Gospel and statements made
about Mark by the early church fathers indicate that the book was written shortly before the destruction of
Jerusalem in A.D. 70. See chart, p. 1361.
Place of Origin
According to early church tradition, Mark was written "in the regions of Italy" (Anti-Marcionite Prologue)
or, more specifically, in Rome (Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria). These same authors closely associate
Mark's writing of the Gospel with the apostle Peter. The above evidence is consistent with (1) the historical
probability that Peter was in Rome during the last days of his life and was martyred there, and (2) the Biblical
evidence that Mark also was in Rome about the same time and was closely associated with Peter (see
2 Tim 4:11; 1 Pet 5:13, where the word "Babylon" is probably a cryptogram for Rome).
Recipients
The evidence points to the church at Rome or at least to Gentile readers. Mark explains Jewish customs
(7:2-4; 15:42), translates Aramaic words (3:17; 5:41; 7:11,34; 15:22) and seems to have a special interest in
persecution and martyrdom (8:34-38; 13:9-13)-subjects of special concern to Roman believers. A Roman
destination would explain the almost immediate acceptance of this Gospel and its rapid dissemination.
Occasion and Purpose
Since Mark's Gospel is traditionally associated with Rome, it may have been occasioned by the persecutions
of the Roman church in the period c. A.D. 64-67. The famous fire of Rome in 64-probably set by Nero
himself but blamed on Christians-resulted in widespread persecution. Even martyrdom was not unknown
among Roman believers. Mark may be writing to prepare his readers for this suffering by placing before them
the life of our Lord. There are many references, both explicit and veiled, to suffering and discipleship throughout
his Gospel (see 1:12-13; 3:22,30; 8:34-38; 10:30,33-34,45; 13:8,11-13).
Emphases
1. The cross. Both the human cause (12:12; 14:1-2; 15:10) and the divine necessity (8:31; 9:31; 10:33) of
the cross are emphasized by Mark.
2. Discipleship. Special attention should be paid to the passages on discipleship that arise from Jesus'
predictions of His passion (8:34-9:1; 9:35-10:31; 10:42-45).
3. The teachings of Jesus. Although Mark records far fewer actual teachings of Jesus than the other Gospel
writers, there is a remarkable emphasis on Jesus as teacher. The words "teacher," "teach" or "teaching," and
"Rabbi" are applied to Jesus in Mark 37 times.
4. The Messianic secret. On several occasions Jesus warns His disciples or the person for whom He has
worked a miracle to keep silent about who He is or what He has done (1:34,44; 3:12; 5:43; 7:36-37; 8:26,30;
9:9).
5. Son of God. Although Mark emphasizes the humanity of Jesus (see 3:5; 6:6,31,34; 7:34; 8:12,33; 10:14;
11:12), he does not neglect His deity (see 1:1,11; 3:11; 5:7; 9:7; 12:1-11; 13:32; 15:39).
Special Characteristics
Mark's Gospel is a simple, succinct, unadorned, yet vivid account of Jesus' ministry, emphasizing more what
Jesus did than what He said. Mark moves quickly from one episode in Jesus' life and ministry to another, often
using the adverb "immediately" (see note on 1:12). The book as a whole is characterized as "The beginning
of the gospel" (1:1). The life, death and resurrection of Christ comprise the "beginning," of which the apostolic
preaching in Acts is the continuation.
Outline
I. The Beginnings of Jesus' Ministry (1:1-13)
A. His Forerunner (1:1-8)
B. His Baptism (1:9-11)
C. His Temptation (1:12-13)
II. Jesus' Ministry in Galilee (1:14-6:29)
A. Early Galilean Ministry (1:14-3:12)
1. Call of the first disciples (1:14-20)
2. Miracles in Capernaum (1:21-34)
3. A tour of Galilee (1:35-45)
4. Ministry in Capernaum (2:1-22)
5. Sabbath controversy (2:23-3:12)
B. Later Galilean Ministry (3:13-6:29)
1. Selection of the 12 apostles (3:13-19)
2. Teachings in Capernaum (3:20-35)
3. Parables of the kingdom (4:1-34)
John 21:17
17 He said to him the third time, "Simon,
son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was
grieved because He said to him the third
time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to
Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know
that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Tend
My sheep.
Our Times Are in His Hand
18 "Truly, truly, I say to you, when you
were younger, you used to gird yourself and
walk wherever you wished; but when you
grow old, you will stretch out your hands
and someone else will gird you, and bring
you where you do not wish to go."
19 Now this He said, signifying by what
kind of death he would glorify God. And
when He had spoken this, He said to him,
"Follow Me!"
20 Peter, turning around, saw the disciple
whom Jesus loved following them; the
one who also had leaned back on His bosom
at the supper and said, "Lord, who is the
one who betrays You?"
21 So Peter seeing him said to Jesus,
"Lord, and what about this man?"
22 Jesus said to him, "If I want him to
remain until I come, what is that to you?
You follow Me!"
23 Therefore this saying went out among
the brethren that that disciple would not
die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he
would not die, but only,"If I want him to
remain until I come, what is that to you?"
24 This is the disciple who is testifying to
these things and wrote these things, and we
know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things
which Jesus did, which if they were written
in detail, I suppose that even the world itself
would not contain the books that would
be written.
(Continues.)
