Mark

16 chapters

Chapter summaries

The Douay-Rheims’ own argument for each chapter. Tap a number above to read.

1. 1John (the Eremite, of whom the Prophets) preaching penance, and living himself accordingly, baptizeth the People to prepare them to Christ, 7. telling them that it is not he, but Christ's Baptism, in which they shall receive the Holy Ghost. 9. Jesus there is manifested (coming from Heaven) 12. and by and by he also goeth into the wilderness. 14. Beginning in Galilee, 16. after that he had called four Disciples, 21. he preacheth first in Capharnaum, confirming his doctrine with beneficial Miracles, to the great admiration of all: 35. then also (but first retiring into the wilderness) in all the rest of Galilee, with his miracles.
2. 2He proveth his power to forgive sins, by healing the sick of the palsy. 13. He calleth Matthew the Publican: 15. and defendeth his eating with sinners, 18. and his Disciples not fasting, 23. and plucking the ears of corn on the Sabbath.
3. 3The blind Pharisees seeking his death for doing good upon the Sabbaths, he meekly goeth out of the way: where the People that flock unto him, and his Miracles, are innumerable. 13. To the twelve also (having need of more workmen) he giveth power to work Miracles. 20. He so occupieth himself for souls, that his kin think him mad. 22. The Scribes of Jerusalem come so far, and yet have nothing but absurdly to blaspheme his casting out Devils, to their own damnation. 31. That the Jews should not (after their manner) think it enough, that he is of their blood; he telleth that such rather are dear to him, as keep God's commandments.
4. 4The parables (in which he speaketh to the Jews because they were reprobate) he expoundeth to his Disciples, shewing that in his sowing, three parts of four shall perish, through the fault of the hearers. 21. And that his servants must confess their faith, 24. and use their gifts (contrary to those stony and thorny hearers.) And that his Church (notwithstanding the losing of those three parts of the seed) shall be brought by his providence to the harvest, that is, to the end of the world: 30. growing once all in time, though in the beginning it be as the little mustard-seed, 35. and though such tempests of persecution in the sea of this world do rise against it.
5. 5To the Gerasens (and in them to all men) Christ manifesteth how the Devil of his malice would use them, if he would permit: 17. and yet they like not their Saviour's presence. 21. A woman Gentile, that began her sickness when the Jews' daughter began her life (signifying Abraham's time) he cureth by the way as he was coming to heal the Jews: And even then the Jews do doubt, yet them also he will revive, as here the Jews' daughter.
6. 6In his own country (signifying the reprobate Jews) he is contemned and therefore worketh little in respect. His Apostles preach every where and work miracles, so that King Herod (who shamefully killed John Baptist) and others are stricken with great admiration: 30. After John's death he goeth into the Desert, where great concourse being upon him, he feedeth 5000 with five loaves. 46 And after he hath prayed long in the mountain he walketh upon the sea. 53. And with the very touch of his garment's hem he healeth innumerable.
7. 7The Masters of Jerusalem coming so far to carp him 6. he chargeth with traditions, partly frivolous, 9. partly also contrary to God's commandments. 14. And so the People he yieldeth the reason of that which they carped, 17. and again to his Disciples, shewing the ground of the Jewish washing ( to wit, that meats otherwise defile the soul ) to be false. 24. But by and by among the Gentiles, in a woman he findeth wonderful faith, upon her therefore he bestoweth the crumb that she asked, 31. returning ( because the time of the Gentiles was not yet come ) to the Jews with the loss: 32. where he sheweth his compassion towards mankind so deaf & dumb, 36. and of the People is highly magnified.
8. 8Of compassion he feedeth the People, 4000. with seven loaves. 10. After all which miracles as though they were yet unsufficient to prove him to be Christ, the obstinate Pharisees do require some miracle from Heaven. 13. Whereupon forsaking them, he warneth his Disciples to beware of the leaven of their doctrine, neither to fear want of necessaries. 22. He healeth a blind man by degrees and with ceremonies. 27. Peter confesseth him (though men all this while had not learned so far) to be Christ. 31. And by and by he revealeth to them his Passion. 32. rebuking also Peter for dissuading it. 34. and shewing that it is a thing wherein all that will be saved (namely in time of persecution) must follow him.
9. 9The time to confirm them, he giveth them in his Transfiguration a sight of his glory, whereupon suffering doth bring, 9. and then again doth insinuate his Passion 14. A Devil also he casteth out, which his Disciples (upon whom therefore the perverse Scribes triumphed in his absence) could not, for lack of fasting and praying. 30. Being yet in Galilee, he revealeth more about his Passion. 33. And (because in the way to Capharnaum they contended for the Primacy) he teacheth them that humility is the way to Primacy before God: 38. bidding them also, not to prohibit such as be not against them: nor to give scandal to any one of the faithful: and on the other side, the faithful to avoid them by whom they may be scandalized and fall, be they never so near unto them.
10. 10He answereth the tempting Pharisees (and again his Disciples afterward) that the case of a man with his wife shall be (as in the first institution) utterly indissoluble, 13. He blesseth children. 17. He sheweth what is to be done to get life everlasting: 21. what also for a rich man to be perfect: 28. as also what passing reward they shall have that do so in time of persecution. 32. He revealeth more to his Disciples, touching his Passion. 35. bidding the two ambitious suitors to think rather of suffering with him: 41. and teaching us in the rest of his Disciples, not to be grieved at our Ecclesiastical Superiors, considering they are (as he was himself) to tell for our salvation. 46. Then going out of Jericho, he giveth sight to a blind man.
11. 11Being now come to the place of his Passion, he entereth with triumph as their Christ. 11. The fourth part of this Gospel. 12. He curseth that fruitless figtree. 15. He sheweth his zeal for the house of God: for whom the Rulers seek his destruction. 24. He exhorteth his Disciples to steadfastness of faith, and to forgive their enemies. 27. He answereth those that ask of him the power of his doing these things, by the witness of John who was a man sent of God.
12. 12He foretelleth in the Jews in a parable their reprobation most worthy, and the vocation of the Church of the Gentiles in their place: 10. himself being the headstone thereof. 13. He defendeth the state of the Pharisees and Herodians, about paying tribute to Cæsar: 18. answereth also the invention of the Sadducees against the Resurrection: 28. about the opposition of a Scribe. 35. and so having put all the wise Scribes to silence, he turneth and poseth them on the other side, because they imagined Christ should be no more but a man. 38. Bidding the people to beware of the Scribes, being ambitious and hypocrites. 41. He commendeth the poor widow for her two mites, above all.
13. 13This his Disciples (by occasion of Jerusalem and the Temple's destruction) he foretelleth, 5. what things shall be before the consummation of the world, especially the Church's full preaching unto all Nations. 14. Then, what shall be in the very consummation, to wit, Antichrist with his passing great persecution and seduction, but for a short time. 24. then incontinent the day of Judgement. 28. to our great comfort in those miseries under Antichrist. 32. As for the moment, to wit, it pertaineth not to know it. 33. but rather every man to watch, that we be not unprovided when he cometh to each one particularly by death.
14. 14Judas by occasion of Marie Magdalen's ointment, doth sell him to the Counsel of the Jews. 12. After the Paschal lamb he giveth them the bread of life (Io. 6.) in a mystical Sacrifice or separation of his body and blood. 27. and that night, as after his prayer, 43. taken of the Jews' men, Judas being their Captain: is forsaken of the other eleven for fear: 53. is falsely accused and impiously condemned of the Jews' Council: 65. and shamefully abused of them: 66. and thrice denied of Peter. As even as the Scriptures and himself had often foretold.
15. 15The chief of the Jews accuse him to Pilate the Gentile. 6. And ( he seeking to deliver him ) they persuade the common People ( who hitherto were always ready to defend him ) not only to prefer the murderer Barabbas, but also to cry *Crucifige* (to the reprobation of the whole Nation, ) 16. After many illusions, 20. he is crucified by the Gentiles. 29. which the Jews seeing, do triumph as if they had now the victory. 33. But even then by many wonderful works he declareth his might, 42. and finally is buried honourably.
16. 16The third day, to three women at his sepulcher, an Angel telleth that he is risen, and will (as he promised Mar. 14, 28.) shew himself in Galilee. 9. The same day he appeareth to Marie Magdalene, afterward to two Disciples: yet the eleven will not believe it, until to them all he appeareth. 15. To whom he giving commission into all Nations, with power also of Miracles, he ascendeth, and they plant his Church every where.