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Atomic Bible
Mark 1:21-28·~1 min

Jesus Expels an Unclean Spirit

In Capernaum, Jesus enters the synagogue on the Sabbath and begins to teach right away. The people are astonished because he teaches with authority, not like the scribes at all.

T21hen Jesus and His companions went to Capernaum, and right away Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach. 22The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

A man with an unclean spirit cries out in the synagogue. Jesus rebukes the spirit, commands silence, and drives it out, and the crowd marvels as the news spreads through Galilee.

23Suddenly a man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue: 24“What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are — the Holy One of God!” 25But Jesus rebuked the spirit. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!” 26At this, the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out with a loud shriek. 27All the people were amazed and began to ask one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him!” 28And the news about Jesus spread quickly through the whole region of Galilee.

Section summaryIn Capernaum, Jesus teaches in the synagogue with authority, and an unclean spirit recognizes him as the Holy One of God. Jesus silences the spirit, drives it out, and the report spreads through Galilee quickly.
Role in the chapterThe section pairs Jesus’ spoken authority with the first public reaction to his power over spirits in the synagogue at Capernaum and in Galilee beyond.