Ver. 1. The beginning of the Gospel, &c.] The history of our Saviour’s life and death, St Mark is recorded to have written at the request of the Romans. In the Latin tongue, say some (who pretend to have seen the original copy at Venice), but it is more likely in Greek, a tongue (then) very well known to the Romans also. He begins with John’s ministry, passing over Christ’s birth and private life for brevity’ sake (as it may seem) though Papists feign many idle relations thereof, and so expose us to the jeers of Jewish and Turkish miscreants. There are those who make Mark an epitomator of Matthew. But forasmuch as he neither begins like Matthew, nor keeps the same order, but relateth some things that Matthew hath not, and other things much larger than Matthew hath them; judicious Calvin thinks that he had not seen St Matthew’s Gospel when he wrote his (as neither had St Luke seen either of them): but that b eing acted by the same Spirit, they agree so harmoniously and happily; an undoubted argument of the Divinity of the Scripture, which therefore a Greek Father calls παναρμονιωτατην, every way suitable to itself. (Nazianzen.) Euseb. Hist. Eccles. ii. 15, ex Clementc.
Ver. 2. As it is written in the prophets] Isaiah and Malachi; so that there was no cause why that dead dog Porphyry should here bark and blaspheme, as if this testimony should be falsely fathered on all the prophets, when Isaiah only was the author of it. Behold, I send my Messenger before thy face] Malachi saith, “Before my face,” in the person of Christ; to show that He and the Father are one.
Ver. 3. The voice of one crying] Here Mark begins the Gospel, at the preaching of the Baptist, which the author to the Hebrews begins at the preaching of Christ, Hebrews 2:3. But that is only to prove that so great was our Saviour’s glory in his miracles, that it matcheth, yea, surpasseth that of the angels, those ministers of the law. The ridiculous parallel of Apollonius Tyaneus with our Saviour by Hierocles, and the malicious exceptions of R. Nizachon against his doings and miracles, are fully answered by Eusebius and Munster. Annot. in Mat. Hebraice. As for John Baptist, he professeth himself to be no more than a voice. And so indeed he was totus vox, all voice. His apparel, his diet, his conversation did preach holiness as well as his doctrine, Mark 6:20 Joh 3:25-36.
Ver. 4. John did baptize in the wilderness] Like as at the promulgation of the law, the people were commanded to wash their garments, and sanctify themselves; so at the first publication of the Gospel, to wash their hands, and cleanse their hearts; and in testimony or profession thereof, to believe and be baptized for remission of sins.
Ver. 5. All the land of Judea] That is, a great sort of them; but John quickly grew stale to them, John 5:35. Principium fervet, medium leper, exitus alger. Weak Christians easily fall off, as leaves in autumn, or untimely figs, Revelation 6:13.
Ver. 6. And John was clothed, &c.] Elias also was a rough hairy man. Those worthies, of “whom the world was not worthy, wandered about in sheep’s skins and goat’s skins,” Hebrews 11:37; but they were like the ark, goat’s hair without, but pure gold within; or like Brutus’ staff, Cuius intus solidum aurum corneo velabatur eortiee. (Plutarch.) Buchanan seldom cared for a better outside than a rug gown girt close about him, yet his inside was most rich. He did eat locusts] Good meat (to those there at least) though coarse, and easily come by. Tartarians eat the carrion carcases of horses, camels, asses, cats, dogs, yea, when they stink, and are full of magots, and hold them as dainty as we do venison.
Ver. 7. I am not worthy] So Jacob cried out of old. So the centurion, Matthew 8:5-13. So the prodigal, Luke 15:11-32. So Peter, Luke 5:8. So Augustine, Domine, non sum dignus quem tu diligas, I am not worthy of thy love, Lord.
Ver. 8. With the Holy Ghost] By whom your iniquity is taken away, Isaiah 6:6,7. [See Trapp on “Mt 3:11”]
Ver. 9. In those days] When the people flocked so fast to John, that they might not mistake him for the Messiah, and that his baptism might be the more famous.
Ver. 10. He saw the heavens opened] The visible heavens, so that the Baptist saw something above the stars: so did Stephen; so could Christ when he was upon the earth. It is a just wonder that we can look up to so admirable a height of the starry sky, and that the eye is not tired in the way; some say it is 500 years’ journey to it. Other mathematicians tell us, that if a stone should fall from the eighth sphere, and should pass every day 100 miles, it would be 65 years or more before it would come to the ground. Burton on Melancholy.
Ver. 11. In whom I am well pleased] And in him with us, whom he hath made gracious or favourites in him, the beloved One, Ephesians 1:6. εχαριτωσεν, gratificavit.