Meaning, commentary and cross references
Mark 1:15
“and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
NIV · New International Version
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
WEB · World English Bible
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”
What does Mark 1:15 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Mark 1:15
And saying, the time is fulfilled,.... Either that which was fixed for the end of the law and prophets, the legal and Mosaic dispensation, and the Jewish church state; or the fulness of time for the Messiah's appearance in the world; which was agreed upon between the Father and the Son, was predicted in various prophecies, and the people of the Jews were in a general expectation of: and the kingdom of God is at hand: the same with the kingdom of heaven, in Matthew 3:2, see the notes: See Gill on Matthew 3:2, Matthew 4:17. repent ye, and believe the Gospel. He called them to repent, not only of their former sins and vicious course of life, but of their bad principles and tenets, concerning a…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Mark 1:14–22
Observe, (1.) The great truths Christ preached; The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. This refers to the Old Testament, in which the kingdom of the Messiah was promised, and the time fixed for the introducing of it. They were not so well versed in those prophecies, nor did they so well observe the signs of the times, as to understand it themselves, and therefore Christ gives them notice of it; "The time prefixed is now at hand; glorious discoveries of divine light, life, and love, are now to be made; a new dispensation far more spiritual and heavenly than that which you have hitherto been under, is now to commence."
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on Mark 1:14–15
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the Gospel. 19. Now Herod the tetrarch, when he was reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the wicked actions which Herod did, 20. Added also this above all, and shut up John in prison. Luke 4:14-15 14.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Mark 1:12–18 (WEB)
12Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness. 13He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals; and the angels were serving him. 14Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.” 16Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men.” 18Immediately they left their nets, and followed him.
Cross references
- Matthew 3:2
“Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”
- Matthew 4:17
From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
- Acts 2:36–38
“Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
- Acts 20:21
testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus.
- Ephesians 1:10
to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens and the things on the earth, in him.
- Galatians 4:4
But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
- Matthew 10:7
As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’
- Daniel 2:44
“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, nor will its sovereignty be left to another people; but it will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it will stand forever.