Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Mark: Chapter 1].
Andrew and Simon (Lu 5:7,10). Mark alone has this detail of the
hired servants left with Zebedee. They left the boat and their
father (Mt 4:22) with the hired servants. The business would go
on while they left all (Lu 5:11) and became permanent followers
of Jesus. Many a young man has faced precisely this problem when
he entered the ministry. Could he leave father and mother,
brothers and sisters, while he went forth to college and seminary
to become a fisher of men? Not the least of the sacrifices made
in the education of young preachers is that made by the home
folks who have additional burdens to bear because the young
preacher is no longer a bread-winner at home. Most young
preachers joyfully carry on such burdens after entering the
ministry.
1:21 {And taught} (\edidasken\). Inchoative imperfect, began to
teach as soon as he entered the synagogue in Capernaum on the
sabbath. The synagogue in Capernaum afforded the best opening for
the teaching of Jesus. He had now made Capernaum (Tell Hum) his
headquarters after the rejection in Nazareth as explained in Lu
4:16-31 and Mt 4:13-16. The ruins of this synagogue have been
discovered and there is even talk of restoring the building since
the stones are in a good state of preservation. Jesus both taught
(\didask•\) and preached (\k•russ•\) in the Jewish synagogues as
opportunity was offered by the chief or leader of the synagogue
(\archisunag•gos\). The service consisted of prayer, praise,
reading of scripture, and exposition by any rabbi or other
competent person. Often Paul was invited to speak at such
meetings. In Lu 4:20 Jesus gave back the roll of Isaiah to the
attendant or beadle (\t•i hup•ret•i\) whose business it was to
bring out the precious manuscript and return it to its place.
Jesus was a preacher of over a year when he began to teach in the
Capernaum synagogue. His reputation had preceded him (Lu 4:14).
1:22 {They were astonished} (\exepl•ssonto\). Pictorial imperfect
as in Lu 4:32 describing the amazement of the audience,
"meaning strictly to strike a person out of his senses by some
strong feeling, such as fear, wonder, or even joy" (Gould). {And
not as their scribes} (\kai ouch h•s hoi grammateis\). Lu 4:32
has only "with authority" (\en exousi•i\). Mark has it "as having
authority" (\h•s ech•n exousian\). He struck a note not found by
the rabbi. They quoted other rabbis and felt their function to be
expounders of the traditions which they made a millstone around
the necks of the people. By so doing they set aside the word and
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