That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
Mark 1:32-34
Ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης ὅτε ἔδυ ὁ ἥλιος ἔφερον πρὸς αὐτὸν πάντας τοὺς κακῶς ἔχοντας καὶ τοὺς δαιμονιζομένους·
καὶ ἡ πόλις ὅλη ἐπισυνηγμένη ἦν πρὸς τὴν θύραν
καὶ ἐθεράπευσεν πολλοὺς κακῶς ἔχοντας ποικίλαις νόσοις καὶ δαιμόνια πολλὰ ἐξέβαλεν καὶ οὐκ ἤφιεν λαλεῖν τὰ δαιμόνια ὅτι ᾔδεισαν αὐτόν
That evening, at sunset – Mark’s pattern of doubling time information.
One of the possible threads in Mark’s weaving is the contrast between “house” as a safe place in contrast with “synagogue” – remember the early church had to deal with the destruction of the Temple and being expelled from the synagogue.
ὅτε ἔδυ ὁ ἥλιος – when the sun did set (aorist active); the Sabbath is over at sunset
ἡ πόλις ὅλη – the whole city. Capernaum is described by Mark as a “city”. At the time of Jesus it was a modest village. A whole city can hardly gather “around the door”
“he would not permit” – in Mark, the Messianic Secret is a strong theme.
As this year the Sunday Gospel reading focus is on St Mark’s Gospel, This is some of my personal study and Lectio Divina with that Gospel.
This is the ninth post in a series – you can begin here:
Mark in Slow Motion 1
Mark in Slow Motion 2
Mark in Slow Motion 3
Mark in Slow Motion 4
Mark in Slow Motion 5
Mark in Slow Motion 6
Mark in Slow Motion 7
Mark in Slow Motion 8
Mark in Slow Motion 9
