Mark 1:29-31 · Bible study
Mark 1:29-31 Commentary: From Synagogue to Home, Jesus' Compassionate Authority
Greek · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examine how Mark transitions from a public exorcism to a private healing, revealing Jesus' authority and compassion in the home of Peter.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law in his home, demonstrating that his authority extends from the synagogue into private life, and that compassion and complete restoration are at the heart of his mission.
- Key words: euthus (immediately), Mark's signature urgency; katekeito puressousa (lay sick, feverish), prostrate, serious illness; kratēsas tēs cheiros (taking hold of her hand), personal touch; diēkonei (she was ministering), service as the fruit of healing.
- Main debate: Chronological ordering (Matthew places this healing later, Mark places it immediately after the synagogue call), but the theological point of Jesus' care is not in dispute.
- Theological theme: The kingdom of God invades not only the religious assembly but also the home, restoring people to community and service.
- Best use: A model for understanding Jesus' compassion in everyday settings; a reminder that healing is for service, not self-centered relief; a bridge between public preaching and private pastoral care.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
29As soon as Jesus and His companions had left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.
30Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever, and they promptly told Jesus about her.
31So He went to her, took her by the hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to serve them.
WEB World English Bible 2000
29Immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
30Now Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about her.
31He came and took her by the hand and raised her up. The fever left her immediately, and she served them.
KJV King James Version 1769
29And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
30But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.
31And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
29And straightway, when they were come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
30Now Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever; and straightway they tell him of her:
31and he came and took her by the hand, and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
29And immediately, having come forth out of the synagogue, they went to the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John,
30and the mother-in-law of Simon was lying fevered, and immediately they tell him about her,
31and having come near, he raised her up, having laid hold of her hand, and the fever left her immediately, and she was ministering to them.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
29And straightway going out of the synagogue, they came with James and John into the house of Simon and Andrew.
30And the mother-in-law of Simon lay in a fever. And straightway they speak to him about her.
31And he went up to [her] and raised her up, having taken her by the hand, and straightway the fever left her, and she served them.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
29And immediately going out of the synagogue they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
30And Simon's wife's mother lay in a fit of a fever: and forthwith they tell him of her.
31And coming to her, he lifted her up, taking her by the hand; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Mark 1:29
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that these three verses show Jesus moving his ministry from the public synagogue to the private home of Peter, and that this shift is intentional. Calvin notes that Christ gave his disciples 'a private and familiar illustration of his grace' by healing Peter's mother-in-law. The Cambridge Bible highlights the 'graphic touches' unique to Mark: Jesus went to the sufferer, took her by the hand, lifted her up, and the fever left her. Vincent observes that Mark alone records that Jesus 'came to her' and 'raised her up,' emphasizing his personal involvement. Gill points out the immediacy of the cure, she got up and served them at once, a sign of complete restoration. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown see the naming of the four disciples as evidence of Peter's firsthand account. All agree that the healing is both powerful and tender, and that it prepares for the mass healings that follow at sunset.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Jesus healed Simon's mother-in-law of a fever by taking her hand and raising her up, and she immediately began to serve them.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Chronology of the healing | Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law of a fever, and she immediately began to serve. | Matthew places this event later in his narrative (Matthew 8:14-15), while Mark and Luke set it right after the synagogue exorcism. Some scholars harmonize by suggesting two separate healings, but most see Matthew rearranging for thematic purposes. |
| The significance of the mother-in-law's service | Her service showed complete, immediate restoration and gratitude. | Some see her service as a model of Christian discipleship, while others caution against reducing a woman's role to domestic service. The text does not specify if she served a meal or simply attended to guests. |
| Jesus' touch and ritual purity | Jesus touched her hand, demonstrating compassion and personal contact. | Some traditions see this as showing Jesus' transcendence over purity laws (touching a sick woman would convey impurity); others note that the text does not raise purity concerns and focus instead on the intimacy of the act. |
| The role of Peter's marriage | Peter was married, as the mother-in-law indicates. | This is used by Catholic tradition to affirm that Peter was a married man before his apostleship, while other traditions see it as evidence that the early church did not require celibacy of its leaders. Both agree on the fact. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The setting is Capernaum, a fishing village on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had just taught and cast out an unclean spirit in the synagogue (Mark 1:21-28). It was a Sabbath day, and after the service it was customary to return home for a meal. The house of Simon and Andrew was nearby, likely a modest dwelling shared by two brothers and their families. Peter was married, as indicated by the mention of his mother-in-law (1 Corinthians 9:5 confirms that the apostles traveled with believing wives). Luke calls her fever 'great' (megas), suggesting a serious, life-threatening illness. In first-century Jewish culture, a woman's role included managing the household and providing hospitality; her fever would have prevented her from fulfilling these duties.
Mark's use of 'immediately' (euthus) ties this healing to the preceding exorcism. The same power that silenced a demon now enters a private home and restores a woman to health. Because it was the Sabbath, people could not carry the sick until after sunset (v. 32), so the healings at evening mark the end of the Sabbath rest. This passage thus forms a bridge between Jesus' public proclamation and his personal care for individuals. It also shows that his authority is not limited to the synagogue, it extends into the most intimate spaces of daily life.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Mark 1:29-31. The wording is stable across major manuscript traditions. The repetition of 'immediately' (euthus) is consistent with Mark's style throughout the first chapter.
Reception History
This passage has been read across church history as an example of Christ's compassion for the sick and his willingness to enter ordinary family life. Early church fathers like Chrysostom highlighted the immediacy of the healing and the woman's subsequent service as signs of complete restoration. During the Reformation, Calvin emphasized the private, familiar nature of the miracle, showing that Christ's grace extends to the households of his disciples. In later devotional use, the story has comforted those caring for sick relatives and has been cited in discussions of the role of women in the church. The detail that Peter was married has been important in both Catholic and Protestant debates on clerical celibacy. Modern readings often focus on the domestic setting as a space where Jesus' authority is as real as in the synagogue.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- From public power to private care. Jesus doesn't stay in the synagogue. He goes home with his disciples, showing that his authority works just as powerfully in the kitchen as in the pulpit.
- Personal touch, complete healing. Jesus took her by the hand and raised her up. The fever left instantly, no weakness, no recovery period. The same hand that rebuked demons now touches a sick woman.
- Service as a response. She served them. Not as a slave, but as someone restored and grateful. Her service was the first sign of new life, not a requirement but a natural outflow.
Five-point outline
- Jesus enters a home, the private sphere matters to him.
- The illness is real and serious, a fever in that era could kill.
- They tell Jesus about her, simple faith that he would care.
- Jesus touches and raises, his power and compassion meet.
- She serves, healed to serve, not to be served.
Illustration hooks
- A pastor who is strong in the pulpit but awkward with his own family, the contrast of public power and private tenderness.
- A woman after surgery who insists on cooking for her guests the moment she can stand, the joy of restored capacity.
- A workplace where a manager’s authority is felt in meetings but also in personal concern for an employee’s sick child.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does Jesus care about the ordinary, everyday illnesses of life, or only the dramatic spiritual battles?
- Why is service seen as the proper response to healing? Does that put pressure on the sick to perform?
- What does this story say about Jesus’ attitude toward women and their work?
Leading a Discussion
This passage comes right after Jesus cast out a demon in the synagogue. He goes from the public arena to the private home of Peter. Notice how ordinary this setting is, a sick relative, a simple meal. Jesus does not make a show of it. He takes her by the hand and helps her up. The healing is immediate, and she begins to serve. What does this tell us about Jesus' priorities?
Discussion questions
- Why do you think Mark places this healing immediately after the synagogue exorcism? What connection might he be making?
- How does the setting (a home, a family member, a fever) shape the way we understand Jesus' authority?
- What does the detail “they tell him of her” say about the disciples’ trust in Jesus?
- Jesus touched her hand. In a culture where touching a sick woman might carry ritual implications, what does this gesture communicate?
- She served them. What does this response tell us about the purpose of healing in God's kingdom?
- How does this story challenge or confirm your view of Jesus' care for your own daily struggles?
- What would it look like for your small group to be a place where sickness and recovery are met with both prayer and practical help?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Matthew 8:14 | When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. |
| Matthew 8:15 | He touched her hand, and the fever left her. So she got up and served him. |
| Mark 1:21 | They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught. |
| Mark 1:23 | Immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, |
| Luke 4:38 | He rose up from the synagogue and entered into Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a great fever, and they begged him to help her. |
| Luke 4:39 | He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she rose up and served them. |
| Luke 9:58 | Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” |
| Mark 5:23 | and begged him much, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Please come and lay your hands on her, that she may be made healthy, and live.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
See this account of the healing of Peter's mother-in-law explained at large, Mat 8:14-17 (note). When the sun did set - See on Mat 8:14 (note).
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin sees this miracle as a private, familiar lesson in grace for the disciples, not a public spectacle. He notes that Luke's mention of a "great fever" makes Christ's power more striking: a severe disease vanished instantly at a single touch, and that one healing led to many more seekers.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary highlights five personal, compassionate actions of Jesus: He went to the sick woman, took her hand, lifted her up, rebuked the fever, and she was immediately well enough to serve them. The writer also notes that the fever was violent, as the physician Luke describes, and that this healing happened on a Sabbath day.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes emphasize the immediacy of Christ's healing power: as soon as the disciples mention the fever, Jesus acts and the woman is instantly restored. Her prompt service demonstrates that a genuine cure leads naturally to thankful ministry, not idle convalescence.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB sees the naming of the four disciples as the first clear trace of Peter's personal testimony behind Mark's Gospel, since the house and the illness affected Peter directly. Luke's medical description of a "great fever" and Mark's detail that Jesus took her by the hand and lifted her up both add unique touches from their witnesses.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange notes that Mark stresses the seemingly accidental character of Jesus first calling his disciples—Jesus simply happens to be walking by the sea—yet their instant, total break from their work shows the direct, compelling power of Christ's word. He also observes the swift progression from synagogue to Peter's house to the whole city, and how Jesus, after a long evening of healing, rises early to pray alone in a solitary place.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that Jesus did not rest on his growing reputation but kept doing good, showing that his aim was to help others, not his own honor. He also emphasizes Christ's humility in leaving the synagogue's authority to converse familiarly with poor fishermen, calling readers to adopt that same lowly mind.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent highlights a small difference among the Gospel accounts of the same healing. Matthew says the woman lay prostrate with fever, Mark notes that Jesus took her by the hand and raised her, and Luke mentions that the disciples interceded for her. Each writer includes a distinct, complementary detail.