independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)
The title and the herald — John the Baptist 1:1–8
vv. 1–3 — the superscription and the composite citation
1
Ἀρχὴ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ [υἱοῦ θεοῦ].independent — verbless incipit — the book's title; [υἱοῦ θεοῦ] disputed (absent ℵ*), framing 15:39
2
Καθὼς γέγραπται ἐν τῷ Ἠσαΐᾳ τῷ προφήτῃ·comparative — fronted citation formula — leans on ἐγένετο (v. 4); 'in Isaiah' though the first line is Malachi, a noted crux
Ἰδοὺ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ προσώπου σου,content — Mal 3:1 / Exod 23:20 — the messenger sent ahead
ὃς κατασκευάσει τὴν ὁδόν σου·relative — the herald's task — the ὁδός motif begins
3
φωνὴ βοῶντος ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ·content — Isa 40:3 — the herald reduced to a voice; verbless
Ἑτοιμάσατε τὴν ὁδὸν κυρίου,content — the voice's summons — κύριος (YHWH in Isaiah) applied to Jesus
εὐθείας ποιεῖτε τὰς τρίβους αὐτοῦ·content — the parallel command — εὐθύς the adjective, before εὐθύς the adverb
vv. 4–8 — John appears: the baptizer and his proclamation
4
ἐγένετο Ἰωάννης ὁ βαπτίζων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳindependent — the narrative opens — ἐγένετο fulfils the citation: he is the voice
καὶ κηρύσσων βάπτισμα μετανοίας εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν.participial — coordinate with ὁ βαπτίζων — the herald's message
5
καὶ ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτὸν πᾶσα ἡ Ἰουδαία χώρα καὶ οἱ Ἱεροσολυμῖται πάντες,independent — iterative imperfect — the continual stream; hyperbolic 'all'
καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ Ἰορδάνῃ ποταμῷindependent — iterative imperfect — the repeated dipping
ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν.participial — concurrent — the confession accompanying the rite
6
καὶ ἦν ὁ Ἰωάννης ἐνδεδυμένος τρίχας καμήλου καὶ ζώνην δερματίνην περὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτοῦ,independent — periphrastic — the Elijah garb (2 Kgs 1:8; Mal 4:5)
καὶ ἔσθων ἀκρίδας καὶ μέλι ἄγριον.participial — second periphrastic participle — the wilderness diet
7
καὶ ἐκήρυσσεν λέγων·independent — iterative imperfect + pleonastic λέγων — the speech-frame
Ἔρχεται ὁ ἰσχυρότερός μου ὀπίσω μου,content — the Coming One — vivid futuristic present
οὗ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἱκανὸς κύψας λῦσαι τὸν ἱμάντα τῶν ὑποδημάτων αὐτοῦ.relative — John beneath the slave's task — κύψας Mark's vivid detail
8
ἐγὼ ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ὕδατι,content — the antithesis — emphatic ἐγώ, John's water
αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ.content — emphatic αὐτός — the eschatological Spirit-baptism
The baptism and the testing 1:9–13
vv. 9–11 — the baptism: heavens torn, the voice
9
Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις ἦλθεν Ἰησοῦς ἀπὸ Ναζαρὲτ τῆς Γαλιλαίαςindependent — Semitic ἐγένετο-frame with asyndetic ἦλθεν — Jesus enters the narrative unannounced
καὶ ἐβαπτίσθη εἰς τὸν Ἰορδάνην ὑπὸ Ἰωάννου.independent — the baptism — one flat coordinate clause; Mark offers no apologetic
10
καὶ εὐθὺς ἀναβαίνων ἐκ τοῦ ὕδατοςparticipial — preposed circumstantial — the first narrative εὐθύς; leans on εἶδεν
εἶδεν σχιζομένους τοὺς οὐρανοὺςindependent — σχιζομένους — torn, not merely opened; echoed at the veil (15:38)
καὶ τὸ πνεῦμα ὡς περιστερὰν καταβαῖνον εἰς αὐτόν·participial — second object of the vision — εἰς αὐτόν, into (not merely upon) him
11
καὶ φωνὴ ἐγένετο ἐκ τῶν οὐρανῶν·independent — the bat qol — the speech-frame for the divine address
Σὺ εἶ ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητός,content — Ps 2:7 — the enthronement address, spoken to Jesus alone
ἐν σοὶ εὐδόκησα.content — Isa 42:1 — the servant fused with the Son
vv. 12–13 — driven to the wilderness
12
Καὶ εὐθὺς τὸ πνεῦμα αὐτὸν ἐκβάλλει εἰς τὴν ἔρημον.independent — historic present ἐκβάλλει — the Spirit's violent verb, used elsewhere of demons
13
καὶ ἦν ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τεσσεράκοντα ἡμέραςindependent — the forty days — Israel's forty years compressed
πειραζόμενος ὑπὸ τοῦ Σατανᾶ,participial — durative present participle — the whole stay is the testing; Mark gives no dialogue
καὶ ἦν μετὰ τῶν θηρίων,independent — only Mark — paradise regained or danger endured, left open
καὶ οἱ ἄγγελοι διηκόνουν αὐτῷ.independent — iterative imperfect — continual ministry (cf. Elijah, 1 Kgs 19)
Into Galilee — the proclamation and the four called 1:14–20
vv. 14–15 — the gospel of God announced
14
Μετὰ δὲ τὸ παραδοθῆναι τὸν Ἰωάννηνphrase modifier — fronted articular infinitive — παραδοθῆναι, the verb that will be Jesus' own; leans on ἦλθεν
ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίανindependent — the ministry opens where the herald's arrest closes
κηρύσσων τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ θεοῦparticipial — manner participle — the εὐαγγέλιον of v. 1 now on Jesus' own lips
15
καὶ λέγων ὅτιparticipial — coordinate speech-participle with recitative ὅτι
Πεπλήρωται ὁ καιρὸςcontent — perfect — the appointed season stands full
καὶ ἤγγικεν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ·content — ἤγγικεν — 'drawn near' or 'arrived,' the famous crux, left open
μετανοεῖτε καὶ πιστεύετε ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ.content — the double imperative — the demanded response
vv. 16–20 — the four called from their nets
16
Καὶ παράγων παρὰ τὴν θάλασσαν τῆς Γαλιλαίαςparticipial — preposed circumstantial — leans on εἶδεν
εἶδεν Σίμωνα καὶ Ἀνδρέαν τὸν ἀδελφὸν Σίμωνοςindependent — the first pair — Jesus' seeing initiates each call
ἀμφιβάλλοντας ἐν τῇ θαλάσσῃ·participial — supplementary participle — caught mid-work
ἦσαν γὰρ ἁλιεῖς.cause — narrator's aside — the γάρ that sets up 'fishers of men'
17
καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ Ἰησοῦς·independent — the call — speech-frame
Δεῦτε ὀπίσω μου,content — the summons — discipleship as following behind
καὶ ποιήσω ὑμᾶς γενέσθαι ἁλιεῖς ἀνθρώπων.content — the promise — their trade transposed; γενέσθαι, a becoming
18
καὶ εὐθὺς ἀφέντες τὰ δίκτυαparticipial — preposed aorist participle — the abandonment before the verb strikes
ἠκολούθησαν αὐτῷ.independent — the obedience — one word answers the call
19
Καὶ προβὰς ὀλίγονparticipial — preposed circumstantial — leans on εἶδεν
εἶδεν Ἰάκωβον τὸν τοῦ Ζεβεδαίου καὶ Ἰωάννην τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ,independent — the second pair — the pattern repeats
καὶ αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ καταρτίζοντας τὰ δίκτυα,participial — supplementary participle — again mid-work
20
καὶ εὐθὺς ἐκάλεσεν αὐτούς.independent — the call compressed to one verb
καὶ ἀφέντες τὸν πατέρα αὐτῶν Ζεβεδαῖον ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ μετὰ τῶν μισθωτῶνparticipial — preposed aorist participle — the cost named: father, boat, business
ἀπῆλθον ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ.independent — ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ — the phrase of v. 17 enacted
Authority in Capernaum — the teaching and the unclean spirit 1:21–28
vv. 21–22 — teaching with authority
21
Καὶ εἰσπορεύονται εἰς Καφαρναούμ·independent — historic present — the narrative quickens into the day at Capernaum
καὶ εὐθὺς τοῖς σάββασιν εἰσελθὼν εἰς τὴν συναγωγὴνparticipial — preposed circumstantial — leans on ἐδίδασκεν
ἐδίδασκεν.independent — inceptive imperfect — one bare verb, no content given
22
καὶ ἐξεπλήσσοντο ἐπὶ τῇ διδαχῇ αὐτοῦ·independent — iterative imperfect — the ongoing amazement
ἦν γὰρ διδάσκων αὐτοὺς ὡς ἐξουσίαν ἔχωνcause — periphrastic imperfect — ἐξουσία, the chapter's keyword, enters
καὶ οὐχ ὡς οἱ γραμματεῖς.comparative — elliptical foil — the scribes teach from precedent, he does not
vv. 23–28 — the unclean spirit expelled
23
καὶ εὐθὺς ἦν ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ αὐτῶν ἄνθρωπος ἐν πνεύματι ἀκαθάρτῳ,independent — ἐν πνεύματι ἀκαθάρτῳ — in the spirit's grip, inside the holy assembly
καὶ ἀνέκραξενindependent — the shriek — the spirit speaks through the man
24
λέγων·participial — pleonastic speech-participle — the frame for the demon's words
Τί ἡμῖν καὶ σοί, Ἰησοῦ Ναζαρηνέ;content — verbless idiom (cf. 1 Kgs 17:18) — the plural ἡμῖν: the demonic order speaks
ἦλθες ἀπολέσαι ἡμᾶς;content — question or dread assertion — either way, the demons read the arrival rightly
οἶδά σε τίς εἶ, ὁ ἅγιος τοῦ θεοῦ.content — prolepsis (σε drawn forward) — the demon confesses what the crowd cannot see
25
καὶ ἐπετίμησεν αὐτῷ ὁ Ἰησοῦς λέγων·independent — ἐπετίμησεν — the rebuke-verb of exorcism and of storms (4:39)
Φιμώθητιcontent — the blunt muzzle-word — the messianic silencing begins
καὶ ἔξελθε ἐξ αὐτοῦ.content — the expulsion command — no formula, no invocation, bare authority
26
καὶ σπαράξαν αὐτὸν τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἀκάθαρτον καὶ φωνῆσαν φωνῇ μεγάλῃparticipial — two preposed aorist participles — the violent exit before the verb
ἐξῆλθεν ἐξ αὐτοῦ.independent — the command of v. 25 obeyed verbatim
27
καὶ ἐθαμβήθησαν ἅπαντες,independent — θαμβέομαι — Mark's stronger amazement verb
ὥστε συζητεῖν πρὸς ἑαυτοὺς λέγοντας·purpose — ὥστε + infinitive — actual result (typed pur; no result key)
Τί ἐστιν τοῦτο;content — the crowd's question — identity, not technique
διδαχὴ καινὴ κατ’ ἐξουσίαν·content — verbless exclamation — teaching and exorcism read as one act of ἐξουσία
καὶ τοῖς πνεύμασι τοῖς ἀκαθάρτοις ἐπιτάσσει,content — fronted dative — the astonishing object first
καὶ ὑπακούουσιν αὐτῷ.content — the verdict — obedience where the scribes get argument
28
καὶ ἐξῆλθεν ἡ ἀκοὴ αὐτοῦ εὐθὺς πανταχοῦ εἰς ὅλην τὴν περίχωρον τῆς Γαλιλαίας.independent — ἐξῆλθεν ἡ ἀκοή — the fame exits as the demon did
The house of Simon — an evening of healings 1:29–34
vv. 29–31 — Simon's mother-in-law raised
29
Καὶ εὐθὺς ἐκ τῆς συναγωγῆς ἐξελθόντεςparticipial — preposed circumstantial — the sabbath day continues
ἦλθον εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν Σίμωνος καὶ Ἀνδρέου μετὰ Ἰακώβου καὶ Ἰωάννου.independent — the four of vv. 16–20 — eyewitness circumstantiality
30
ἡ δὲ πενθερὰ Σίμωνος κατέκειτο πυρέσσουσα,independent — imperfect + participle — the scene as they find it
καὶ εὐθὺς λέγουσιν αὐτῷ περὶ αὐτῆς.independent — historic present — the intercession
31
καὶ προσελθὼνparticipial — preposed circumstantial — leans on ἤγειρεν
ἤγειρεν αὐτὴνindependent — ἤγειρεν — the resurrection verb in miniature
κρατήσας τῆς χειρός·participial — means participle, following its verb — the healing touch
καὶ ἀφῆκεν αὐτὴν ὁ πυρετός,independent — the fever as agent — it departs like the demon
καὶ διηκόνει αὐτοῖς.independent — inceptive imperfect — διακονεῖν, the angels' verb of v. 13
vv. 32–34 — the whole city at the door
32
Ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης,participial — genitive absolute — forward-leaning; sabbath ends at sundown
ὅτε ἔδυ ὁ ἥλιος,conditional — temporal ὅτε (typed cnd; no temporal key) — the double time-marker: now they may carry the sick
ἔφερον πρὸς αὐτὸν πάντας τοὺς κακῶς ἔχοντας καὶ τοὺς δαιμονιζομένους·independent — iterative imperfect — the stream of the afflicted
33
καὶ ἦν ὅλη ἡ πόλις ἐπισυνηγμένη πρὸς τὴν θύραν.independent — periphrastic pluperfect sense — Mark's hyperbolic ὅλη
34
καὶ ἐθεράπευσεν πολλοὺς κακῶς ἔχοντας ποικίλαις νόσοις,independent — πολλούς answering πάντας — many of the all brought
καὶ δαιμόνια πολλὰ ἐξέβαλεν,independent — the evening's second column of works
καὶ οὐκ ἤφιεν λαλεῖν τὰ δαιμόνια,independent — iterative imperfect — the repeated silencing
ὅτι ᾔδεισαν αὐτόν.cause — the messianic secret stated — knowledge is the reason for the muzzle
Before dawn — prayer and the wider tour 1:35–39
35
Καὶ πρωῒ ἔννυχα λίαν ἀναστὰςparticipial — preposed circumstantial with piled time-adverbs — leans on ἐξῆλθεν
ἐξῆλθενindependent — the withdrawal from the acclaiming city
καὶ ἀπῆλθεν εἰς ἔρημον τόπονindependent — ἔρημος again — back to the wilderness of vv. 4, 12
κἀκεῖ προσηύχετο.independent — durative imperfect — the first of Mark's three prayer-scenes (6:46; 14:35)
36
καὶ κατεδίωξεν αὐτὸν Σίμων καὶ οἱ μετ’ αὐτοῦ,independent — καταδιώκω — pursued, a hunting verb; the crowd's agenda gives chase
37
καὶ εὗρον αὐτὸνindependent — the search concluded
καὶ λέγουσιν αὐτῷ ὅτιindependent — historic present + recitative ὅτι — the speech-frame
Πάντες ζητοῦσίν σε.content — ζητεῖν — in Mark, almost always the wrong pursuit
38
καὶ λέγει αὐτοῖς·independent — historic present — the reply
Ἄγωμεν ἀλλαχοῦ εἰς τὰς ἐχομένας κωμοπόλεις,content — the refusal of Capernaum's acclaim — the mission moves on
ἵνα καὶ ἐκεῖ κηρύξω·purpose — the stated purpose — preaching, not wonder-working
εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ ἐξῆλθον.cause — ἐξῆλθον — from Capernaum, or from the Father; the double sense noted
39
καὶ ἦλθεν κηρύσσων εἰς τὰς συναγωγὰς αὐτῶν εἰς ὅλην τὴν Γαλιλαίανindependent — the summary tour — preaching first, as v. 38 promised
καὶ τὰ δαιμόνια ἐκβάλλων.participial — coordinate participle — word and power together
The leper cleansed — the charge disobeyed 1:40–45
vv. 40–42 — the plea and the touch
40
Καὶ ἔρχεται πρὸς αὐτὸν λεπρὸςindependent — historic present — the unclean man approaches, against all rule
παρακαλῶν αὐτὸν καὶ γονυπετῶνparticipial — the double participle of entreaty
λέγων αὐτῷ ὅτιparticipial — speech-participle with recitative ὅτι
Ἐὰν θέλῃςconditional — protasis inside quoted speech — doubt of willingness, not of power
δύνασαί με καθαρίσαι.content — the apodosis-confession — καθαρίσαι, the cultic word
41
καὶ σπλαγχνισθεὶςparticipial — σπλαγχνισθείς printed; the harder ὀργισθείς ('moved with anger,' D it) is the famous rival reading
ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦparticipial — second preposed participle — the reach across the purity line
ἥψατοindependent — ἥψατο — one word: he touches what no one touches
καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ·independent — historic present — the answering word
Θέλω, καθαρίσθητι·content — the plea answered word for word — θέλω to ἐὰν θέλῃς, καθαρίσθητι to καθαρίσαι
42
καὶ εὐθὺς ἀπῆλθεν ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ ἡ λέπρα,independent — the disease departs like the fever and the demon
καὶ ἐκαθαρίσθη.independent — the passive seals it — the command performed
vv. 43–45 — the stern charge and the disobedient fame
43
καὶ ἐμβριμησάμενος αὐτῷparticipial — ἐμβριμησάμενος — the snorting-stern verb; the tone turns abruptly
εὐθὺς ἐξέβαλεν αὐτόν,independent — ἐξέβαλεν — the exorcism verb turned on the healed man himself
44
καὶ λέγει αὐτῷ·independent — historic present — the charge
Ὅραcontent — the warning imperative governing the prohibition
μηδενὶ μηδὲν εἴπῃς,content — double negative prohibition — the secret commanded
ἀλλὰ ὕπαγεcontent — the positive counter-command
σεαυτὸν δεῖξον τῷ ἱερεῖcontent — Lev 13–14 — the Torah honored by the one who touched the leper
καὶ προσένεγκε περὶ τοῦ καθαρισμοῦ σουcontent — the prescribed offering
ἃ προσέταξεν Μωϋσῆςrelative — Lev 14:2–32 — the two birds, the lambs, the log of oil
εἰς μαρτύριον αὐτοῖς.phrase modifier — εἰς μαρτύριον αὐτοῖς — for, or against, them; left open
45
ὁ δὲ ἐξελθὼνparticipial — preposed circumstantial — the healed man exits to disobey
ἤρξατο κηρύσσειν πολλὰ καὶ διαφημίζειν τὸν λόγον,independent — κηρύσσειν — the leper preaches; the verb of John and Jesus taken over
ὥστε μηκέτι αὐτὸν δύνασθαι φανερῶς εἰς πόλιν εἰσελθεῖν,purpose — ὥστε + infinitive — actual result (typed pur; no result key): the roles reverse
ἀλλ’ ἔξω ἐπ’ ἐρήμοις τόποις ἦν·independent — Jesus now occupies the leper's exile — the exchange complete
καὶ ἤρχοντο πρὸς αὐτὸν πάντοθεν.independent — iterative imperfect — the chapter ends as it ran: everyone still coming
Analysis. Mark 1 is narrative, and the layout's first lesson is the flush-left column: verse after verse of coordinate purple main clauses, each opening with καί (eleven times reinforced by εὐθύς, 'immediately'), one event per line — appeared, went out, was baptized, saw, drives out, called, they followed, he healed. Mark's parataxis is real coordination, so it is never falsely nested; the drumbeat runs straight down the left margin, and the historic presents (ἐκβάλλει, εἰσπορεύονται, λέγει, ἔρχεται) are flagged in the tags as they land. Against that column two things indent. First, the preposed circumstantial participles and genitive absolutes that lean forward, anchor-less, on the event below them (καὶ εὐθὺς ἀναβαίνων, ἀφέντες τὰ δίκτυα, Ὀψίας δὲ γενομένης, σπλαγχνισθείς) — Mark's favorite way of loading a clause before its verb strikes. Second, speech, which always hangs blue (cnt) beneath its verb of saying: the composite catena of vv. 2–3 under γέγραπται (Mal 3:1/Exod 23:20, then Isa 40:3, cited 'in Isaiah the prophet' — the attribution-crux the later Byzantine text smooths to 'in the prophets'), the heavenly voice under φωνή (Ps 2:7 fused with Isa 42:1), John's and Jesus' proclamations under ἐκήρυσσεν and λέγων, the demon's τί ἡμῖν καὶ σοί and the crowd's τί ἐστιν τοῦτο; under their participles of speech, and the leper-dialogue with the chapter's one conditional — a protasis inside quoted speech (Ἐὰν θέλῃς leaning forward on δύνασαι), answered word-for-word by Θέλω, καθαρίσθητι. Cruxes the layout inherits from the text rather than resolves: [υἱοῦ θεοῦ] in v. 1 stands bracketed (absent from Sinaiticus*, read by most witnesses including Vaticanus, framing the Gospel with 15:39); at v. 41 the text prints σπλαγχνισθείς ('moved with compassion') where the harder, well-attested ὀργισθείς ('moved with anger') competes — the tag names it; ἤγγικεν in v. 15 ('has drawn near' or 'has arrived') and εἰς μαρτύριον αὐτοῖς in v. 44 ('a testimony for — or against — them') are glossed but left open.