Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 1:27

"And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What is this? a new teaching! with authority he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." — Mark 1:27 (ASV)

Mark again reports the reaction of the people (cf. v.22) as they asked themselves in amazement and alarm, “What is this?” Their answer stresses both the newness of Jesus’ teaching and its authority. They had had no previous experience with this kind of teaching. Jesus’ authority was inherent within himself; one command accomplished the exorcism of the demon. The inevitable result was that Jesus’ fame began to spread “over the whole region of Galilee.”