Argument Summary: Mark clearly is fond of the word eutheos ("immediately"), using it as a conjunction to join passages. That Matt also makes use of this word, in the same places, shows that he has used Mark as a source [Stein, 89ff].

An examination of the use of this word and its cognates in the NT immediately brings up the smell of fish. First some raw data to consider on the usage:

• Matthew -- 18 times
• Mark -- 41 times
• Luke -- 6 times
• John -- 7 times
• Acts -- 9 times

(Stein's count for Mark is actually 41, and Matt 18; I arrive at these figures from my own CD-ROM.)

The use of this word in Acts (and some cases in John) tell us at once that there is nothing unlikely about the original core tradition used by both Mark and Matt already having eutheos in it. Stein even admits that of the 18 times he finds the word in Matt, one is in material not paralleled in Mark, and three are not directly parallel to the use in Mark, leaving only 14 with an exact parallel. But let's be generous and allow for the 17 total. Stein argues (with no real justification, other than raw numbers!) that if Matt were using an oral core, we would expect him to use eutheous only 12 times, not 17. But as often is the case, raw numbers can be misleading. What we need to do is look at particular instances of the use of eutheos and decide, "Is this something that WOULD be described as happening 'immediately'?" The instances in Acts and John serve as a worthy "control" that tell us when the word would be used independently of any considerations of source.

• John 5:9 -- And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
• John 6:21 -- Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
• John 13:30 -- He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
• John 13:32 -- If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
• John 18:27 Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.
• John 19:34 -- But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
• John 21:3 -- Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
• Acts 9:18 -- And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
• Acts 9:20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
• Acts 9:34 And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.
• Acts 12:10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.
• Acts 16:10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
• Acts 17:10 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
• Acts 17:14 And then immediately the brethren sent away Paul to go as it were to the sea: but Silas and Timotheus abode there still.
• Acts 21:30 And all the city was moved, and the people ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut.
• Acts 22:29 Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

This should be a matter of common sense, but it does somehow manage to escape Marcan prioritists: If the act being described is something that could or would be done with 'immediacy' then it is prima facie likely that it would be described as such in the core tradition. Note that three of these are also used of healings. Now with that in mind, what of the Matthean uses of the word?

1. 3:16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God (see more here)
2. 4:20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
3. 4:22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
4. 8:3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
5. 13:5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6. 13:20-1 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
7. Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
8. 14:22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
9. 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
10. 14:31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
11. 20:34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
12. 21:2-3 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.
13. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.
14. 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
15. 25:15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. (no Markan parallel)
16. 26:49 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.
17. 26:74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
18. 27:48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink.

Is this something to make a fuss about or to derive Markan priority from? Hardly. Of the 18:

• 1 finds no parallel in Mark (17/18)
• 6 are in words of Jesus, and therefore cannot be used to claim priority of one writer over another. (11/18)
• Two describe healings, as they do in John and Acts as well (9/18)
• Three describe actions that would or could be taken immediately regardless of stylistic issues (6/18)
• And interestingly, of the six left, ALL SIX have to do with events in which Peter had a starring role and would therefore be the likeliest source for composition of the original oral core!

Thus it is that eutheus actually turns out to support if anything our thesis of a common oral core than Matt and Mark worked with, and does nothing at all to support a Marcan priority thesis. This is one reason why raw numbers can be so deceptive.