Chapters 3:7-19.
7 AND Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea; and a great multitude from Galilee followed [him]; and from Judea, 8 and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and (from) beyond the Jordan, and those about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude having heard how great things he was doing, came unto him. 9 And he told his disciples that a boat should wait on him because of the crowd, lest they should throng him; 10 for he (had) healed many, so that they beset him that they might touch him, as many as had plagues (strokes). 11And the unclean spirits when they beheld him, fell down before him, and cried, sang, Thou art the Son of God; 12 and he rebuked them much, that they should not make him manifest. 13 And he goeth up on the mountain, and calleth up (unto him) whom he himself would; and they departed unto him. 14 And he appointed twelve that they might be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, 15 and to have authority [to heal diseases, and] to cast out demons. 16And to Simon he gave Peter as surname; 17 and James, the [son] of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and to them he gave as surnames.
Boanerges, that is, (the) sons of thunder; 18 and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the [son] of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Cananæan, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.
Notes and Suggestions.
Verse 7. — Withdrew. The Servant of Jehovah turned away from the evil plotters seeking His destruction, and went on with the work which was given Him to do. The Lord never sought persecution.
A great multitude. There are two multitudes spoken of in this and the next verse. (1) The multitude from Galilee which followed Him. (2) The multitude from surrounding and outlying districts which came unto Him.
Verse 9. — A boat to wait on Him. The reason for this circumstance is only mentioned by Mark, — lest He should be thronged by the multitude. His disciples having been fishermen of that locality, it would be an easy matter to obtain a boat to attend the Lord. From the boat He taught the people (Luke 5:3). It is noteworthy that the Lord did not countenance the neglecting of the body, which some have thought to be so acceptable to God. It surely teaches us to take reasonable precautions against accidents, etc. (1 Tim. 5:23; 2 Tim. 4:13). The Lord was here chiefly to bless men spiritually, and the boat was a provision against the overpressure of a crowd wildly intent to obtain relief from physical suffering. Nevertheless He “healed them all” (Matt. 12:15); such was His grace.
Verse 11. — Unclean spirits. The Lord will not suffer them to give their unsolicited testimony to Him as the Son of God. See also Mark 1:25, 34. And yet the heinous charge of collusion with Satan was brought against Him (ch. 3:22).
Verse 12. — Appointed twelve. This was the formal selection of twelve from among the disciples to be apostles. The number is an allusion to the twelve tribes of Israel (Matt. 19:28). The special characteristics of an apostle in the time of the Lord are here detailed: —
To be with the Lord;
To go forth to preach;
To heal the sick;
To cast out demons.
Verse 14. — Preach. There is a succession of preaching in this Gospel, repentance being prominent.
John the Baptist preached repentance and the coming of Christ (chs. 1:4, 7).
Jesus preached, “Repent ye and believe the gospel” (chs. 1:14, 15).
The twelve apostles preached that men should repent (ch. 6:12).
Verse 15. — Power. The power was given them when they went forth to preach (ch. 6:7). The Lord not only had the title to heal the sick and to cast out demons, but could confer it on others.