13And he went up onto the mountain and called near to him those whom he himself wanted, and they came to him. [3:14] And he appointed twelve — whom he also named apostles — so that they would be with him, and so that he might send them out to preach [3:15] and to have authority to cast out the demons. [3:16] He appointed the twelve: Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter; [3:17] and James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder; [3:18] and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, [3:19] and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
MRK 3:13-19
The Twelve Apostles
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st-century Jewish context, the act of appointing twelve apostles would have evoked strong symbolic and cultural resonances. The number twelve mirrored the twelve tribes of Israel, signaling a restoration or renewal of God’s people. For Jesus’ contemporaries, this act would have been understood as a deliberate claim to authority and a reformation of Israel’s identity. The term 'apostle' carried the weight of 'one sent with authority,' akin to an emissary or delegate, a role familiar in Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts. The naming of Simon as 'Peter' (, 'rock') and the brothers James and John as 'Boanerges' ('Sons of Thunder') would have underscored their new identities and roles within this reconstituted community. The authority to heal diseases and cast out demons aligned with Jewish expectations of messianic figures, who were believed to bring liberation from physical and spiritual oppression. This commissioning also reflected the Roman patronage system, where a patron would delegate authority to trusted clients to act on their behalf.
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How other translations render this
MRK 3:13
- KJV
- And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.
- BSB
- Then Jesus went up on the mountain and called for those He wanted, and they came to Him.
- Koinōnos
- And he went up onto the mountain and called near to him those whom he himself wanted, and they came to him.
MRK 3:14
- KJV
- And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
- BSB
- He appointed twelve of them, whom He designated as apostles, to accompany Him, to be sent out to preach,
- Koinōnos
- And he appointed twelve — whom he also named apostles — so that they would be with him, and so that he might send them out to preach
MRK 3:15
- KJV
- And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
- BSB
- and to have authority to drive out demons.
- Koinōnos
- and to have authority to cast out the demons.
MRK 3:16
- KJV
- And Simon he surnamed Peter;
- BSB
- These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter),
- Koinōnos
- He appointed the twelve: Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter;
MRK 3:17
- KJV
- And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
- BSB
- James son of Zebedee and his brother John (whom He named Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder”),
- Koinōnos
- and James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder;
MRK 3:18
- KJV
- And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
- BSB
- Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot,
- Koinōnos
- and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot,
MRK 3:19
- KJV
- And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.
- BSB
- and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.
- Koinōnos
- and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MRK 3:13
- calls near:The word translated 'calls near' implies a deliberate summoning, often with the expectation of a response or a specific task. It's not just a casual call, but an invitation to draw close for a purpose.
MRK 3:14
- He appointed:The word translated 'He appointed' carries a sense of making or establishing, indicating that Jesus actively created this group and their role, rather than merely selecting them.
- with:The word translated 'with' here is actually the same word used for 'to send' or 'to send out.' This highlights that the disciples were not just to be 'with' Jesus, but were being prepared for a mission of being 'sent out' by him.
MRK 3:15
- diseases:The word translated 'diseases' here refers specifically to demonic spirits or evil supernatural beings, not general physical ailments. The power given was over these spiritual entities.