Mark 3: The Twelve Apostles
Why were the Pharisees closely watching Jesus? What were they hoping to see?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Mark 3:1–2 Jesus entered the synagogue, where there was a man with a crippled hand.
The Pharisees were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched closely to see if he would heal the man.
King James
Mark 3:1–2 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
To what extent was Jesus aware of the Pharisees presence and what their motives were?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Mark 3:1–2 Jesus entered the synagogue, where there was a man with a crippled hand.
The Pharisees were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched closely to see if he would heal the man.
King James
Mark 3:1–2 And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him.
If Jesus could have healed the man with the withered hand on some other day, why did he heal on the Sabbath and anger the people?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Mark 3:3–6 Jesus said to the man, “Come stand in front of everyone. Is it lawful to do good or evil on the Sabbath,to save life or destroy it?”
The people did not say anything.
Deeply grieved at the stubbornness of their hearts, he looked upon them with anger. He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.”
As the man reached out, his hand became completely restored, as healthy as the other.
The Pharisees were furious and immediately met with the supporters of Herod to plot how they might kill Jesus.
King James
Mark 3:3–6 And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
Why were the Pharisees so furious that they would plot to kill Jesus?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Mark 3:6 The Pharisees were furious and immediately met with the supporters of Herod to plot how they might kill Jesus.
King James
Mark 3:6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
What was there about Jesus’ ministry that drew a crowd from faraway places?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Mark 3:7–8 Jesus and his disciples left the town and went to the lakeshore. A large crowd from Galilee and Judea followed from Jerusalem, Idumea, and places east of the Jordan River. They also came from Tyre and Sidon—a multitude who had heard reports of the great things Jesus was doing.
King James
Mark 3:7–8 But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.
If Jesus was in a boat, some distance from the shore, how did he heal the sick?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Mark 3:9–10 To keep the crowd from crushing him, he instructed the disciples to get a small boat. After he had healed many people, others who were sick pressed in, wanting to touch him.
King James
Mark 3:9–10 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him. For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.
Why did people with evil spirits fall before Christ instead of running from him?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Mark 3:11–12 When those with evil spirits saw him, they fell to the ground and cried out, “You are the Son of God.”
But he sternly ordered them not to tell who he was.
King James
Mark 3:11–12 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.
By what criteria did Jesus appoint only these twelve disciples? What qualified them to do what he sent them to do?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Mark 3:13–19 One day, Jesus went up on a mountain and called those he wanted to be with him. He chose twelve men, whom he named his special messengers, to stay with him. He wanted to send them out to preach, heal diseases, and have authority over evil spirits. They were Simon, whom he named Peter, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were given the name Boanerges, meaning Sons of Thunder. There were Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Thaddaeus, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
King James
Mark 3:13–19 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: And Simon he surnamed Peter; and James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.
At the time Judas was appointed, did Jesus know he was the one who would betray him? Why?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Mark 3:18–19 There were Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, Thaddaeus, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
King James
Mark 3:18–19 And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.
How could a house become so packed that his family or friends would say Jesus had lost touch with reality?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Mark 3:20–21 When Jesus entered a house, so large a crowd gathered that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to restrain him because people were saying, “He has lost touch with reality.”
King James
Mark 3:20–21 And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself.
What motivated religious leaders to claim that Jesus’ power source was satanic?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Mark 3:22 Teachers of the Law who had come from Jerusalem said, “This man casts out evil spirits by the power of Beelzebub, the ruler of evil spirits.”
King James
Mark 3:22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.
If Satan casting out Satan is an absurdity, what would make people gullible for that claim?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Mark 3:23–26 So Jesus brought the people together and taught with these illustrations: “How can Satan cast out Satan? A kingdom working against itself will soon be destroyed, and any family who fights internally cannot last very long. If Satan drives out Satan, he is warring against himself and his kingdom cannot survive.”
King James
Mark 3:23–26 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.
What was Jesus talking about when he referred to the strong man, his house, and his property?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Mark 3:27 “How can a man force his way into a strong man’s house and take his property? First he must bind the strong man. Then he can plunder his house.”
King James
Mark 3:27 No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.
What is “speaking evil of the Holy Spirit”? Why can’t that be forgiven?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Mark 3:28–30 “Understand this: all kinds of sin and evil speaking may be forgiven, but speaking evil of the Holy Spirit cannot be forgiven. Not now. Not ever.” He said this because they said, “He has an evil spirit.”
King James
Mark 3:28–30 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.
How can some people be more a part of our “family” than blood relatives?
Author’s Thoughts
Author’s Insights Pending
Author’s Paraphrase
Mark 3:31–35 Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived and stood outside the crowded house. They sent one person inside with a message for him to come to them.
Out of the crowd sitting around Jesus, someone said, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, asking for you.”
“Who is my mother?” he said. “Who are my brothers?” He looked at those sitting around him. “Here are my brothers and my mother. Anyone who does the will of God is my brother, sister, and mother.”
King James
Mark 3:31–35 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.