TEXT [Commentary]

C. Teaching on the Mystery-filled Kingdom and Miracles of Power Yield Rejection (3:13–6:6a)

1. The choosing of the Twelve (3:13-19; cf. Luke 6:12-16)

13 Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him. 14 Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles.[*] They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, 15 giving them authority to cast out demons. 16 These are the twelve he chose:

Simon (whom he named Peter),

17 James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”[*]),

18 Andrew,

Philip,

Bartholomew,

Matthew,

Thomas,

James (son of Alphaeus),

Thaddaeus,

Simon (the zealot[*]),

19 Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

NOTES

3:13 Jesus went up on a mountain. Though the area was likely what we would consider a “hillside,” Mark’s use of “mountain” may allude to the mountain as the site where God acts and reveals, as he did with Moses at Sinai. The phrase Mark uses is anabainei eis to oros [TG3735, ZG4001] (mountain), which recalls a frequent expression in the Pentateuch that describes Moses’ activity (Exod 19:3; 24:1-4; Num 27:12ff; Deut 9:7–10:11; Marcus 2000:266). If this allusion is intended, then Jesus’ selection of the Twelve was a moment not unlike Israel’s formation as a structured theocracy (Guelich 1989:156-157 argues against the allusion).

3:14 twelve. This number adds to the sense of an intentional typology between the disciples and Israel. Like the twelve tribes, the twelve apostles were chosen to preach the new message of the approaching Kingdom (TDNT 2:325-328). The setting of the selection is important. As the nation’s leaders moved to reject Jesus, the emissary of God selected his own twelve leaders to make a claim for the nation (Hooker 1991:111). Their names are listed in 3:16-19. We know very little about most of the Twelve and in fact, the only four mentioned in Mark after this list is given are Peter, James, John, and Judas Iscariot.

called them his apostles. The presence of this phrase in the Gr. original of Mark is disputed, but the earliest MSS have it, including and B. Those who argue against its inclusion think the phrase is more likely to have been added to conform with Luke 6:13 and treat its omission as the harder reading (Marcus 2000:263). However, the use of similar terms for “send” in 3:14 might have led to an error of sight and a skipping of the initial phrase. By calling the twelve the “apostles,” Jesus designated them as his commissioned representatives with authority to proclaim his message.

3:15 authority to cast out demons. Jesus extended their authority to include the conflict with demons that had been part of his own ministry to this point (1:39). Their parallel activity underscored their connection with Jesus.

3:16 Simon (whom he named Peter). For Peter to have two names was not unusual; this was a common practice at that time. His second name, Peter, means “rock.” We first meet him in Mark at 1:16-20, where he left his nets and, with Andrew and the sons of Zebedee (James and John), joined Jesus.

3:17 Sons of Thunder. These brothers also received a second name, “Sons of Thunder.” We are not told why they were given this name (see Guelich 1989:162).

3:18 Matthew . . . Simon. See the commentary below.

Thaddaeus. In Luke’s list (Luke 6:14-16; Acts 1:13), this position is occupied by Judas, son of James, but the possibility of two names for the same person may be at work here.

3:19 Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). Whenever Judas is named, his betrayal is always noted. He is also last in the list.

COMMENTARY [Text]

Jesus was planning his moves even as opposition was rising. By naming twelve to serve in a special role, he made it clear that he was making a claim on Israel. That the Twelve were rooted in the historical ministry of Jesus becomes clear in Acts 1:21-26, when Judas has to be replaced to complete the group of twelve again. As to the historical character of the group, the early church would never have created a story in which Jesus selected his betrayer. This is not a story that one makes up about a leader’s ability to select people or about his key followers.

The selection of the Twelve shows that Jesus planned to work with others alongside him. They would represent him and help to declare the message of the Kingdom. As Mark also made abundantly clear, they had much to learn about how that program would work.

The first listed among the Twelve is Peter. He was clearly the leader of the entire group, and he made a key confession at Caesarea Philippi (8:27-30). James and John are named second and third because they, with Peter, formed an inner group of three disciples that saw Jesus raise a little girl from the dead (Luke 8:51), witnessed Jesus on the mount of Transfiguration (9:2-8), and were asked to pray with Jesus during his time of trial (14:33).

Two other notable disciples are Simon the zealot and Matthew. The title “zealot” suggests that Simon was a nationalist, willing to fight to free Israel from Roman rule, before he became a disciple. Although the zealots did not appear as a formal party until the sixties in the first century, some were committed to this political position before then. Then there is Matthew, who collected taxes for Rome (2:13-14; Matt 9:9), a position in direct opposition to Simon’s. Thus there is evidence within the Twelve of the very reconciliation Jesus sought to give to people, not only with God but also with one another.