Jesus Chooses the Twelve

13 And he goes up into the mountain, and calls whom he himself would, and they went to him. 14 And he appointed twelve that they might be with him, and that he might send them to preach, 15 and to have power [to heal diseases, and] to cast out demons. 16 And he gave to Simon the surname of Peter; 17 and James the [son] of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, and he gave them the surname of Boanerges, that is, Sons of thunder; 18 and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the [son] of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, 19 and Judas Iscariote, who also delivered him up. And they come to [the] house.

A Divided House Cannot Stand

20 And again a crowd comes together, so that they cannot even eat bread. 21 And his relatives having heard [of it] went out to lay hold on him, for they said, He is out of his mind.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 3:13-21

Commentary on Mark 3:13-21

(Read Mark 3:13-21)

Christ calls whom he will; for his grace is his own. He had called the apostles to separate themselves from the crowd, and they came unto him. He now gave them power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils. May the Lord send forth more and more of those who have been with him, and have learned of him to preach his gospel, to be instruments in his blessed work. Those whose hearts are enlarged in the work of God, can easily bear with what is inconvenient to themselves, and will rather lose a meal than an opportunity of doing good. Those who go on with zeal in the work of God, must expect hinderances, both from the hatred of enemies, and mistaken affections of friends, and need to guard against both.