Mark 6

And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:

But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.

And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.

But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.

For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.

For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.

And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.

And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:

Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.

He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

And they did all eat, and were filled.

And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.

And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.

And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.

And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:

For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.

And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,

And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.

And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

What does Mark 6:30 mean?

Explanation

Mark 6:30 reports the return of the apostles to Jesus after they had been sent out in pairs to preach, teach, heal, and cast out demons (Mark 6:7-13).

This mission was a significant step for the apostles as they stepped into roles of ministry under Jesus' authority and power.

Upon their return, they gathered around Jesus to report all that they had done and taught.

This verse implies a sense of community and accountability, as well as an opportunity for the disciples to reflect on their experiences and the outcomes of their ministry.

The verse suggests that the apostles recognized Jesus as their leader and mentor, eagerly sharing their successes and possibly their challenges with him.

It also speaks to the importance of mentorship and debriefing in a ministerial context, where those who have been sent out return to their community and leaders to evaluate and learn from their experiences.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

During the time Mark 6:30 was written, it was common for Jewish rabbis to have disciples.

Jesus, as a rabbi, had chosen his own disciples.

The historical context involves understanding the role and expectations of a rabbi's disciples in first-century Judea.

Rabbis would teach their followers the Torah and how to live it out in daily life.

Jesus took this further by giving his disciples authority to perform miracles and spread his teachings.

The dispatch and return of the apostles indicate that they had reached a point in their training where they could be trusted to carry out Jesus' work, a notable progression in the development of the early Christian church.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, Mark 6:30 is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it reaffirms the idea of Jesus as a teacher and leader who delegates his authority to his followers. Secondly, it also highlights the apostolic mission, which is at the heart of Christian ministry and evangelism.

Different theological perspectives might emphasize the apostles' role as prototypes for modern-day ministers and missionaries.

Catholic theology might focus on the apostolic succession, while Protestant interpretations could stress the priesthood of all believers and personal accountability to Christ.

Practical Applications

The practical applications of this verse include the importance of accountability in ministry work. Those involved in ministry are encouraged to report back to their community, mentors, or leaders, both to share successes and to seek guidance on challenges.

Additionally, there is an implication of the need for rest and reflection after periods of intense work, which can apply to modern work ethics too. It recognizes the value of collaboration between the leader and the subsidiary workers.

Cross-References

Mark 6:7-13: Describes Jesus sending out the apostles two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.
Luke 9:10: A parallel verse to Mark 6:30, where the apostles return and report to Jesus.
Acts 1:8: Jesus gives a mandate to his disciples to be witnesses in various parts of the world.
Matthew 10:1-15: Provides another account of Jesus sending out his disciples with instructions.

Language Study

A study of the original Greek text of Mark 6:30 reveals that the word used for "apostles" (ἀπόστολοι) can be translated as "ones sent forth" or "messengers." The verb for "gathered together" (συνάγω) implies assembling or coming together, indicating a deliberate meeting.

The word for "told" (ἀπαγγέλλω) conveys the act of reporting or declaring something, and is often used in the context of proclaiming a message.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In many ancient cultures, including Greek and Jewish societies, disciples often followed a teacher or philosopher to learn their teachings and then spread those teachings to others.

The concept of returning to a teacher or leader after a practical mission is not unique to Christianity and can be found in various cultural and religious practices where mentors send out students to apply their learning in real life.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives on this verse might discuss the psychological aspects of debriefing and community support after significant tasks. Studies in psychology support the idea that reflecting on experiences and discussing them in a group context can aid in cognitive processing and stress relief.

Commentaries

Commentators often emphasize that in Mark 6:30, the apostles are practicing an early form of Christian ministry that would later define the church.

Matthew Henry's commentary underscores the idea that the apostles were both active in working and proactive in seeking Jesus’ guidance.

The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary suggests that this gathering was an opportunity for Jesus to provide direction and correction as needed.

The Expositor's Greek Testament notes the apostles' eager reporting to Jesus as indicative of their dedication and the bond shared between them and their Master.

Mark 6

Mark 6

What does Mark 6:30 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 6:30 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?