Mark 3:16 kjv
And Simon he surnamed Peter;
Mark 3:16 nkjv
Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter;
Mark 3:16 niv
These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter),
Mark 3:16 esv
He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter);
Mark 3:16 nlt
These are the twelve he chose: Simon (whom he named Peter),
Mark 3 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 10:1 | And Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits... to heal every disease... | Jesus empowers His chosen for mission. |
| Luke 6:12-13 | ...He went out to the mountain to pray... And when it was day, He called His disciples... and chose twelve of them... | Jesus' deliberate selection, after prayer. |
| John 15:16 | You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit... | Jesus' sovereign choice of disciples. |
| Acts 1:2 | ...until the day when He was taken up, after He had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom He had chosen. | Divine appointment and Spirit guidance for apostles. |
| Matt 28:18-20 | And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority... Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them... teaching them...” | The Great Commission: Disciples sent to make more disciples. |
| John 20:21 | Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you.” | Jesus sending His disciples with divine authority. |
| Gen 49:28 | All these are the twelve tribes of Israel... | "Twelve" symbolises the restored Israel. |
| Rev 21:12-14 | It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel... and on the twelve foundation stones the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. | "Twelve" as foundation of New Jerusalem and church. |
| Matt 19:28 | Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” | Authority and role of the twelve in the future Kingdom. |
| Luke 22:28-30 | “You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” | "Be with Him" rewarded with participation in Kingdom rule. |
| John 15:4 | Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. | "Be with Him" underscores dependence and fruitfulness. |
| Luke 10:38-42 | Mary sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving... | Prioritizing "being with Him" (listening to Him) over activity. |
| Acts 4:13 | Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. | Testimony to the transforming power of "being with Him". |
| 1 John 1:3 | ...that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. | Fellowship (being with Him) leads to proclamation. |
| Phil 3:10 | that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, | The desire to "be with Him" and know Him deeply. |
| Luke 9:2 | And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. | Parallel account of sending out to preach. |
| Luke 10:1 | After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of Him, two by two, into every town and place... | Jesus extended His mission beyond the initial twelve. |
| Acts 1:8 | But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” | Disciples sent out as witnesses globally. |
| Rom 10:14-15 | How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? | Emphasizes necessity of being "sent out to preach". |
| 1 Cor 1:17 | For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. | Apostolic calling primarily focused on preaching the gospel. |
| Mark 16:15 | And He said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” | Universal command to go and preach. |
| Isa 61:1 | The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor... | Prophetic foundation for being sent to preach. |
| Col 1:28 | Him we proclaim, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ. | Proclaiming Christ is the core message. |
Mark 3 verses
Mark 3 16 Meaning
This verse profoundly illustrates Jesus' strategic and purposeful selection of a core group of twelve disciples, establishing them not just as followers but as a designated company with a dual commission. First, they were chosen to maintain an intimate fellowship with Him, learning directly from His life, teachings, and miraculous works. This close relationship was foundational for their spiritual formation and understanding of His Kingdom. Second, their appointment carried a specific purpose: to be sent out as heralds, proclaiming the good news of God's Kingdom. This order reveals that personal discipleship is a prerequisite for effective and authoritative ministry.
Mark 3 16 Context
This verse occurs during a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry. In Mark chapter 3, the tension between Jesus and the religious authorities, particularly the Pharisees, escalates (Mark 3:1-6). They condemn His healing on the Sabbath and begin plotting against Him. In response to the growing opposition and the multitude of people seeking Him for healing and deliverance (Mark 3:7-12), Jesus withdraws to a mountain. It is there, following intense spiritual conflict, that He strategically appoints the twelve. This action signifies Jesus laying the foundational structure for His continuing ministry beyond His physical presence, establishing a new community to carry on His work amidst increasing external pressure. The selection of 'twelve' carried profound symbolic weight for the Jewish audience, representing the twelve tribes of Israel, indicating a new covenant community, and foreshadowing the restoration of God's people.
Mark 3 16 Word analysis
- and He: Refers to Jesus Christ, emphasizing His divine initiative and sovereign authority in choosing. The active subject here is Jesus Himself, not the disciples choosing to follow.
- appointed (Greek: ἐποίησεν - epoiēsen, from ποιέω - poieō): Signifies a deliberate, authoritative act of selection and establishment. It's more than simply calling; it means to make, constitute, or create something for a specific purpose. It indicates Jesus' power and intention in forming this group.
- twelve (Greek: δώδεκα - dōdeka): This number carries profound Old Testament symbolism, directly linking to the twelve tribes of Israel. Its deliberate use here by Jesus underscores His identity as the Messiah who initiates the New Covenant and reconstitutes the true people of God, establishing a new spiritual 'Israel' or a leadership for it.
- that they might be with Him (Greek: ἵνα ὦσιν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ - hina ōsin met' autou):
- that (ἵνα - hina): Introduces a purpose clause, highlighting the primary objective of their appointment.
- be with Him: Emphasizes intimate fellowship, proximity, and constant companionship. This aspect of discipleship is foundational, implying learning through direct observation, conversation, and shared life. It's about spiritual formation and character development, deeply understanding who Jesus is and His message by direct exposure before any public ministry. This also points to their eyewitness status later on.
- and that He might send them out (Greek: καὶ ἵνα ἀποστέλλῃ αὐτοὺς - kai hina apostellē autous):
- and that: Introduces a second, subsequent purpose for their appointment.
- send them out (ἀποστέλλω - apostellō): This is the root verb from which the term "apostle" is derived, meaning "one who is sent." It denotes being dispatched as a delegate, an authorized representative, with a specific commission. This aspect of their role is external and missional.
- to preach (Greek: κηρύσσω - kēryssō): Means to proclaim, announce, or herald publicly, like an authoritative messenger. The message they were to preach was the good news of the Kingdom of God, a message entrusted to them by Jesus Himself.
- "He appointed twelve": This phrase highlights Jesus' active, sovereign selection and the formal establishment of a new, significant group. It signifies a deliberate act of divine calling to a distinct purpose, mirroring the founding of Israel.
- "that they might be with Him, and that He might send them out to preach": This forms a crucial two-fold purpose for the apostles' appointment. It prioritizes intimate relational formation with Christ ("be with Him") as the essential foundation for effective outward mission and authoritative proclamation ("send them out to preach"). Their message and authority derived directly from their close association with Him. This sequence underlines that fellowship precedes and empowers mission.
Mark 3 16 Bonus section
- The emphasis on "being with Him" underscores the idea of eyewitnesses. These individuals would be primary witnesses to Jesus' life, teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection, which would give credibility and authority to their preaching. This prepared them for their later role as foundation-layers of the Church.
- Though not explicitly stated in the verse, Mark 3:15, which immediately follows in the fuller narrative (depending on translation), also states a purpose of giving them "authority to cast out demons." This demonstrates that their proclamation ("to preach") was often accompanied by spiritual power over evil forces, indicating the visible breaking in of God's Kingdom.
- The commissioning of the "twelve" highlights the establishment of a hierarchical, apostolic authority in the early Church, stemming directly from Jesus' own appointment. This set a precedent for delegated authority and ordered leadership within the nascent Christian movement.
Mark 3 16 Commentary
Mark 3:16 (which encapsulates the preceding statements about the Twelve's purpose) provides a profound theological blueprint for discipleship and ministry. Jesus' deliberate appointment of "twelve" underscores His re-founding of God's people, establishing a core leadership that symbolically connects with and expands upon the heritage of Israel's twelve tribes. The two primary purposes articulated, "that they might be with Him" and "that He might send them out to preach," reveal a crucial divine order. The intimate relationship and ongoing instruction received from Jesus Himself was paramount. It wasn't merely about imparting information, but about character transformation and shared life, ensuring that their future proclamation flowed from a genuine encounter and profound understanding of Christ. Only after being thoroughly formed in His presence were they commissioned to public ministry. This pattern remains normative for all believers: a deep, abiding fellowship with Christ must precede and fuel any effective outward proclamation of His truth.