The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 121

-not know this so clearly, but tbe.t, con- later on (see eh. vi. 7), so that here St. ·eidering, on the other hand, the greatness Mark speaks by anticipation, But this of the mystery, they heMitated. It is pro- shows how much importance was attached bable that they were ignorant of the end to this part of their mission; for it recognizes and fruit of this great mystery, namely, the spiritual world, and the special purpose ,that me.nkind were to be redeemed by the of the manifestation of the Son of Gotl, Inee.me.tion, the Oross, and the Death of namely, that he might "destroy the works Christ; and so their own kingdom was of the devil." He appointed twel?,e. The to be overthrown, and the kingdom of God number twelve symbolizes perfection and established. Blinded by their he.tred of universality. The nnmber three indicates Jeans, whom they perceived to be a what is Divine; and the number four, created most holy Being, drawing multitudes to things. Three multiplied by four gives ·himself, they stirred up the passions of evil twelve, the number of those who were to go men age.inst him, little dree.ming that ftJ. forth as apostles into the four quarters of promoting his destruction they were over- the world--ea.lled to the faith of the holy throwing their own kingdom. Trinity, Ver. 12.-(See notes on eh, i. 44.) Vera. 16, 17.-And Simon he mrnamed Ver. 13.-lnto a moUILte.in; literally, int.o Peter. Our Lord had previot1Sly declared that the mountain( ,lr-ro ~pos). Similarly, St. Luke Simon should be so coiled. Bnt St. Mark (vi. 12) ea.ye," He went out into the mountain avoids as much as possible the recognition to pray." The use of the definite e.rticle of any special honour belonging to St. might either point to some well-known Peter; so he here simply mentions the fact eminence, or to the high table-land e.s dis- of this surname having been given to him, tinguished from the plain, and in which a fact which was necessary in order that he there would be many recesses, which would might be identified. All the early Christian explain the use of the preposition .is, writers held that Peter was virtually the Tradition indicates Mount Hatten as the author of this Gospel. Simon, or Simeon, is place, about five miles to the west of the Sea from a Hebrew word, meaning "to hear." of Galilee, The summit rises above a level J"ames the son of Zebedee, so called to dis- space, where large numbers might stand tinguish him from the other James; and within bee.ring. It is supposed, with good J"ohn his brother. In St. Matthew's list, -reason, that it was from thence that the Andrew is mentioned next after Peter, as sermon on the mount was delivered. It was his brother, and the first called. But here at daybreak, e.s we learn from St. Luke St. Mark mentions James and John first (vi. 13), after this night of prayer, that he after Peter; these three, Peter and J e.mes oe.lled UILto him whom he himself would and John, being the three leading apostles. (ots -1/8•11.•v a/11·&s): and they went UILto Of James and John, James is mentioned him (,eel ,briji\8ov ..-pos); literally, they went first, as the eldest of the two brothers. And • away to him, the word implying the.t they them he surnamed Boanerges, whioh is, Sons forsook their former pursuits. Hie own will of thUILder. "Boanerges" is the Aramaic was the motive power: he called "whom he pronunciation of the Hebrew B'ne-ragesh; .himself would;" but their will consented. B'ne, sons, and rageah, thunder. The word • " When thou se.idet, Seek ye my fe.ce ; my was not intended e.s a term of reproach ; heart said unto thee, Thy fe.ce, Lord, will I although it fitly expressed tha.i natural • seek." impetuosity and vehemence of character, Vera. 14, 15.-Out of those who thus which sliowed itself iu their desire to bring came to him, he ordained twelve (brol11cr•); down fire from heaven upon thB So.maritan literally, he made OT appointed twelve. '!'hey village, and in their ambitious request that were not solemnly ordained or consecrated they might have the highest places of to their office until after his resurrection. honour in hie coming kingdom. But their Their actual consecration ( of all of them at natural dispositions, under the Holy Spirit's least but one, namely, Judas Iscariot) took influence, were gradually tmnsformedso as to pince when he breathed on them and so.id, serve the cause of Christ, and their fiery zeal "Receive ye the Holy Ghost" (John xx. was tre.usmuted into the eteo.dy flame of 22). But from this time they were his Christian earnestness and love, so as to be- apostles-" designate," They wore henceforth come an element of great power in their new to be with him e.s his attendants and dis- life as Christians. Christ called these men ciples. They were to go forth and preach "Sons of thunder" because he would make under his dil-ection, and by his power they their natural dispositions, when restmined were to cast out devils. Seveml mo.nuecripts and elevated by his grace, the great instru- add here that they were " to bee.I sicknesses," ments of spreading hie Goepel. He destined but the words are omitted in some of the them for high service in hie kingdom. By oldest authorities. The authority over un- their holy lives they were to be as lightnint(", ''lean spirits is mo•" formally conveyed and by their preaching they were to be as  118 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. [on. ur. 1-35..