The Pulpit Commentary — Mark — Volume 1 — Section 249

Ver. 8.-They should take nothing for their repent. This was their great work, to journey, Bll.Ve a staff only. St. Matthew says which the miracles were subordinate. (x. 10), according to the best authorities Ver. 13.-And anointed with oil many that (µ116~ pr/./J6ov), they were not to take a staff. were sick, and healed them. It is hardly St. Luke says the same as St. Mo.tthew. possible to sep'l.rate this from the reference The meaning is that they were not to make to the use of oil for the sick, in J as. v. 14. any specinl provision for their journey, but Unction was employed extensively in ancient to go forth just BB they were, depending times for medicinal purposes. It is re- upon God. Those who had a staff might corded of Herod the Great by Josephus use it; those who bad not one were not to (' Antiq.,' xvii. 6, 5) that in one of his trouble themselves to procure one. The sicknesseR he was " immersed in a bath full scrip (-n-fipa) w11s the wallet for food. They of oil," from which he is said to have were to take no money in their purse (µ'I, derived much benefit. The apostles used ,ls .,.:i,v (cl,v11v xa>..,c&v); literally, bras~ in it, no doubt not only on account of its their girdle. St. Mark, writing for Romans, supposed remedial virtues, but also as an uses this word for money. St. Luke, writing outward and visible sign that the healing for Greeks, uses the term (a.n{,p,ov) "silver." was effected by their instrumentality in St. Matthew (x. 9) says, "provide neither the no.me of Christ, and perhaps also gold, nor silver, nor brn.ss." because the oil itself was significant of Ver. 9.-But be shod with sandals. This God's mercy, of spirituo.1 comfort and joy- is quite consistent with what St. Matthew " the oil of gladness." Neither this passage says (x. 9), that they were not to provide nor that in St. James cau properly be themselves with shoes (µ116~ inro8fiµa.Ta). adduced to support the ceremony of "ex- According to St. Matthew, shoes are for- treme unction ; " for in both these cases the bidden directly; according to St. Mark, they result was that the sick were restored to are forbidden by implication, where he says health. The so-called sacrament of'' extreme that they were to be shod with sandals. unction "is administered immediately before Shoes are here forbidden which cover the death, when the sick person is in articulo whole foot, not sandals which only protect mortis. the soles of the feet lest they should be Ver. 14.-This Herod is called by St. injured by the rocky ground. The soil of Matthew (xiv. 1) "the tetrarch ; "Rnd so Judiea was rocky and rough, and the climate also by St. Luke:(iL 7); though it should hot. The sandals therefore protected the be noticed thot St. Mo.ttliew, in the same soles of the feet, and yet, being open above, context, at ver. 9, calls him " king." The kept the feet more cool, and therefore fit for word "tetrarch" properly means the the journey. It is worthy of our notice that, sovereigr. or ruler of the fourth part of a 11fter our Lord's ascension, we find St. Peter territory. lle is known as Herod Anti- using sando.ls when the angel, who delivered pas, son of Herod the Great, who bad him out of prison, said to him (Acts xii. 8), appointed him "tetrarch" of Galilee and "Gird thyself, and bind on thy sando.ls." Periea. Herod Antipo.s ho.d married the Ver. 10.-There abide, till ye depart daughter of Aretas, King of Arabia, but thence. They were not to change their deserted her for the sake of Herodius, bis lodgings in any place. This direction was brother Philip's wife. John the Baptist is given to them, lest, if they did, they might risen from the dead; that is, "is risen in appear to be fickle 1md restless ; or lest they the person of Jesus Christ." St. Luke might hurt the feelings of those with whom (ix. 7) says that at first Herod was "much they had first lodged. And they were not perplexed (61,rrr&p<1)" about him. At length, to stay too long anywhere, lest they should however, as he heard more and more of the be burdensome to Rny. fame of Christ's miracles, he came to the Ver. 11.-Shake oft' the dust(.,.?,,, xoiiv)- conclusion that our Lord was none other literally, the soil-that is under your feet. than John the Baptist risen age.in. Such is St. Matthew and St. Luke use the word the opinion of St. Chrysostom, St. Augus- (,cov,op.,.bv) "dust.'' A very significant action. tine, Rnd others. At that time the views of The dust was shoken oft' RB an evidence PythRgoras respeoting the transmigration of the toil and labour of the apostles in of souls were gonere.lly current, and pro- journeying to them. It witnessed that they bably infiueuced the troubled mind of Herod. had entered the city and had delivered He had put to death an innocent and holy message, and tho.t their message hod been man : and it is ll high testimony to the refused. The very dust, therefore, of the worth of the Baptist that, under the re- plo.ce was a defilement to them. "It proo.ehes of a guilty conscience, Herod should eholl be more tolerable," otc. Thie clause have come to the conclusion that he bad is ornitte1l by the beet authorities; it w11.1 risen from the deod, thus probably la(iving probably copied from St. Matthew. the lie to his own opinions RB a Suuuucce ; Ver. 12.--They preached that men should nncl terrified lest tho Boptiijt should now 24-6 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MARK. [oH. v1. 1-66.