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Jesus Appoints the Twelve

13 He went up the mountain and called to him those whom he wanted, and they came to him.(A) 14 And he appointed twelve[a] to be with him and to be sent out to preach 15 and to have authority to cast out demons. 16 So he appointed the twelve:[b] Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter),(B) 17 James son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder), 18 and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who handed him over.

Jesus and Beelzebul

20 Then he went home, and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat.(C) 21 When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.”(D) 22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.”(E) 23 And he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan?(F) 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. 27 But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.(G)

28 “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter,(H) 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

The True Kindred of Jesus

31 Then his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him.(I) 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers[c] are outside asking for you.” 33 And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

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Footnotes

  1. 3.14 Other ancient authorities add whom he also named apostles
  2. 3.16 Other ancient authorities lack So he appointed the twelve
  3. 3.32 Other ancient authorities add and sisters

Jesus Appoints the Twelve(A)

13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.(B) 14 He appointed twelve[a](C) that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons.(D) 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter),(E) 17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

Jesus Accused by His Family and by Teachers of the Law(F)(G)

20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered,(H) so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat.(I) 21 When his family[b] heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”(J)

22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem(K) said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul!(L) By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”(M)

23 So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables:(N) “How can Satan(O) drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house.(P) 28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”(Q)

30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”

31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived.(R) Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”

33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.

34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 3:14 Some manuscripts twelve—designating them apostles—
  2. Mark 3:21 Or his associates