Mark 3:16-20
Mark 3:16 (KJB)
And Simon he surnamed Peter;
Simon Peter - His original name “Simon” means “hearing or
obeying.” His name was changed to Peter by the Lord which means “rock or stone.”
He was a fisherman of Bethsaida and then afterwards had made his home in
Capernaum. He was the unofficial spokesman for the twelve disciples. A Roman
Catholic myth about Peter which must be rejected is that he was the first Pope.
Tradition states that he was crucified upside down not feeling worthy to be
crucified like His Lord.
Mark 3:17 (KJB)
And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed
them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:
James the Son of Zebedee - His name means “supplanter” because
in Hebrew his name is Jacob. He and his brother John were known as the “sons of
thunder.” Zebedee was a Galilean fisherman and was partners with his son James
and his other brothers. He was a man of means since he had servants and lived
near to Caiaphas. He was a disciple of Jesus for 17 years when Herod Agrippa
ended his life by martyrdom.
John the Son of Zebedee - His name means “Jehovah has been
gracious.” He was the youngest of the disciples. He became the beloved disciple,
“The Apostle of Love.” John was also a successful fisherman and was mending the
nets when Jesus called him. He authored the Gospel of John, 1,2,3 John and the
book of Revelation. Tradition states that he was boiled in oil and then banished
to the Isle of Patmos where he penned the Book of Revelation under the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is said he lived to be nearly 100 years old.
Mark 3:18 (KJB)
And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the
son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,
Andrew - His name means “manliness,” or “a stout and strong
man.” He was the brother of Peter and introduced him to the Messiah. He was also
a disciple of John the Baptist but then later followed the Lord Jesus Christ. He
is said to have preached as far as Kiev and Novogorod in Russia. Tradition
states that he was crucified in the form of an “X” because of his staunch
opposition to the idolatry of Aegeas. He was martyred in the city of Patras of
Achaea and the way he was crucified became known as “St. Andrew’s Cross.”
Philip - His name means “warrior or a lover of horses.” He was
a native of Bethsaida in Galilee. Tradition claims that Philip was the one who
asked Jesus if he could first go and bury his father. (Matthew 8:21) The call to
faith and discipleship came at one calling. Tradition states that he died a
martyr in Heirapolis.
Bartholomew - The name means “a son that suspends the waters.”
However, this was not his real name but a patronymic. This Apostle is identified
as Nathanael. Nothing more is known of him in the Scriptures because he is only
named when the twelve are named. According to tradition, he was martyred in
Albanapolis in Armenia. He was flayed alive and crucified with his head
downward.
Matthew - His name means “Gift of Jehovah.” His name was Levi
and he lived in Galilee. He was a tax collector at the tax booth on the Sea of
Galilee in Capernaum. Jesus approached Matthew and said, “Follow Me” and Matthew
left everything and followed Jesus. He gave him a dinner a little later where he
invited the other tax gatherers. He came to pen the Gospel of Matthew under the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Tradition states that Matthew died as a martyr.
Thomas - He was also called Didymus meaning “twin.” He earned
the name “doubting Thomas” because he did not accept the story of the
resurrection from the other Apostles. However, Thomas was a brave soul as he was
willing to die with the Lord Jesus Christ if they went back to Judah. (John
11:16) It is stated that he died in 72 A.D. in India as a martyr.
James the Son of Alphaeus - James means “supplanter” as the
Hebrew name is “Jacob.” Very little is known of him apart from his name and his
father’s name. His mother was one of the devoted women who stood by the cross.
He had a brother named Joses who was a believer. (Mark 15:40) Tradition states
that he was a tax gatherer. His death was either in Egypt or Jerusalem.
Lebbaeus - The name means “man of heart.” His surname was
“Thaddeus.” He was also identified as Jude and may be the author of that
Epistle. He is the least known of all the Apostles. Tradition states he died in
the first century in Syria.
Simon the Canaanite - He had a connection with Cana in Galilee.
The Hebrew word “canna” means zealous and that is why he is called “Simon
Zelotes.” As a Zealot, he belonged to the party of the same name. After he
became a follower of Christ, he was still a zealot but this time for the things
of Christ. No longer was his focus national emancipation from the Romans but now
it was emancipation from sin and hell. The place of his death has been disputed
among many names.
Mark 3:19 (KJB)
And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.
Judas Iscariot - The name “Judas” means “Praise of the Lord.”
His surname was “Iscariot” which means “hireling.” In John 10:11-12, Jesus
speaks about the hireling who cares nothing about the sheep. A surname which fit
Judas well. Judas never became saved and remained an unbeliever who pilfered the
money which was in the bag that was given by people to support their itinerant
ministry. He betrayed the Lord Jesus Christ for 30 pieces of silver. His guilt
was so great that he tried to return the money but then later hanged himself by
impaling himself on a sharp pole thus causing all his bowels to come out.
As soon as Jesus was done officially ordaining the twelve apostles, they had
gone back into the house from where they were staying which would have been
Peter’s house.
Mark 3:20 (KJB)
And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat
bread.
Then once again when the word had spread that Jesus was back in Peter’s house,
the multitudes starting coming to the house and like previously, the crowd
seemed to be getting out of control to the point that Jesus and His disciples
could not even eat a meal. These verses which contain the scenarios as crowds
gathering to hear Jesus shows how spiritually hungry the people were. In our
day, it is also true that the masses are spiritually hungry for truth, even if
they do not know they are. How many go into spiritism, cults, New Age, occult,
etc. because they know there is something there and they want to know that there
is more than just what this earth has. (Eccl 1:8 KJV) All things are full of
labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear
filled with hearing. This is why giving out the Gospel is so important
because it is exactly what the world is looking for even though they don’t know
it.