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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - Mark 3:21 - 3:21
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
21. οἱ παρʼ αὐτοῦ. An expression as vague as our “His people.” It might include relations, acquaintances, domestics, and all who had a special interest in Him. “Her household are clothed in scarlet” (Pro 31:21) is οἱ παρʼ αὐτῆς ἐνδιδύσκονται (LXX., Pro 29:3-9). Cf. Josephus (Ant. I. x. 5) Ἄβαμος περιτέμνεται καὶ πάντες οἱ παρʼ αὐτοῦ. In papyri, οἱ παρʼ αὐτοῦ often means “his agents” or “his representatives,” but also “his family.” J. H. Moulton, p. 106. Vulg. has sui, which is as vague as the Greek; Coverdale, “they that were aboute him.” Syr-Sin. is more definite, “His brethren,” perhaps from a feeling that the strong measure intended and the strong word used were against His Mother being included. Cf. Susann. 33; 1Ma 13:52.
ἐξῆλθον. Not from the house in which He was, but from their own house, which may have been at a distance.
κρατῆσαι αὐτόν. To get possession of His person; see on Mar 1:31. It is arbitrary to supply a fresh nom. for ἔλεγον, “for people were saying.” His brethren did not believe on Him (Joh 7:5).
Ἐξέστη. “He has gone out of His mind,” He is beside Himself (A.V., R.V.). This use of the aor. comes close to that of the perf., expressing present result of past action; but the aor. may imply that the past action was recent; ἀπέθανεν (Mar 5:35), ἠγέρθη (Mar 16:6; Luk 7:16), ἠγόρασα (Luk 14:18-19). Burton, § 47; J. H. Moulton, p. 134. Euthymius says that οἱ παρʼ αὐτοῦ were envious, τὴν φιλανθρωπίαν νομίζοντες μανίαν, καὶ ὄντως αὐτοὶ μαινόμενοι. This is unlikely; more probably they regarded His open defiance of Scribes and Pharisees from Jerusalem as fanatical folly. They may have known that there were projects for His destruction. But it is possible that He is beside Himself is more than ἐξέστη means; excepting 2Co 5:13, the verb nowhere has this meaning in N.T. Cf. Mar 2:12, Mar 5:42, Mar 6:51; Luk 2:47; Luk 8:56; Luk 24:22; Mat 12:23; and often in Acts. Nevertheless, this meaning fits the context; but in furorem versus est (Vulg.) is too strong.