Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Mark 6:7

τοὺς δώδεκα. The number is regarded as final, but we cannot be sure that they were already known as “the Twelve.” The expression is especially freq. in Mk (Mark 4:10; Mark 9:35; Mark 10:32; Mark 11:11; Mark 14:10; Mark 14:17; Mark 14:20; Mark 14:43).

ἤρξατο αὐτοὺς�. They were appointed (1) to be with Him to be trained, (2) that He might send them forth to preach (Mark 3:14). The first of these purposes has been to some extent accomplished, and now the second is to begin. Note the ἤρξατο: the pairs were not sent out all at one moment.

δύο δύο. The more classical expression would be either κατὰ δύο (1 Corinthians 14:27), or ἀνὰ δύο, which [1332] has here, and Lk. has Mark 10:1 of the sending out of the Seventy-two. Cf. Mark 9:14. The double numeral (Genesis 6:19-20; Genesis 7:2-3; Genesis 7:9, etc.) is not purely Hebraistic. We have μυρία μυρία, “by tens of thousands” (Aesch. Pers. 981), and μίαν μίαν = κατὰ μίαν is quoted from the Eris, a lost play of Sophocles: δήσῃ τρία τρία occurs in a papyrus of the 3rd cent. A.D. Deissmann, Light, p. 124. In the Gospel of Peter 9, and in the Acts of Philip 36, we have the two constructions mixed, ἀνὰ δύο δύο. The duplication occurs in modern Greek.

[1332] Codex Bezae. 6th cent. Has a Latin translation (d) side by side with the Greek text, and the two do not quite always agree. Presented by Beza to the University Library of Cambridge in 1581. Remarkable for its frequent divergences from other texts. Contains Mark, except Mark 16:15-20, which has been added by a later hand. Photographic facsimile, 1899.

The advantages of pairs are obvious (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). The Baptist had adopted this method (Luke 7:19; John 1:37), and we find it repeatedly in the Apostolic Church; Barnabas and Saul, Judas and Silas, Barnabas and Mark, Paul and Silas, Timothy and Silas, Timothy and Erastus. Our Lord and the six pairs now made seven centres of preaching and healing. Cf. Mark 11:1; Mark 14:13.

ἐδίδου. Here and in Mark 6:41, Mt. has ἔδωκεν, as usual preferring aor. to imperf. But as each pair was dismissed, He continued the bestowal of this ἐξουσία. It represents miraculous power of healing generally (Mark 1:39; Mark 3:15). It is strange to think of Judas having ἐξουσία to cast out demons. In the Testaments (Benj. Mark 6:2), “If ye do well, even the unclean spirits will flee from you”; cf. Issachar vii. 7.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Mark 6:7

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