Mark 3:14-15
And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus didn't just choose these twelve, he "appointed" them, meaning they were set apart with a specific purpose. This wasn't about selecting the most qualified, but about intentionally forming a core group to first learn from him before being sent out by him.
Jesus had just faced opposition from his family and the religious leaders, who questioned his authority and accused him of being demon-possessed. In response, he withdrew to a mountainside, spent the night in prayer, and then called to him those he chose, appointing twelve specific disciples to be his closest companions and future messengers. These twelve were to be trained by his presence and teaching before being sent out to proclaim the good news and exercise spiritual authority.
Jesus didn't just select a team; He chose individuals to be in close relationship with Him before sending them out.
Mark 3:14 tells us Jesus "appointed twelve... so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach." This highlights a two-fold purpose for the apostles' calling:
1. To Be With Him:
This signifies an intimate relationship. They were to live alongside Jesus, learn from Him directly, observe His life, hear His teachings, and witness His miracles. This wasn't just training; it was about deep fellowship and immersion in His presence.
2. To Be Sent Out:
Following their time with Jesus, they were commissioned for a specific mission – to preach the Gospel. This was a deliberate process, preparing them first through relationship before equipping them for service.
Why twelve? This number wasn't arbitrary; it carried deep meaning for Israel and the unfolding of God's plan.
Jesus deliberately chose twelve men to be His apostles. This number is highly significant within the biblical narrative:
A New Israel:
The number twelve is strongly associated with the twelve tribes of Israel, the foundational people of God's covenant in the Old Testament. By selecting twelve apostles, Jesus was inaugurating a new spiritual reality, a renewed Israel, signifying the gathering of God's people under His leadership.
Competent Witnesses:
Furthermore, twelve was considered a sufficient number to serve as credible witnesses. Their collective testimony, grounded in their time with Jesus, would carry weight. As Barnes notes, a smaller group might be seen as more easily deluded, while a larger one might be dismissed as a mob. Twelve struck a balance, representing a solid, competent body of witnesses.
Understand the original words
apostolos · Greek Noun
One who is chosen or commissioned by Jesus to be a special messenger, bearing His authority and representative of the foundation of the Church.
kēryssō · Greek Verb
Public proclamation of the Gospel; the act of heralding the news of God's kingdom and the salvation found in Jesus Christ.
exousia · Greek,originalWord: Noun
The legal right and power to act; in a biblical context, it is delegated power from God to perform signs, wonders, or spiritual tasks.
daimonion · Greek,originalWord: Noun
Spiritual entities under the control of the devil; they are agents of evil that seek to harass, possess, or deceive humanity, all of whom are subject to the power of Jesus.
The appointment of the twelve wasn't just a selection; it was a deliberate equipping process, preparing them for future ministry and discipleship, signifying a new covenant community and the foundation of the church.
c. 28 AD— this verse
Jesus Calls the Twelve Apostles
Jesus, after a night of prayer, selects twelve men from his followers to be his closest companions and to be sent out with his authority.
c. 28-30 AD
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee
Jesus and his chosen twelve travel throughout Galilee, teaching, healing, and performing miracles, drawing large crowds and increasing opposition from religious leaders.
c. 30 AD
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
Later in his ministry, Jesus commissions the twelve apostles, giving them specific instructions and authority to preach and heal.
c. 30 AD
Growing Opposition
As Jesus' popularity and claims grow, the religious and political authorities in Jerusalem and Judea become increasingly hostile and suspicious.
This passage directly parallels Mark's account by listing the twelve apostles and reiterating the purpose of their appointment, which includes being with Jesus and being sent out to preach.
Luke 6:12-13Luke's Gospel also details Jesus spending the night in prayer before appointing the twelve, emphasizing the deliberate and prayerful nature of His choice, which is foundational to their later ministry.
Exodus 24:1-2The Old Testament establishes a precedent of twelve leaders representing the tribes of Israel, highlighting how Jesus' choice of twelve apostles symbolized a new covenant and a spiritual leadership for God's people.
John 15:16Jesus' own words, 'You did not choose me, but I chose you,' underscore the sovereign selection of the apostles, reinforcing that their calling and mission were initiated by Him, not by their own merit.
pooleMark 3:14: "And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,"
See Poole on "Mark 3:13"
gillMark 3:14: "And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,"
And he ordained twelve,.... Or made, constituted, and appointed twelve men, out of those he called to him. The Arabic version adds, "and called them apostles"; which seems to be taken out of Luke 6:13 . That they should be with him; constantly, in private and in public; be taken into his family, and reckoned such; be his familiars, and privy to all his affairs; hear all his discourses…
Jesus didn't just choose these twelve, he "appointed" them, meaning they were set apart with a specific purpose. This wasn't about selecting the most qualified, but about intentionally forming a core group to first learn from him before being sent out by him.
Jesus had just faced opposition from his family and the religious leaders, who questioned his authority and accused him of being demon-possessed. In response, he withdrew to a mountainside, spent the night in prayer, and then called to him those he chose, appointing twelve specific disciples to be his closest companions and future messengers. These twelve were to be trained by his presence and teaching before being sent out to proclaim the good news and exercise spiritual authority.
Jesus had just faced opposition from his family and the religious leaders, who questioned his authority and accused him of being demon-possessed. In response, he withdrew to a mountainside, spent the night in prayer, and then called to him those he chose, appointing twelve specific disciples to be his closest companions and future messengers. These twelve were to be trained by his presence and teaching before being sent out to proclaim the good news and exercise spiritual authority.
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"And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons." — Jesus didn't just choose these twelve, he "appointed" them, meaning they were set apart with a specific purpose. This wasn't about selecting the most qualified, but about intentionally forming a co…
