And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
When Jesus returned from the mountain, he didn't find his disciples in a peaceful setting but amidst a chaotic scene. The presence of scribes, not just observing but actively "questioning with" the disciples, highlights their role as professional religious critics eager to find fault, especially when Jesus' followers struggled. This detail reveals that trouble and opposition often await us when we step down from moments of spiritual high ground.
And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus and three disciples descend from the Mount of Transfiguration to find the other disciples struggling. A crowd has gathered, and religious scholars are actively challenging the disciples, using their inability to heal a suffering boy as proof against Jesus.
Jesus returns from a mountaintop experience only to find his disciples in a public struggle. It looks like simple argument, but there's more going on.
As Jesus descended from the Mount of Transfiguration, he didn't come back to peace. Instead, he found his disciples surrounded by a crowd, facing off against the scribes.
The Setting:
The disciples couldn't perform a miracle, and the worst possible people were there to witness and exploit their struggle.
This moment highlights how failure can be magnified when it happens under the watchful eyes of critics. The disciples were already struggling, but the presence of the scribes turned their private lack of faith into a public debate.
The Scribes' Agenda:
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Understand the original words
ochlos · Greek Noun
A large gathering of people; a term often used in the Gospels to describe the masses who witnessed Jesus' ministry, frequently characterized by curiosity, hunger, or awe.
This event highlights the sharp contrast between the heavenly glory of the Transfiguration and the earthly struggles of Jesus' ministry, as well as the opposition faced from religious authorities like the scribes.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus and disciples travel Galilee
Jesus and his disciples, including Peter, James, and John, travel throughout Galilee, teaching and performing miracles.
Early 1st century AD
Transfiguration event
Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain where he is transfigured before them, speaking with Moses and Elijah.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Return from the mountain
Jesus, Peter, James, and John descend the mountain to rejoin the other disciples.
Early 1st century AD
Scribes confront disciples
Upon their return, Jesus and the three disciples find the other nine disciples surrounded by a crowd and arguing with scribes.
Early 1st century AD
Failed healing attempt
The scribes are challenging the disciples, likely to discredit Jesus' ministry, due to the disciples' inability to cast a demon out of a boy.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus heals the boy
Jesus rebukes the scribes' skepticism and heals the boy, restoring him to his father.
This passage directly parallels Mark 9:14, showing the same scene of Jesus returning to his disciples who are surrounded by a crowd and arguing scribes, highlighting the contrast between the glory on the mountain and the earthly struggles below.
Luke 9:37Luke's account places this event 'on the next day' after the transfiguration, emphasizing the abrupt return from heavenly glory to the difficult reality of ministry and conflict on earth.
Mark 9:38-41This immediately following passage reveals the disciples' inability to cast out a spirit and Jesus' subsequent teaching on using His name, which directly addresses the failure and the scribes' likely mockery implied in Mark 9:14.
John 1:14This verse speaks of the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us, full of grace and truth, which contrasts with the 'faithless generation' and the arguing scribes Jesus encounters, showing the tension between divine presence and human opposition.
barnesMark 9:14: "And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them."
See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 17:14-21 . Mark 9:14 Questioning with them - Debating with the disciples, and attempting to confound them. This he saw as he came down from the mount. In his absence they had taken occasion to attempt to perplex and confound his followers.
bengelMark 9:14: "And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them."
Mark 9:14 . Περὶ αὐτοὺς , about them ) They were still labouring, though alone.
When Jesus returned from the mountain, he didn't find his disciples in a peaceful setting but amidst a chaotic scene. The presence of scribes, not just observing but actively "questioning with" the disciples, highlights their role as professional religious critics eager to find fault, especially when Jesus' followers struggled. This detail reveals that trouble and opposition often await us when we step down from moments of spiritual high ground.
Jesus and three disciples descend from the Mount of Transfiguration to find the other disciples struggling. A crowd has gathered, and religious scholars are actively challenging the disciples, using their inability to heal a suffering boy as proof against Jesus.
Jesus and three disciples descend from the Mount of Transfiguration to find the other disciples struggling. A crowd has gathered, and religious scholars are actively challenging the disciples, using their inability to heal a suffering boy as proof against Jesus.
"And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them." — When Jesus returned from the mountain, he didn't find his disciples in a peaceful setting but amidst a chaotic scene. The presence of scribes, not just observing but actively "questioning with" the d…
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Last reviewed October 2026