Mark 6:30 (AV)
And the apostles gathered
themselves together¹ unto² Jesus,
and told³ him all things,
both what they had done,
and what they had taught.
¹) Assembled them.
²) The Greek word used here (pros) can also be interpreted with: to the advantage of, at, near, by, to, towards, with, with regard to.
³) To bring tidings (from a person or a thing), bring word, report.
Other translations:
The apostles [sent out as missionaries] came back and gathered together to Jesus, and told Him all that they had done and taught. [AMP] The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. [ESV] Jesus said, "Come off by yourselves; let's take a break and get a little rest." For there was constant coming and going. They didn't even have time to eat. [MSB] And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. [KJV] The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. [NIV] The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and what they had taught. [NLT] Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. [NKJV]
Some further information:
And the apostles gathered themselves together
Probably at Capernaum, on returning from their mission ( Mark 6:7-13 ).
Apostles
This is the first and last use of this word in Mark.
Apostle means a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders, specifically applied to the twelve apostles of Christ. In a broader sense applied to other eminent Christian teachers like Barnabas, Timothy and Silvanus
Both
Note again the emphasis on preaching the Gospel, and confirming the Gospel. “And told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught”.
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Here begins a new section in which Mark tells about the return of the twelve (Mark 6:30-31) and about the first miraculous multiplication of bread (Mark 6:32-44).
The first event is an introduction to the second: when they returned, the disciples were called in by the Lord Jesus to prepare the feeding (Mark 6:37-38) and to provide the people with food (Mark 6:44) .
In the first piece, the evangelist links up with what he writes about the mission of the twelve (Mark 6:7-13). It is not without reason that he calls them “apostles” (apostoloi) in this verse, which literally means “sent out ones” (he only does that in this place in his gospel).
The Lord Jesus sent them out with a specific commission (see Mark 6:7, cf. Mark 3:14-15). The word ‘apostle’ is not yet an official term here. In this context, we must start from the original meaning of “messenger sent by proxy from his master.” With their commission completed, the twelve rejoined Jesus (the same verb as in Mark 7:1 sunagomai, “to gather”).
And they reported to Him all their activities. The background is the Jewish institution of the ‘shäliach’, the envoy, who, as an authorized representative, is accountable to the person who sent him. Their report was twofold, as was their remit.
They first reported all that they had done (cf. Mark 6:13; see also Luke 9:10) and then all that they had taught (cf. Mark 6:12). We find the same order later in Acts 1:1.
In the third part of this verse many manuscripts have a double ‘kai’, which we can render as ‘both … and’.
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The return to Christ of the apostles whom he had sent forth (Mark 6:7), to preach, and work miracles.
They had dispersed themselves into several quarters of the country for some time, but when they had made good their several appointments, by consent they gathered themselves together, to compare notes, and came to Jesus, the centre of their unity, to give Him an account of what they had done pursuant to their commission.
Just like the servant that was sent to invite to the feast, and had received answers from the guests, came, and showed his Lord all those things, so did the apostles here.
They told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
Ministers are accountable both for what they do, and for what they teach; and must both watch over their own souls, and watch for the souls of others, as those that must give account (Hebrews 13:17).
Let them not either do anything, or teach anything, but what they are willing should be related and repeated to the Lord Jesus. It is a comfort to faithful ministers, when they can appeal to Christ concerning their doctrine and manner of life, both which perhaps have been misrepresented by men.
And he gives them leave to be free with him, and to lay open their case before him, to tell him all things, what treatment they have met with, what success, and what disappointment.
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