Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 5:37
And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
37. save Peter, and James, and John ] This is the first time we hear of an election within the election. “That which He was about to do was so great and holy that those three only, the flower and crown of the Apostolic band, were its fitting witnesses.” The other occasions when we read of such an election were equally solemn and significant, (1) the Transfiguration (Mat 17:2); and (2) the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mat 26:37).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
37. And he suffered no man to followhim, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James(Seeon Mr 1:29).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he suffered no man to follow him,…. To the house of the ruler, but dismissed the multitude, being not desirous of the honour and applause of men: probably what he said to the ruler, was privately, and with a low voice, so that the multitude did not hear him; and understanding by the messengers that the child was dead, were the more easily prevailed upon to depart, since they might conclude there was nothing now to be done;
save Peter, and James, and John, the brother of James: three favourite disciples, who were a sufficient number of witnesses; and who were taken alone along with Christ on some other occasions, as at his transfiguration, and when in the garden.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Save Peter, and James, and John ( ). Probably the house was too small for the other disciples to come in with the family. The first instance of this inner circle of three seen again on the Mount of Transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane. The one article in the Greek treats the group as a unit.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And He suffered no man to follow Him.” (kai ouk apheken oudena met’ autou sunakollouthesai) “And He did not permit a one with Him to accompany Him, to go in close association with Him,” to the home of the synagogue chief.
2) “Save Peter, and James, and John, the brother of James.” (ei me ton Petron kai lakohon kai loannen ton adelphon lakobou) “Except Peter, James, and John who was the brother of James,” the inner circle of disciples and apostles of our Lord, perhaps in this instance restricted to these three, so as not to crowd the house where the dead girl lay. Two other times our Lord took these three disciples in special conference with Him:
a) at the transfiguration, Mat 17:2.
b) In Gethsemane, Mat 26:37.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
37. And did not permit any one to follow him. He forbade that they should be allowed to enter, either because they were unworthy to be his witnesses of the miracle, or because he did not choose that the miracle should be overpowered by a noisy crowd around him. It was better that the young woman, whose dead body they had beheld, should suddenly go out before the eyes of men, alive and full of rigor. Mark and Luke tell us that not more than three of the disciples were admitted, and both mention also the parents. Mark alone states that those who had accompanied Jairus when he came to supplicate Christ were admitted. Matthew, who is more concise, takes no notice of this circumstance.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
37. No man to follow him Amid the chosen twelve there was a lesser chosen number. This was an occasion of deep solemnity, and our Lord allowed but three disciples present.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And he allowed no one to follow with him except Peter, and James and John, the brother of James.’
The crowds were dismissed, and no doubt departed willingly. They recognised the respect due to the dead and it was now clear that there would be no miracle. But Jesus also left most of His disciples behind. Possibly so that they could ensure that no one disobeyed His requirement for privacy.
‘Except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James.’ These three are regularly singled out to attend Him at His most sacred moments, both as helpers and as witnesses (Mar 9:2; Mar 14:33), and He did not want to further distress the household by crowding the house out. But the fact that He took them demonstrates that while it was to be kept quiet for the present, He wanted witnesses for the future. He wanted them to learn. It is probably significant that these three were also called to be witnesses to His transfiguration (Mar 9:2-8). He would not have done this just for an ordinary healing. There what had happened was not to be revealed until after His resurrection. Perhaps it was also so here.
This is a Marcan note slightly in advance describing the instructions that He gave. Once they arrived at the house only the three must go in with Him.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mar 5:37. And he suffered no man to follow him, &c. When Jesus came to the house, though a great many friends and others accompanied him, he suffered none of them to go in with him, except his three disciples, Peter, James, and John, with the father and mother of the maid; and even these perhaps he admitted for no other reason, than that the miracle might have proper witnesses, who should publish it in due time for the benefit of the world. See the note on Mat 17:1.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
Ver. 37. Save Peter, and James, and John ] Still Andrew is excluded, though Peter’s brother, an apostle of equal standing, and a good man: yet he is not offended, but content to be accounted a loyal subject for the general, though he was no favourite in these particulars.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mar 5:37 . : here with , in Mar 14:51 , and Luk 23:49 with dative. , etc., Peter, James, and John; earliest trace of preference within the disciple-circle. Not in Mt., but followed by Lk. The three chosen to be witnesses of a specially remarkable event. Perhaps the number of disciples was restricted to three not to crowd the house.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
suffered no man = suffered not (Greek. ou. App-105) any one.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mar 5:37. , the brother) Mark wrote his Gospel not long after the Ascension, at the time when the memory of James, who had been beheaded, was still fresh in the disciples minds, so that he was better known than even John himself.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
James
(See Scofield “Mat 4:21”)
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
he suffered: Luk 8:51, Act 9:40
save: Mar 9:2, Mar 14:33, 2Co 13:1
Reciprocal: Mat 4:21 – other Mat 17:1 – Peter Mat 26:37 – Peter Mar 1:19 – James Mar 3:17 – James Mar 10:35 – James Mar 13:3 – Peter Luk 6:14 – James Act 1:13 – Peter
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7
The group had neared the ruler’s house when the message of death was brought. Jesus stopped the crowd at that place and permitted the trio of apostles to accompany him, the same ones specified on other occasions (Mat 17:1; Mat 26:37).
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 5:37. John, the brother of James John is thus described here, because, when Mark wrote his gospel, not long after our Lords ascension, the memory of James, lately beheaded, was so fresh, that his name was more known than that of John himself.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jesus allowed only His inner circle of disciples to accompany Him to witness this miracle (cf. Deu 17:6; Mar 9:2; Mar 14:33). He probably did so to limit popular reaction to it. If the multitudes thronged to Jesus because He healed them, how much more would they seek His physical help if they knew He could raise the dead.
"While raising the dead may be the greatest miracle from our perspective, this miracle comes in a series of miracles involving absolutely hopeless situations." [Note: Guelich, p. 301.]