3:16a

These are the twelve He appointed: There is a textual issue in this verse. Some Greek manuscripts include a clause that means “These are the twelve he appointed.”

(1) Nearly every major English version follows the manuscripts that include this clause. For example, the Revised English Bible says:

The Twelve he appointed were:

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Bible, God’s Word, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New Century Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible)

(2) The versions that follow the manuscripts that do not include this clause have one long sentence from 3:14–19. So the verb “appointed” in 3:14a goes with 3:16. For example, the Revised Standard Version says:

14aAnd he appointed twelve…: 16Simon whom he surnamed Peter…

(Revised Standard Version, King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1) since it has the best manuscript support. Also, the majority of English versions follow this option.

the twelve: The phrase the twelve refers to the twelve disciples that Jesus appointed as apostles. Mark often refers to the twelve disciples/apostles as simply “the twelve.”

He appointed: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as appointed is literally “made.” Here it indicates that Jesus “chose” or “selected” the twelve. For example, the New Century Version says:

These are the twelve men he chose (New Century Version)

This same verb occurs in 3:14a.

3:16b

Simon (whom He named Peter): Jesus added the name Peter to Simon’s name. After this, people sometimes called him Simon, sometimes Peter, and sometimes Simon Peter. Simon was first mentioned in 1:16.

Peter: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible transliterates as Peter means “stone” or “rock.” You may want to put this in a footnote. For example:

The name Peter means “rock” in Greek.

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