Mark 6:32Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

They navigated across the lake, but the throngs of people followed along the shore. Realizing that escaping was futile, the Lord began to teach the crowd about the kingdom of heaven and compassionately healed those who were ailing. As the day wore on, the people remained with Him, even though they had not eaten.

Nonetheless, the news of John the Baptist's execution, combined with the report of Herod's desire to encounter Jesus, compelled the Lord to withdraw to the eastern side of the sea, within the territory governed by tetrarch Philip, the sole surviving son of Herod the Great, of whom the populace retained fond memories. According to Luke, the secluded area where Jesus and His disciples sought refuge was close to Bethsaida. Given the context of preceding and subsequent accounts, this reference pertains to the crossing to the eastern shore of the sea, suggesting that the Bethsaida mentioned here is referred to in the eastern direction, specifically Bethsaida-Julia, near where the Jordan River meets the Sea of Galilee, named by tetrarch Philip in honor of Julia, Augustus's daughter. Thus, the phrase used by the evangelist John, "beyond the Sea of Galilee, that is, the Sea of Tiberias," should be understood as presenting two names for the same body of water. The latter name refers to the Tiberias shore itself, likely utilized in Hebrew because it was from this location that Jesus and the apostles embarked, as indicated in verse 23, which mentions that the following day, other boats from Tiberias came to the area where the miraculous feeding occurred.

It was essential to provide them a momentary reprieve from the bustling crowd—to reflect privately and calmly share with their Lord all they had accomplished in His name.

Thus, Jesus departed with the apostles away from the throng to a remote location. The Evangelist Matthew notes that Jesus took a boat to a solitary place (Matthew 14:13); Mark describes that the Apostles were sent by Jesus to a lonely area (Mark 6:32); while Luke records that Jesus, having taken the returning apostles with Him, withdrew to a secluded spot near Bethsaida (Luke 9:10). A comparison of the accounts from these three Evangelists indicates that Matthew, in using "alone," and Mark, in stating "by themselves," refer to Jesus and the Apostles apart from the surrounding crowds. Luke's narrative makes it clear that Jesus specifically took the apostles with Him, implying they departed together, separating themselves from the multitude, who were aware of their departure and sought Jesus, not the apostles, racing on foot from the surrounding towns.

Similar to its western counterpart, this version was initially a modest village, but it underwent significant expansion and beautification under Philip, the tetrarch of Iturea, who named it Julia's Bethsaida for differentiation. This additional designation was bestowed in honor of Julia, the striking yet wicked daughter of Emperor Augustus. The boat carried Christ and the apostles, their hearts burdened and seeking respite.

The word "go" does not appropriately describe travel by water; we do not say "go on a steamer" or "go on a boat.” "Go" implies merely movement, rather than travel in totality; it cannot be used in phrases like "go here," where "go" always allows direction. The expression "by themselves" (αὐτοὶ) indicates separation in their journey, while "especially" (κατ᾿ ἰδίαν) means in their own manner. So, to interpret as "alone" could mislead; for instance, saying "the Lord went apart from the apostles" does not suggest He was entirely alone, as He could have included others but the apostles.

In verse thirty-three, a significant distinction arises from our suggested interpretation, reflecting the singular "Him" instead of the plural "them." In various revised Greek editions from the sixteenth to the nineteenth centuries, the text indicates singularity with the word αὐτὸν, and the overall context supports this interpretation, indicating that many recognized Him and not the apostles. The clarity of the text shows that the people did not gather to the apostles but to the Lord. Should a printed Greek edition exist that uses the plural αὐτοὺς, it would likely originate from the Codex Sinaiticus, though it also omits the conclusive phrase "and they gathered to Him," leading to potential misinterpretation. The Codex Sinaiticus implies the people fled to inform the apostles but rather did so to warn the Lord, reinforcing the idea that they recognized Him.

Notably, the discrepancies in translations from the Gospels by Matthew, Mark, and Luke illuminate differing views of the event. Matthew depicts Jesus departing alone by boat to a deserted area, while Mark suggests the apostles set out alone. Conversely, Luke recounts Jesus taking the apostles with Him, thereby presenting slight but significant variances. Our understanding synthesizes these accounts; the Lord included the apostles in a distinct boat, allowing Luke's "departed specially" (from them) to harmonize with Matthew's more explicit "in a boat." Mark further acknowledges that the apostles departed apart from the Lord yet, as they traveled together, their separate vessels reflect their unity in mission.

This narrative commences following the apostles’ return to Jesus, sharing their deeds of preaching in various locales and simultaneously bearing news of the beheading of John the Baptist. Thus, the Lord elects to take the apostles with Him in a distinct vessel toward a wilderness location near Bethsaida, directing them to a separate, quieter place to rest. As the people learned of His whereabouts, they hurried to join Him, arriving before the apostles could find rest, signaling the urgency of their mission.

Unlike its namesake, the village in Galilee that was home to the apostle-fishermen, this area was referred to as Bethsaida of Julia, named in honor of the daughter of the Roman emperor Augustus. The boat carrying Jesus and the apostles was headed towards the uninhabited regions of this city. However, the crowd noticed their departure; many recognized them and informed others, causing people to run along the shoreline from various towns to keep sight of the boat and attempt to reach it first. Upon disembarking, Jesus found a large crowd waiting for him on the shore; He was moved with compassion for them, as they were like sheep without a shepherd. He began to teach them about the kingdom of God and healed those who were sick among them. Later, He ascended the mountain with His disciples and took a seat as the people continued to approach him. Time passed, and the day was waning toward evening.