Mar 6:3, Joh 2:12, 7:3, 5, 10, Act 1:14 | JFB

Mark 6:3

John 2:12

12. Capernaum—on the Sea of Galilee. (See on Mt 9:1).

his mother and his brethren—(See on Lu 2:51, and Mt 13:54-56).

Joh 2:13-25. CHRIST'S FIRST PASSOVER—FIRST CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE.

John 7:3

3-5. His brethren said—(See on Mt 13:54-56).

Depart . . . into Judea, &c.—In Joh 7:5 this speech is ascribed to their unbelief. But as they were in the "upper room" among the one hundred and twenty disciples who waited for the descent of the Spirit after the Lord's ascension (Ac 1:14), they seem to have had their prejudices removed, perhaps after His resurrection. Indeed here their language is more that of strong prejudice and suspicion (such as near relatives, even the best, too frequently show in such cases), than from unbelief. There was also, probably, a tincture of vanity in it. "Thou hast many disciples in Judea; here in Galilee they are fast dropping off; it is not like one who advances the claims Thou dost to linger so long here, away from the city of our solemnities, where surely 'the kingdom of our father David' is to be set up: 'seeking,' as Thou dost, 'to be known openly,' those miracles of Thine ought not to be confined to this distant corner, but submitted at headquarters to the inspection of 'the world.'" (See Ps 69:8, "I am become a stranger to my brethren, an alien unto my mother's children!")

John 7:5

John 7:10

10. then went he . . . not openly—not "in the (caravan) company" [MEYER]. See on Lu 2:44.

as it were in secret—rather, "in a manner secretly"; perhaps by some other route, and in a way not to attract notice.

Acts 1:14

14. continued with one accord—knit by a bond stronger than death.

in prayer and supplication—for the promised baptism, the need of which in their orphan state would be increasingly felt.

and Mary the mother of Jesus—distinguished from the other "women," but "so as to exclude the idea of her having any pre-eminence over the disciples. We find her with the rest in prayer to her glorified Son" [WEBSTER and WILKINSON]. This is the last mention of her in the New Testament. The fable of the Assumption of the Virgin has no foundation even in tradition [ALFORD].

with his brethren—(See on Joh 7:3).