Mark 5:37

And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

And {G2532} he suffered {G863}{G3756} no man {G3762} to follow {G4870} him {G846}, save {G1508} Peter {G4074}, and {G2532} James {G2385}, and {G2532} John {G2491} the brother {G80} of James {G2385}.

He let no one follow him except Kefa, Ya`akov and Yochanan, Ya`akov's brother.

And He did not allow anyone to accompany Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.

And he suffered no man to follow with him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

Commentary

Mark 5:37 describes a pivotal moment during Jesus' ministry when He was called to heal Jairus' dying daughter. This verse highlights Jesus' intentional decision to limit who would witness one of His most profound miracles, allowing only three disciples to accompany Him into the house.

Context

This verse immediately follows Jesus' arrival at the home of Jairus, a synagogue ruler, whose daughter was on the brink of death (Mark 5:23). Despite the crowd that had followed Him, Jesus deliberately chose to permit only Peter, James, and John to enter the house with Him. This act sets the stage for the miraculous raising of the girl from the dead, a powerful demonstration of Jesus' authority over life and death (Mark 5:41).

Key Themes

  • Divine Selection and Intimacy: Jesus frequently had a larger group of disciples, but He often chose an inner circle of three—Peter, James, and John—for specific, profound spiritual experiences. This moment, alongside the Transfiguration and the Garden of Gethsemane, underscores a unique level of intimacy and trust.
  • Purposeful Limitation: Jesus' decision to restrict who followed Him was not arbitrary. It served to emphasize the solemnity and sacredness of the event, perhaps to prevent a chaotic scene or to prepare a select few to be key witnesses to His divine power.
  • Witnessing Christ's Power: The chosen three were privileged to witness firsthand Jesus' unparalleled power over death, a central theme of the Gospel message.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "suffered no man to follow him" simply means Jesus "permitted no one" or "allowed no one" to accompany Him beyond the chosen three. There isn't a complex original Greek word here beyond the direct meaning of allowing or preventing, but the emphasis is on Jesus' deliberate control over the situation.

Practical Application

This verse teaches us about the nature of spiritual privilege and responsibility. While God's love is for all, He sometimes reveals deeper truths or works in specific ways through a select few, not out of favoritism, but for a greater purpose. For believers today, it can serve as a reminder that:

  • God has specific plans and purposes, and He sovereignly chooses those who will participate or witness certain aspects of His work.
  • Being granted a closer view of God's power or truth comes with a greater responsibility to understand, internalize, and sometimes, to bear witness.
  • There are moments in our spiritual journey that require a more focused, intimate encounter with Christ, free from distractions.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Mark 14:33

    And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;

  • Acts 9:40

    But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning [him] to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

  • Mark 9:2

    And after six days Jesus taketh [with him] Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

  • 2 Corinthians 13:1

    ¶ This [is] the third [time] I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

  • Luke 8:51

    And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
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