Mark 3:14-15

"The Twelve" became a technical term for this group of disciples. Some early manuscripts add "whom also He named apostles" (cf. NIV). This was probably not in Mark’s original Gospel. Probably a scribe inserted it having read Luke 6:13, the parallel passage, though some disagree. [Note: E.g., Christopher W. Skinner, "’Whom He Also Named Apostles’: A Textual Problem in Mark 3:14," Bibliotheca Sacra 161:643 (July-September 2004):322-29.]

Jesus appointed these disciples for a twofold purpose: to be with Him, and to preach. The order is significant.

"Fellowship with Him must precede preaching about Him." [Note: George Williams, The Student’s Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, p. 734.]

Jesus also gave these disciples the ability to cast out demons along with preaching. The miracles would convince many of their hearers that God had sent them as His spokesmen. Mark probably mentioned exorcisms because this was the greatest demonstration of the disciples’ authority, not the only one. This Gospel documents Jesus’ training of the Twelve in these two basic areas particularly: being with Jesus and preaching.