Mar 8:1-8 | Clarke | STEP | Four thousand persons fed with seven loaves and a few small fishes, . Christ refuses to give any farther sign to the impertinent Pharisees, . Warns his disciples against the corrupt doctrine of the Pharisees and of Herod, . He restores sight to a blind man, . Asks his disciples what the public thought of him, . Acknowledges himself to be the Christ, and that he must suffer, . And shows that all his genuine disciples must take up their cross, suffer in his cause, and confess him before men, . Verse 1 The multitude being very great - Or rather, There was again a great multitude. Instead of παμπολλου, very great, I read παλιν πολλου, again a great, which is the reading of BDGLM, fourteen others, all the Arabic, Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Gothic, Vulgate, and Itala, and of many Evangelistaria. Griesbach approves of this reading. There had been such a multitude gathered together once before, who were fed in the same way. See , etc.

Mark 8:1-8

Introduction

Four thousand persons fed with seven loaves and a few small fishes, Mar 8:1-8. Christ refuses to give any farther sign to the impertinent Pharisees, Mar 8:10-12. Warns his disciples against the corrupt doctrine of the Pharisees and of Herod, Mar 8:13-21. He restores sight to a blind man, Mar 8:22-26. Asks his disciples what the public thought of him, Mar 8:27-30. Acknowledges himself to be the Christ, and that he must suffer, Mar 8:31-33. And shows that all his genuine disciples must take up their cross, suffer in his cause, and confess him before men, Mar 8:34-38.

Verse 1

The multitude being very great - Or rather, There was again a great multitude. Instead of παμπολλου, very great, I read παλιν πολλου, again a great, which is the reading of BDGLM, fourteen others, all the Arabic, Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Gothic, Vulgate, and Itala, and of many Evangelistaria. Griesbach approves of this reading. There had been such a multitude gathered together once before, who were fed in the same way. See Mar 6:34, etc. Verse 2

Having nothing to eat - If they had brought any provisions with them, they were now entirely expended; and they stood in immediate need of a supply. Verse 3

For divers of them came from far - And they could not possibly reach their respective homes without perishing, unless they got food. Verse 4 etc. - See on Mat 14:14 (note); Mat 15:35. Verse 7

And they had a few small fishes - This is not noticed in the parallel place, Mat 15:36.