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Mark 13:3

in Mark 13

While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And as he sat on the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

KJV

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

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This verse in Mark 13

Commentary

11 notes on this verse
On the mount of Olives, over against the temple - The Mount of Olives was directly east of Jerusalem, and from it there was a fine view of the temple.

This site's exposition

Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately

on Mark 13:3-4

The question asks when will these things happen, and the sign that they are about to be fulfilled. Matthew's parallel adds the end of the age, so the discourse answers a near horizon and a far one together.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers2 voices

A commentator

Augustine of Hippo

LETTER 199, TO HESYCHIUS 25 · Written before 430.

proposed

There is no discrepancy in the Gospels as to facts of the end time, although one may supply details which another may pass over or describe differently. Rather, they supplement each other when compared, and thus give direction to the mind of the reader.

A commentator

Augustine of Hippo

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 430.

proposed

(Epist. cxcix. 9.) In answer to the disciples, the Lord tells them of things which were from that time forth to have their course; whether He meant the destruction of Jerusalem which occasioned their question, or His own coming through the Church, (in which He ever comes even unto the end, for we know that He comes in His own, when His members are born day by day,) or the end itself, in which He will appear to judge the quick and the dead.

The Medieval Church3 voices

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Mark · Written before 1107.

proposed

Since the Lord spoke much about the desolation of Jerusalem, for example: "your house is left unto you desolate" (Matt. 23:38), the disciples marveled that such magnificent and beautiful buildings were to perish, and therefore they showed Him the striking splendor of the temple. But …

A commentator

Bede

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 735.

proposed

(ubi sup.) Because the Lord, when some were praising the buildings of the temple, had plainly answered that all these were to be destroyed, the disciples privately enquired about the time and the signs of the destruction which was foretold; wherefore it is said: And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, Tell us when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled.

A commentator

Bede

On the Gospel of Mark · Written before 735.

proposed

And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately. Tell us when these things will be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished? Because as some …
4 more voices on this verse

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives,.... On the east of Jerusalem: over against the temple: where he could have a full view of it; the eastern wall of the temple being lower than the rest; See Gill on Mat 24:3. Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, asked him privately; apart from the rest of the disciples, they being, especially the first three, his favourites, and very familiar with him.

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

The chapter we have now begun is full of prophecy — prophecy of which part has been fulfilled, and part remains to be accomplished. Two great events form the subject of this prophecy. One is the destruction of Jerusalem, and the consequent end of the Jewish dispensation. The other is the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the winding up of the state of things under which we now live. The destruction of Jerusalem was an event which happened only forty years after our Lord was crucified.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

How graphically is this set before us by our Evangelist! Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately--The other Evangelists tell us merely that "the disciples" did so. But Mark not only says that it was four of them, but names them; and they were the first quarternion of the Twelve.
The chapter we have now begun is full of prophecy — prophecy of which part has been fulfilled, and part remains to be accomplished. Two great events form the subject of this prophecy. One is the destruction of Jerusalem, and the consequent end of the Jewish dispensation. The other is the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the winding up of the state of things under which we now live. The destruction of Jerusalem was an event which happened only forty years after our Lord was crucified. The second coming of Christ is an event which is yet to come, and we may yet live to see it with our own eyes. Chapters like this ought to be deeply interesting to every true Christian. No history ought to receive so much of our attention as the past and future history of the Church of Christ. The rise and fall of worldly empires are events of comparatively small importance in the sight of God. Babylon, and Greece, and Rome, and France, and England, are as nothing in His eyes by the side of the mystical body of Christ. The march of armies and the victories of conquerors are mere trifles in comparison with the progress of the Gospel, and the final triumph of the Prince of Peace. May we remember this in reading prophetical Scripture! "Blessed is he that reads." (Rev. 1:3.) The first thing that demands our attention in the verses before us, is the prediction of our Lord concerning the temple at Jerusalem . The disciples, with the natural pride of Jews, had called their Master's attention to the architectural splendor of the temple. "See," they said, "what massive stones and what buildings are here!" They received an answer from the Lord very different from what they expected, a heart-saddening answer, and one well calculated to stir up inquisitive thoughts in their minds. No word of admiration falls from His lips.

The words behind it

22 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

17 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Mark 4:34He did not tell them anything without using a parable. But privately He explained everything to His own disciples.3 worksMatthew 21:1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples,3 worksMatthew 24:3While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”2 worksJohn 1:40–41Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s testimony and followed Jesus.2 worksMark 14:33He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and began to be deeply troubled and distressed.2 worksMark 5:37And He did not allow anyone to accompany Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.2 works
The other 11 cross-references, with their words ▾
Mark 9:2After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them.2 worksMatthew 13:10Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?”2 worksMatthew 13:36Then Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”2 worksMark 1:16–19As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.2 worksMatthew 17:1After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.2 worksMark 10:35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and declared, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.”2 worksLuke 22:39Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him.2 worksMatthew 10:2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;2 worksMark 11:1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two of His disciples2 worksLuke 19:37And as He approached the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of disciples began to praise God joyfully in a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen:1 worksJohn 8:1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.0 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Matthew 24:3

    While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and…

    it leads to

    • Mark 13:3–4

      While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately,

    • Acts 1:7

      Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.

    • 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

      Now about the times and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you.

    • Matthew 13:49

      So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous,

    • Matthew 24:37

      As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.

  • Through

    Matthew 21:1

    As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two disciples,

    it leads to

    • Zechariah 14:4

      On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with…

    • Mark 11:1–10

      As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent out two of His disciples

  • Through

    Mark 4:34

    He did not tell them anything without using a parable. But privately He explained everything to His own disciples.

    it leads to

    • John 16:25

      I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. An hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you this way, but will tell you plainly about the Father.

Where this verse is studied

About Mark

Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Rembrandt, 1633, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Public domain.
Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee, Rembrandt, 1633, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Public domain.
Mark: the study guide →Read Mark 13 →
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, LETTER 199, TO HESYCHIUS 25; Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, On the Gospel of Mark; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748) and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Mark.

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