Bible Strands
Mark 3:16
These are the twelve He appointed: Simon (whom He named Peter),
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Mark narrates Jesus’ action immediately after commissioning the twelve to preach and possess authority over unclean spirits. The passage introduces the formal roster of the group selected for this mission.
The words — ἐποίησεν (epoiēsen) literally means "He appointed" or "He made," and ὄνομα (onoma) means "name." The text states Jesus actively designated Simon with a new identifier.
The thread — Matthew 10:2 records the same roster with Simon called Peter, while John 1:42 documents the initial naming event as Cephas. Acts 1:13 later places Peter at the head of the twelve during the upper room gathering.
Why it lands — It requires the reader to acknowledge that the title "Peter" derives from Jesus’ authoritative declaration rather than human recognition. The list functions as a structural marker defining the core group entrusted with the mission.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And Simon he surnamed Peter;
Cross-references
- John 1:42 Andrew brought him to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated as Peter).
- Acts 1:13 When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.
- Matthew 10:2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John;
- Matthew 16:16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
- Mark 1:16 As 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.
- 1 Corinthians 1:12 What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”
- 1 Corinthians 3:22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future. All of them belong to you,
- 1 Corinthians 9:5 Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?
- Galatians 2:7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised.
- 2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: