Mark 9:28

After Jesus had gone into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — After Jesus enters a house, His disciples approach Him privately to ask why they were unable to cast out a demon.

The words — The participle εἰσελθόντος αὐτοῦ (eiselthontos autou) literally means "when He had entered," establishing the physical transition that precedes the disciples' question.

The thread — The disciples' private inquiry matches the account in Matthew 17:19 and appears alongside other instances where followers seek Jesus' explanation away from the crowds (Matthew 13:10; Matthew 13:36).

Why it lands — The text records a direct question about failed authority, requiring the reader to acknowledge that spiritual ineffectiveness demands immediate confrontation with Jesus' teaching rather than self-justification.

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

ΚαὶKaiAnd εἰσελθόντοςeiselthontoswhen was entering αὐτοῦautouHe εἰςeisinto οἶκονoikona house οἱhoithe μαθηταὶmathētaidisciples αὐτοῦautouof Him κατ᾽kat᾽in ἰδίανidianprivate ἐπηρώτωνepērōtōnwere asking αὐτόν·autonHim;ὅτιhotiWhy ἡμεῖςhēmeiswe ourselves οὐκouknot ἠδυνήθημενēdunēthēmenwere able ἐκβαλεῖνekbaleinto cast out αὐτό;autoit?

King James Version

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

Cross-references

Matthew 17:19 Afterward the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
Matthew 13:10 Then the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why do You speak to the people in parables?”
Matthew 13:36 Then 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.”
Matthew 15:15 Peter said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”
Mark 4:10 As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the parable.
Mark 4:34 He did not tell them anything without using a parable. But privately He explained everything to His own disciples.
Mark 7:17 After Jesus had left the crowd and gone into the house, His disciples inquired about the parable.