In this chapter we have, I. The commission Christ gave to his twelve apostles to go out for some time to preach the gospel, and confirm it by miracles, ver. 1-6. II. Herod's terror at the growing greatness of our Lord Jesus, ver. 7-9. III. The apostles' return to Christ, his retirement with them into a place of solitude, the great resort of people to them notwithstanding, and his feeding five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes, ver. 10-17. IV. His discourse with his disciples concerning himself and his own sufferings for them, and their for him, ver. 18-27. V. Christ's transfiguration, ver. 28-36. VI. The cure of a lunatic child, ver. 37-42. VII. The repeated notice Christ gave his disciples of his approaching sufferings, ver. 43-45. VIII. His check to the ambition of his disciples (ver. 46-48), and to their monopolizing the power over devils to themselves, ver. 49, 50. IX. The rebuke he gave them for an over-due resentment of an affront given him by a village of the Samaritans, ver. 51-56. X. The answers he gave to several that were inclined to follow him, but not considerately, or not zealously and heartily, so inclined, ver. 57-62.
The Mission of the Twelve Apostles.