Mark 10:39

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Mark 10:39 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And they said unto him, We are able. And Jesus said unto them, The cup that I drink ye shall drink; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And they said unto him, We are able. And Jesus said unto them, The cup that I drink ye shall drink; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
Mark 10:39 — American Standard Version

Context — Mark 10

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
39And they said unto him, We are able. And Jesus said unto them, The cup that I drink ye shall drink; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And they said unto him we can, etc..] That is, drink of Christ's cup and be baptized with his baptism which is another instance of their ignorance; for as they knew not the glorious state of things and the nature of it they desired places in so they were unacquainted with themselves; they were ignorant of their own weakness as well as of the greatness of the sufferings Christ should endure or even they should be called unto: had they had a just notion of either, they would not have expressed themselves in this manner without any mention of the grace of God or any dependence on the strength of Christ; (see Gill on “<402022>Matthew 20:22”). And Jesus said unto them, ye shall indeed drink of…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See the notes at Matthew 20:20-28. Mark 10:35 And James and John ...came unto him - They did this through the instrumentality of their mother. They did not come in “person,” but they got their mother to make the request for them. Compare the notes at Matthew 20:20. return to 'Top of Page'”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“10:39 James and John did indeed drink a bitter cup . . . of suffering for Jesus. James died for his faith (Acts 12:1-5). John died an old man, having experienced persecution (Tertullian, The Soul 50; Jerome, Commentary on Galatians 6, 10). Yet the death of James and John was not the same as that of Jesus—no believer can die Jesus’ death as a vicarious sacrifice for the sins of the world (Mark 10:45) or experience the divine wrath as he did (15:34).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“We: Mar 14:31; Joh 13:37 Ye: Mar 14:36; Mat 10:25; Joh 15:20, Joh 17:14; Act 12:2; Col 1:24; Rev 1:9 Mark 10:40”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification