Charles Ellicott Commentary Mark 8:34

"And he called unto him the multitude with his disciples, and said unto them, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." — Mark 8:34 (ASV)

And when he had called the people.—See Notes on Matthew 16:24-28. The “calling the people,” or better, the multitude, to hear what involved the apparent failure of His mission announced in the preceding verses is an addition to Matthew's narrative. It is confirmed by Luke's He said unto all (Luke 9:23).