Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 3:13

"And he goeth up into the mountain, and calleth unto him whom he himself would; and they went unto him." — Mark 3:13 (ASV)

Jesus withdrew to the hill country of Galilee and called twelve disciples to be his special followers. The designation of the Twelve suggests the foundation of a new Israel, after the original Israel had rejected their Messiah. The Twelve came to him without delay (cf. 1:18, 20; 2:14).