Mark 3:1-15

Again Jesus went into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered. [Matt 12:9-14; Luke 6:6-11] The Pharisees were watching Jesus closely to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him [in the Jewish high court]. He said to the man whose hand was withered, “Get up and come forward!” He asked them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent. After looking around at them with anger, grieved at the hardness and arrogance of their hearts, He told the man, “Hold out your hand.” And he held it out, and his hand was [completely] restored. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians [to plot] against Him, as to how they might [fabricate some legal grounds to] put Him to death. Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples; and a large crowd from Galilee followed Him; and also people from Judea, and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and [from the region] beyond the Jordan, and around Tyre and Sidon; a vast number of people came to Him because they were hearing about all [the things] that He was doing. And He told His disciples to have a small boat stand ready for Him because of the many people, so that they would not crowd Him; for He had healed many, and as a result all who had diseases pressed around Him to touch Him. Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they fell down before Him and screamed out, “You are the Son of God!” Jesus sternly warned them [again and again] not to tell who He was. He went up on the hillside and called those whom He Himself wanted and chose; and they came to Him. And He appointed twelve [disciples], so that they would be with Him [for instruction] and so that He could send them out to preach [the gospel as apostles—that is, as His special messengers, personally chosen representatives], and to have authority and power to cast out demons.