11:28 And when she had said this, Martha 3 went and called her sister Mary, saying privately, 4 “The Teacher is here and is asking for you.” 5
1 tc The earliest and best
2 sn Notice the difference in the response of the two sisters: Martha went out to meet Jesus, while Mary remains sitting in the house. It is similar to the incident in Luke 10:38-42. Here again one finds Martha occupied with the responsibilities of hospitality; she is the one who greets Jesus.
3 tn Grk “she”; the referent (Martha) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
4 tn Or “in secret” (as opposed to publicly, so that the other mourners did not hear).
5 tn Grk “is calling you.”
6 tn The words “she told them” are repeated from the first part of the same verse to improve clarity.
7 tn Grk “the things.”
8 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) is specified in the translation for clarity.
9 tn The first part of Mary’s statement, introduced by ὅτι (Joti), is direct discourse (ἑώρακα τὸν κύριον, Jewraka ton kurion), while the second clause switches to indirect discourse (καὶ ταῦτα εἶπεν αὐτῇ, kai tauta eipen auth). This has the effect of heightening the emphasis on the first part of the statement.