8:19 Now Jesus’ 1 mother and his brothers 2 came to him, but 3 they could not get near him because of the crowd.
1 tn Grk “his”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
2 sn The issue of whether Jesus had brothers (siblings) has had a long history in the church. Epiphanius, in the 4th century, argued that Mary was a perpetual virgin and had no offspring other than Jesus. Others argued that these brothers were really cousins. Nothing in the text suggests any of this. See also John 7:3.
3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
4 sn To warn them. The warning would consist of a call to act differently than their dead brother had, or else meet his current terrible fate.
5 tn Grk “lest they also come.”