SEV Biblia, Chapter 6:13
Y echaban fuera muchos demonios, y ungían con aceite a muchos enfermos, y sanaban.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Mark 6:13
Verse 13. Anointed with oil many that were sick] This is only spoken of here, and in James v. 14. This ceremony was in great use among the Jews; and in certain cases it might be profitable. But in the cases mentioned here, which were merely miraculous, it could avail no more of itself than the imposition of hands. It was used symbolically, as an emblem of that ease, comfort, and joy, which they prayed God to impart to the sick. For various examples of its use among the Jews, see Lightfoot and Wetstein on this place.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 13. And they cast out many devils , etc..] Which they had power given them to do; and this they did, in confirmation of their mission and doctrine, and for the benefit of miserable creatures, who were possessed by them; and to show their power over the devils, and as a prelude of what they were to be the instruments of, in casting Satan out of the souls of men, both Jews and Gentiles; and especially, in the ejection of him out of the Gentile world: and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them . This they were doubtless directed to by Christ, as an outward sign of healing; but not as a medicine; otherwise there would have been no miracle in the cure: though it is certain, the Jews used anointing with oil medicinally in many cases, as the means of healing; but they did not always succeed, as the apostles did: on the day of atonement f117 , it was not lawful to anoint part of the body, as the whole body; but if a man was sick, or had ulcers on his head, he might anoint according to his usual way, and no notice was taken of it. Again f118 , a man may not anoint with wine, or vinegar, but he may anoint with oil: he that has a pain in his head, or has ulcers upon him, m s , he may anoint with oil, but he may not anoint with wine and vinegar: wine of the second tithe, which they mix, is forbidden to anoint with; oil of the second tithe, which they mix, is lawful to anoint with.
And it is elsewhere said f119 , that R. Meir allowed of the mixing of oil and wine, hlw j l w s l , to anoint the sick on a sabbath; but when he was sick, and we sought to do so to him, he would not suffer us.
But that oil was used by the apostles as a medicine for the healing of diseases, cannot well be thought; since oil, though it may be useful in some cases, it is not an universal medicine, which is proper to all; nor were the apostles instructed by Christ in the art of physic, but were possessed by him with extraordinary gifts, to cure the disorders of the body, for the confirmation of the Gospel, which they preached; and it is easy to observe, that healing the sick by anointing with oil, is joined with the extraordinary power of casting out devils; and it was the same power by which they performed the one, as the other; (see Luke 9:1,2,6). Hence it appears, that this passage gives no countenance to the use of such a practice in our days; since these were apostles only, who used it, who were extraordinary persons, and whose office in the church was an extraordinary one, and is now ceased; and healing in this way, was by an extraordinary power bestowed upon them, which has ceased; and therefore the rite, or ceremony of anointing with oil, for such a purpose, should be of course discontinued; however, it cannot be supported by this instance, whatever countenance it may seem to have from ( James 5:14), for it must be owned, there is some difference in the passages: the persons that anointed here were apostles, there the elders of the church; the persons anointed there, were good people, the members of the church, but here any sort of persons, and chiefly, if not altogether unbelievers; the healing of them is ascribed to the prayer of faith in James, but here to the extraordinary power of the apostles, by anointing with oil; though it may be, the healing was equally miraculous in the one, as the other: but be this as it will, nothing can be concluded from hence, in favour of the sacrament of extreme unction, used by the Papists; who administer that to persons, just at the point of death, and that for the remission of their sins, and the saving of their souls; whereas oil was used by the apostles to sick persons, and for the recovery of their bodily health. But since these were extraordinary cures which they performed this way, why did they make use of oil at all, seeing the virtue of healing did not come from that, and they could as well have healed sicknesses without it, as with it? To which it may be replied, that they did not always make use of it; sometimes only words were expressed, sometimes only hands were laid on the sick, and sometimes the sick persons were healed by handkerchiefs and aprons taken from them; which show, that the healing virtue was not in the means, nor was it tied to any: moreover, this was only used as an outward sign of healing, and might have some spiritual significancy in it; it might show, that they were sent forth by Christ the anointed one, who is anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows; it might be symbolical of the grace of the Spirit, which is often compared to oil, which they themselves were possessed of in a large measure, and which is communicated through the ministration of the Gospel; and it might be significative of the Gospel itself, which brings light and joy, health and comfort along with it, to the souls of men, which they were the happy messengers of.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 7-13 - Though the apostles were conscious to themselves of great weakness, an expected no wordly advantage, yet, in obedience to their Master, and i dependence upon his strength, they went out. They did not amuse people with curious matters, but told them they must repent of their sins, an turn to God. The servants of Christ may hope to turn many from darknes unto God, and to heal souls by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ δαιμονια 1140 N-APN πολλα 4183 A-APN εξεβαλλον 1544 5707 V-IAI-3P και 2532 CONJ ηλειφον 218 5707 V-IAI-3P ελαιω 1637 N-DSN πολλους 4183 A-APM αρρωστους 732 A-APM και 2532 CONJ εθεραπευον 2323 5707 V-IAI-3P
Robertson's NT Word Studies
6:13 {They cast out many demons and they anointed with oil} (exeballon kai eleifon elaiwi). Imperfect tenses, continued repetition. Alone in Mark. this is the only example in the N.T. of aleifw elaiwi used in connection with healing save in #Jas 5:14. In both cases it is possible that the use of oil (olive oil) as a medicine is the basis of the practice. See #Lu 10:34 for pouring oil and wine upon the wounds. It was the best medicine of the ancients and was used internally and externally. It was employed often after bathing. The papyri give a number of examples of it. The only problem is whether aleifw in Mark and James is used wholly in a ritualistic and ceremonial sense or partly as medicine and partly as a symbol of divine healing. The very word aleifw can be translated rub or anoint without any ceremony. "Traces of a ritual use of the unction of the sick appear first among Gnostic practices of the second century" (Swete). We have today, as in the first century, God and medicine. God through nature does the real healing when we use medicine and the doctor.
