And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.
In there verses, we have, I. The return to Christ of the apostles whom he had sent forth (Mar 6:7), to preach, and work miracles. They had dispersed themselves into several quarters of the country for some time, but when they had made good their several appointments, by consent they gathered themselves together, to compare notes, and came to Jesus, the centre of their unity...
Commenting on Mark 6:30-44
And they that did eat of the loaves,.... And also of the fishes; for they all ate of both; were about five thousand men; the word "about", is omitted in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, Persic and Ethiopic versions, reading five thousand men certain. The Evangelist Matthew adds, "beside children and women", Mat 14:21.
Verse 43. Twelve baskets. Baskets belonging to the disciples, in which they carried their provisions, or, perhaps, belonging to some of the multitude. Fragments. Broken pieces of the bread that remained.