[8:18] 1 tc ‡ Codex B and some Sahidic mss read simply ὄχλον (oclon, “crowd”), the reading that NA27 follows; the first hand of א, as well as Ë1 and a few others, has ὄχλους (oclous, “crowds”); other witnesses read πολὺν ὄχλον (polun oclon, “a large crowd”). But the reading most likely to be original seems to be πολλούς ὄχλους (pollou" oclou"). It is found in א2 C L Θ 0233 Ë13 33 Ï lat; it is judged to be superior on internal grounds (the possibility of accidental omission of πολλούς/πολύν in isolated witnesses) and, to a lesser extent, external grounds (geographically widespread, various texttypes). For reasons of English style, however, this phrase has been translated as “a large crowd.”
[8:18] 2 tn The phrase “of the lake” is not in the Greek text but is clearly implied; it has been supplied here for clarity.
[8:19] 3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then.”
[8:19] 4 tn Or “a scribe.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.
[8:19] 5 sn The statement I will follow you wherever you go is an offer to follow Jesus as a disciple, no matter what the cost.
