{And they were amazed} (kai ethambounto). Imperfect tense
describing the feelings of the disciples as Jesus was walking on
in front of them ((886e) proag(936e) autous, periphrastic imperfect
active), an unusual circumstance in itself that seemed to bode no
good as they went on through Perea towards Jerusalem. In fact,
{they that followed were afraid} (hoi de akolouthountes
ephobounto) as they looked at Jesus walking ahead in solitude.
The idiom (hoi de) may not mean that all the disciples were
afraid, but only some of them. "The Lord walked in advance of the
Twelve with a solemnity and a determination which foreboded
danger" (Swete). Cf.  Lu 9:5 . They began to fear coming disaster
as they neared Jerusalem. They read correctly the face of Jesus.
{And he took again the twelve} (kai paralab(936e) tous d(9364)eka).
Matthew has "apart" from the crowds and that is what Mark also
means. Note paralab(936e), taking to his side. {And began to tell
them the things that were to happen to him} ((8872)xato autois
legein ta mellonta aut(9369) sumbainein). He had done it before
three times already ( Mr 8:31  9:13  9:31 ). So Jesus tries once
more. They had failed utterly heretofore. How is it now? Luke
adds ( 18:34 ): "They understood none of these things." But Mark
and Matthew show how the minds of two of the disciples were
wholly occupied with plans of their own selfish ambition while
Jesus was giving details of his approaching death and
resurrection.