The accounts of the great crowds following Jesus (iii. 7–12) and of the appointment of the Twelve (iii. 13–19), with which this division opens, are followed by three complexes, iii. 20–35, iv. 1–34 and iv. 35–v. 43. The division closes with the narratives of the rejection at Nazareth (vi. 1–6 a) and the mission of the Twelve (vi. 6D–13).

The first complex consists of three sections, iii. 20f., iii. 22–30 (on the unity of this section see below) and iii. 31–5, the last of these being most naturally understood as the sequel of the first. Whether the connection between vv. 22–30 and vv. 20f., 31–5 is historical is not certain. It seems quite probable that it is—though it is also possible that Mark wanted to insert something between vv. 20f. and vv. 31ff. in order to suggest the interval between the setting out of Jesus' family and their arrival, and chose vv. 22–30 on account of its topical appropriateness (cf. ἐξέστη in v. 21 with Βεεζεβονλ ἒχει, κ.τ.λ. in v. 22). As the complex stands, it draws attention to the similarity between the attitude of Jesus' family to him and that of the scribes.