And the disciples came] To wit, after he had done teaching the people, and was gone out of the ship, See Mark 4:10. For it is not likely, that our Saviour would leave teaching the people, to confer with the apostles, till he had uttered all he had to say to the people, See verse 36. and said unto him] Two questions were now asked of our Saviour. The first recorded here, Why he spake to the people in parables. The second, Mark 4:10; Mark 4:13. what was the sense of the parable. To the first, our Saviour answers, verse 11. To the second, verse 18. Why speakest thou unto them in parables?] In speeches harder then thou usest to speak, and such, as neither they nor we understand. This shews the pious charitie of the apostles, who not onely desired to understand these mysteries themselves, but that the people might understand them also.