Mark 9:28

28 And he having come into the house, his disciples were questioning him by himself -- `Why were we not able to cast it forth?'

Mark 9:28 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 9:28

And when he was come into the house
Perhaps into the man's house whose child he had healed, or into some other in these parts, for the sake both of retirement and refreshment:

his disciples asked him privately, why could not we cast him out?
The nine disciples, who were particularly concerned in this matter, fearing they had lost the power of casting out devils, conferred upon them, inquired of Jesus, when he was alone, why they could not cast the demon out of the child, when they had ejected unclean spirits out of many others; (See Gill on Matthew 17:19).

Mark 9:28 In-Context

26 and having cried, and rent him much, it came forth, and he became as dead, so that many said that he was dead,

27 but Jesus, having taken him by the hand, lifted him up, and he arose.

28 And he having come into the house, his disciples were questioning him by himself -- `Why were we not able to cast it forth?'

29 And he said to them, `This kind is able to come forth with nothing except with prayer and fasting.'

30 And having gone forth thence, they were passing through Galilee, and he did not wish that any may know,