kai huperperissws exeplessonto...
huperperissws is an adverb- 'beyond all measure' (Z&G) and the verb that it qualifies is exeplessonto; was being astounded, overwhelmed, as it were “struck outside” oneself.
BDAG has for ekplessw- to cause to be filled with amazement to the point of being overwhelmed, amaze, astound, overwhelm (lit. strike out of one's senses)
One of the beauties of the gospel accounts is how they describe amazing events in very down to earth ways. There is no sensationalism. It does not feel as we read, that we are in the region of fantasy, fairy tale or legend. It feels that we are in the world of human happenings (distinct, I would imagine to the majority of religious writings through the world). As a result, it is possible to read through Mark and miss some of his spare sentences that give a sense of the sensation that Jesus created. This is one example. Mark says that people were in effect, beyond all measure filled with amazement to the point of being overwhelmed. The verb is powerful enough on its own to convey a strong reaction of increduality- they were being astounded, overwhelmed. Mark then adds to that strong reaction a 'beyond all measure'.
If we are seeing this through Peter's eyes, perhaps by this stage he has been to the place where the onlookers are at the moment many times. Perhaps this wasn't quite as amazing for him as it was for them, and looking on he sees all this increduality, and perhaps looking back sympathises with it more than he did at the time... Or perhaps he is bigger hearted than that (and Peter does seem to be big hearted) and he rejoices that others are being thrilled by Jesus as he had and is... although Peter's response to this was far deeper than most of the crowd. He had well and truly been 'caught' – had thrown his lot in with this man almost completely, was not just an excited spectator in the stands. Perhaps he is just telling the story- simply recording what happened.
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