Bible Commentaries

Habakkuk 2:18 — profiteth the graven image — This is against idolatry in general, and every species of it, as well as against those princes, priests, and people who practice it, and encourage others to do the same. See on the parallel passages in the margin. (Isaiah 44:9-10; Isaiah 46:2)Dumb idols? — אלילים אלמים elilim illemim, "dumb nothings." This is exactly agreeable to St. Paul, 1 Corinthians 8:4, who says, "An idol is nothing in the world." What signify the idols worshipped by the Chaldeans, Tyrians,

Haggai 2:4 — Verse 4. Yet now be strong — Do not let this discourage you. The chief glory of the temple is not its splendid building, but my presence; and as I covenanted to be with you when ye came out of Egypt, so I will fulfil my covenant; for my Spirit remaineth

Malachi 2:1 — unfaithfulness in their office, for which they are threatened to be deprived of their share of the sacrifice, (the shoulder,) and rewarded only with ignominy and ordure, 1-3. The degeneracy of the order is then complained of, and they are again threatened, 4-9. The rest of the chapter reproves the people for marrying strange and idolatrous women; and multiplying divorces, with all their consequent distress, in order to make way for such illicit alliances, 10-17. See Nehemiah 10:30; Nehemiah 13:27-30, &c.

Matthew 24:12 — Verse Matthew 24:12. The love of many shall wax cold. — By reason of these trials and persecutions from without, and those apostasies and false prophets from within, the love of many to Christ and his doctrine, and to one another, shall grow cold. Some openly

Matthew 4:15 — Verse Matthew 4:15. Galilee of the Gentiles — Or of the nations. So called, because it was inhabited by Egyptians, Arabians, and Phoenicians, according to the testimony of Strabo and others. The Hebrew גוים goyim, and the Greek εθνων, signify nations; and, in

Matthew 4:17 — Verse Matthew 4:17. Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent — See on Matthew 3:1; Matthew 3:2. Every preacher commissioned by God to proclaim salvation to a lost world, begins his work with preaching the doctrine of repentance. This was the case with all the

Matthew 4:5 — Verse Matthew 4:5. Pinnacle of the temple — It is very likely that this was what was called the στοα βασιλικη, the king's gallery; which, as Josephus says, "deserves to be mentioned among the most magnificent things under the sun: for upon a stupendous depth

Mark 16:17 — name — That is, by the authority and influence of the almighty Jesus.Cast out devils — Whose kingdom Jesus Christ was manifested to destroy.Speak with new tongues — This was most literally fulfilled on the day of pentecost, Acts 2:4-19.

Mark 16:4 — Verse Mark 16:4. For it was very great — This clause should be read immediately after the third verse, according to D, three copies of the Itala, Syriac, Hier., and Eusebius. "Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? for it was very great.

Mark 6:3 — Verse Mark 6:3. Is not this the carpenter — Among the ancient Jews, every father was bound to do four things for his son.1. To circumcise him.2. To redeem him.3. To teach him the law.4. To teach him a trade.And this was founded on the following just maxim: "He who teaches not his son to do some work, is as if he taught him robbery!" It is therefore likely that Joseph brought up our Lord to his own trade.Joses — Several good

John 16:22 — that they should never have a doubt concerning it; and consequently that their joy should be great and permanent, knowing that the atonement was made, the victory gained, and the kingdom of heaven opened to all believers. Therefore it is said, Acts 4:33, that with great power did the apostles give witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

John 18:6 — he chose to exert his might, seeing that the very breath of his mouth confounded, drove back, and struck them down to the earth. Thus by the blast of God they might have perished, and by the breath of his nostrils they might have been consumed: Job 4:9.

Acts 18:4 — Verse Acts 18:4. He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath — Discoursed at large concerning Jesus as the Messiah, proving this point from their own Scriptures, collated with the facts of our Lord's life, c.And persuaded the Jews and the Greeks. — Many,

Acts 22:17 — to the first journey to Jerusalem, about three years after his conversion, Acts 9:25-26, and Galatians 1:18.I was in a trance — This circumstance is not mentioned any where else, unless it be that to which himself refers in 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, when he conceived himself transported to the third heaven; and, if the case be the same, the appearance of Jesus Christ to him, and the command given, are circumstances related only in this place.

Acts 26:21 — these causes the Jews - went about to kill me.] These causes may be reduced to four heads:-1. He had maintained the resurrection of the dead.2. The resurrection of Christ, whom they had crucified and slain.3. That this Jesus was the promised Messiah.4. He had offered salvation to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews. He does not mention the accusation of having defiled the temple, nor of disloyalty to the Roman government; probably, because his adversaries had abandoned these charges at his preceding

Acts 4:22 — Verse Acts 4:22. The man was above forty years old — The disease was of long standing, and consequently the more inveterate; but all difficulties, small or great, yield equally to the sovereign power of God. It is as easy with God to convert a sinner of forty

Acts 5:30 — raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand, and proclaiming him as the only giver of salvation and the repentance which leads to it.Whom ye slew — They charge them again with the murder of Christ, as they had done before, Acts 4:10-12, where see the notes.

1 Corinthians 4:11 — Verse 1 Corinthians 4:11. We both hunger and thirst, &c.] Who would then have been an apostle of Christ, even with all its spiritual honours and glories, who had not a soul filled with love both to God and man, and the fullest conviction of the reality of the doctrine

1 Corinthians 4:5 — Verse 1 Corinthians 4:5. Judge nothing before the time — God, the righteous Judge, will determine every thing shortly: it is his province alone to search the heart, and bring to light the hidden things of darkness. If you be so pure and upright in your conduct, if

1 Corinthians 7:4 — Verse 1 Corinthians 7:4. The wife hath not power, c.] Her person belongs to her husband her husband's person belongs to her: neither of them has any authority to refuse what the other has a matrimonial right to demand. The woman that would act so is either a knave or a fool.