Bible Commentaries

Ezekiel 9:1 — presence, is seen to remove from the inner sanctuary to the threshold or door of the temple, 1-7. The prophet intercedes for his people; but God, on account of the greatness of their sins, will not be entreated, 8-11. NOTES ON CHAP. IXVerse Ezekiel 9:1. Cause them that have charge over the city — By those six men with destroying weapons the Chaldeans are represented, who had received commission to destroy the city; and when the north is mentioned in such cases, Chaldea and the Chaldean armies

Micah 6:9 — Verse 9. The Lord's voice crieth unto the city — No man is found to hear; but the man of wisdom will hear, תושיה tushiyah; a word frequent in the writings of Solomon and Job, signifying wisdom, wealth, substance, reason, essence, happiness; any thing

Matthew 4:13 — intensive, and δειπω, I leave. It seems that, from this time, our blessed Lord made Capernaum his ordinary place of residence; and utterly forsook Nazareth, because they had wholly rejected his word, and even attempted to take away his life. See Luke 4:29.Galilee was bounded by mount Lebanon on the north, by the river Jordan and the sea of Galilee on the east, by Chison on the south, and by the Mediterranean on the west.Nazareth, a little city in the tribe of Zebulon, in lower Galilee, with Tabor on

Mark 13:32 — the particulars which he here lays down, and which were to a jot and tittle verified by the event - how he who knew that not one stone should be left on another, should be ignorant of the day and hour when this should be done, though Daniel, Daniel 9:24, c., could fix the very year, not less than five hundred years before it happened: how he in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelt bodily, and all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, should not know this small matter, I cannot comprehend, but

Mark 8:23 — becomes there extinct; and the candle is put out - no more means of spiritual illumination are afforded to the unfaithful inhabitants: Revelation 2:5.When he had spit on his eyes — There is a similar transaction to this mentioned by John, John 9:6. It is likely this was done merely to separate the eyelids; as, in certain cases of blindness, they are found always gummed together. It required a miracle to restore the sight, and this was done in consequence of Christ having laid his hands upon

Luke 23:1 — CHAPTER XXIII. Christ is led to Pilate, and accused by the Jews, 1, 2. Pilate examines, and pronounces him innocent, 3, 4. The Jews virulently accuse him, 5. Pilate, understanding that he was of Galilee, sends him to Herod, by whom he is examined, 6-9. The chief priests and scribes vehemently accuse him, and Herod and his soldiers mock him, 10, 11. Pilate and Herod become friends, 12. Pilate, before the chief priests, rulers, and people, pronounces Christ to be innocent, and offers to release him,

Luke 9:39 — Verse 39. A spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out — πνευμα λαμβανει αυτον. This very phrase is used by heathen writers, when they speak of supernatural influence. The following, from Herodotus, will make the matter, I hope, quite plain. Speaking

John 7:1 — CHAPTER VII. Jesus continues in Galilee, 1. He is desired to go to the feast of tabernacles, 2-5. His answer, 6-9. He goes up, and the Jews seek him at the feast, 10-13. He teaches in the temple, 14-24. The Jews are confounded by his preaching, 25-27. He continues to teach; they wish to slay him, 28-30. Many of the people believe on him, 31. The Pharisees murmur,

Acts 1:1 — -Usherian year of the world, 4033. -Alexandrian aera of the world, 5531. -Antiochian year of the world, 5521. -Constantinopolitan year of the world, 5537. -Year of the aera of the Seleucidae, 341. -Year of the Spanish aera, 67. -Year of the Christian aera, 29. -Year of the Paschal Cycle, 30. -Year of the Jewish Cycle, 11. -Golden Number, 8. -Solar Cycle, 10. -Dominical Letter, B. -Jewish Passover, April 15. -Epact, 20. -Year of the reign of the Emperor Tiberius Caesar, 18. -Year of the CCII. Olympiad, 1.

Acts 1:3 — days.The several appearances of Jesus Christ, during the forty days of his sojourning with his disciples, between his resurrection and ascension, are thus enumerated by Bishop Pearce: The first was to Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, Matthew 28:1-9. The second, to the two disciples on their way to Emmaus, Luke 24:15. The third, to Simon Peter, Luke 24:34. The fourth, to ten of the apostles, Thomas being absent, Luke 24:36, and John 20:19. (All these four appearances took place on the day of his

Acts 13:6 — Nicosia.A certain sorcerer — τινα μαγον, A magician, one who used magical arts, and pretended to have commerce with supernatural agents. A person who dealt in sleight of hand, or leger-de-main. Such as I have supposed Simon Magus to be. Acts 8:9.A false prophet —. A deceiver, one who pretended to have a Divine commission, a fortune teller.Bar-Jesus — That is, the son of Jesus or Joshua; as Bar-jona is the son of Jonah; Bar-tholomew, the son of Thalmi, &c.

Acts 18:2 — See the article in Wolfius, Bibl. Hebr. vol. ii. p. 1147. We have no evidence that this Jew and his wife were at this time converted to the Christian religion. Their conversion was most likely the fruit of St. Paul's lodging with them - Pontus. Acts 2:9.Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome — This edict of the Roman emperor is not mentioned by Josephus; but it is probably the same to which Suetonius refers in his life of Claudius; where he says, Judaeos, impulsore Chresto, assidue

1 Corinthians 2:14 — former is one who is without that influence.The apostle did speak of those high and sublime spiritual things to these animal men; but he explained them to those which were spiritual. He uses this word in this sense, 1 Corinthians 3:1; 1 Corinthians 9:11; and particularly in verse 1 Corinthians 2:15 of the present chapter: He that is spiritual judgeth all things. 1 Corinthians 2:15But the natural man-The apostle appears to give this-as a reason why he explained those deep spiritual things to spiritual

1 Corinthians 2:3 — fear, and in much trembling. — This was often the state of his mind; dreading lest he should at any time be unfaithful, and so grieve the Spirit of God; or that, after having preached to others, himself should be a castaway. See 1 Corinthians 9:27.An eminent divine has said that it requires three things to make a good preacher; study, temptation, and prayer. The latter, no man that lives near to God can neglect; the former, no man who endeavours rightly to divide the word of truth will neglect;

1 Corinthians 3:1 — used to bring them to the knowledge of the truth; and even their sowing, and watering the seed was of no use unless God gave the increase, 5-8. The Church represented as God's husbandry, and as God's building, the foundation of which is Christ Jesus, 9-11. Ministers must beware how and what they build on this foundation, 12-15. The Church of God is his temple, and he that defiles it shall be destroyed, 16, 17. No man should depend on his own wisdom; for the wisdom of the world is foolishness with

1 Corinthians 3:9 — Verse 1 Corinthians 3:9. For we are labourers together with God — We do nothing of ourselves, nor in reference to ourselves; we labour together in that work which God has given us to do, expect all our success from him, and refer the whole to his glory. It would perhaps

1 Corinthians 6:1 — CHAPTER VI. The Corinthians are reproved for their litigious disposition; brother going to law with brother, and that before the heathen, 1-6. They should suffer wrong rather than do any, 7, 8. No unrighteous person can enter into the glory of God, 9, 10. Some of the Corinthians had been grievous sinners, but God had saved them, 11. Many things may be lawful which are not at all times expedient, 12. Meats are for the belly, and the belly for meats; but the body is not for uncleanness, 13. Christ's

2 Corinthians 12:1 — his suffering in connection with these extraordinary revelations, that his character might be duly estimated, 6. That he might not be too much exalted, a messenger of Satan is sent to buffet him; his prayer for deliverance, and the Divine answer, 7-9. He exults in sufferings and reproaches, and vindicates his apostleship, 10-13. Promises to come and visit them, 14, 15. Answers some objections, 16-18. And expresses his apprehensions that when he visits them he shall find many evils and disorders

2 Corinthians 13:11 — joyous and happy, be ever prosperous; this was among the last words which Cyrus, when dying, spoke to his friends.Be perfect — καταρτιζεσθε. Be compact; get into joint again; let unity and harmony be restored. See the note on 2 Corinthians 13:9.Be of good comfort — παρακαλεισθε. Receive admonition; for παρακαλεω signifies to admonish, beg, entreat, and also to comfort. Receive admonition, that ye may receive comfort. If ye take my advice, ye shall have consolation; if ye do not, ye will

2 Corinthians 6:18 — for their God, but would work iniquity. What was the consequence? God cast them off; and those who were joined to iniquity were separated from him. "Then said God, Call his name Lo-ammi; for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God." Hosea 1:9. The Jews were therefore cast off, and the Gentiles taken in their place; but even these, under the new covenant, are taken in expressly under the same conditions as the apostle here most fully states. Those who apply these words in any other way pervert