Bible Commentaries

Micah 7:1 — escaped the general gathering. The word קץ kayits, which is sometimes used for summer, and summer fruits in general, is here translated late figs; and may here, says Bishop Newcome, be opposed to the early ripe fig of superior quality. See on Hosea 9:10, and Amos 8:1-2. He desired to see the first-ripe fruit - distinguished and eminent piety; but he found nothing but a very imperfect or spurious kind of godliness.

Zechariah 3:1 — priest — The Angel of the Lord is the Messiah, as we have seen before; Joshua, the high priest, may here represent the whole Jewish people; and Satan, the grand accuser of the brethren. What the subject of dispute was, we perhaps learn from Jude 1:9. Michael and Satan disputed about the body of Moses. This could not refer to the natural body of the Jewish lawgiver, which had been dead about one thousand years; it must therefore refer to that body of laws given to the Jews by Moses, for the breach

Matthew 9:36 — Verse Matthew 9:36. Moved with compassion — εσπλαγχνισθη, from σπλαγχνον a bowel. The Jews esteemed the bowels to be the seat of sympathy and the tender passions, and so applied the organ to the sense.επλαγχνιζομαι signifies, says Mintert, "to be moved with pity

Luke 1:15 — considered as of three principal sorts: that extracted from dregs of sugar, that extracted from bruised rice, and that extracted from the flowers of the madhuca: as one, so are all; they shall not be tasted by the chief of the twice-born." Chap. xi. Inst. 95. Twice-born is used by the Brahmins in the same sense as being born again is used by Christians. It signifies a spiritual regeneration. From this word comes our English term cyder, or sider, a beverage made of the fermented juice of apples. Leviticus

Luke 10:1 — mission, 17-20. Christ rejoices that the things which were hidden from the wise and prudent had been revealed unto babes, and shows the great privileges of the Gospel, 21-24. A lawyer inquires how he shall inherit eternal life, and is answered, 25-29. The story of the good Samaritan, 30-37. The account of Martha and Mary, 38-42. NOTES ON CHAP. X.Verse Luke 10:1. The Lord appointed other seventy — Rather, seventy others, not other seventy, as our translation has it, which seems to intimate

Luke 13:32 — leaving nothing undone which the counsel of God designed me to complete. Hence, in reference to our Lord, the word implies his dying; as the plan of human redemption was not finished, till he bowed his head and gave up the ghost on the cross: see John 19:30, where the same word is used. It is used also in reference to Christ's death, Hebrews 2:10; Hebrews 5:9; see also Acts 20:24, and Hebrews 12:23. The word finish, &c., is used in the same sense both by the Greeks and Latins. See KYPKE.

John 14:12 — blood.Some account for the greater works thus:1. The very shadow of Peter healed the diseased, Acts 5:15.2. Diseases were cured, and demons cast out, by applying to the persons handkerchiefs and aprons that had before touched the body of Paul, Acts 19:12.3. By the word of Peter, Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead, Acts 5:5; Acts 5:9-10.4. Elymas the sorcerer was struck blind by the word of Paul, Acts 13:11.5. Christ only preached in Judea, and in the language only of that country; but the apostles

John 19:1 — CHAPTER XIX. Jesus is scourged, crowned with thorns, and mocked by the soldiers, 1-3. He to brought forth by Pilate, wearing the purple robe; and the Jews clamour for his death, 4-8. Conversation between our Lord and Pilate, 9-11. Pilate expostulates with the Jews on their barbarous demands; but they become more inveterate, and he delivers Christ into their hands, 12-16. He, bearing his cross, is led to Golgotha, and crucified, 17-22. The soldiers cast lots for his raiment,

John 6:1 — come into the world, 14. They purpose to force him to become their king; and he withdraws from the multitude, 15. The disciples take ship, and go towards Capernaum, and are overtaken with a storm, 16-18. Christ comes to them, walking upon the water, 19-21. The people take boats and follow him, 22-24. He reproves their fleshly motives, 25-27. They profess a desire to be instructed, 28. Christ preaches to them, and shows them that he is the bread of life, and that they who reject him are without excuse,

Acts 18:1 — 1-3. He preaches, and proves that Jesus was the Christ, 4, 5. The Jews oppose and blaspheme; and he purposes to go to the Gentiles, 6. Justus, Crispus, and several of the Corinthians believe, 7, 8. Paul has a vision, by which he is greatly comforted, 9, 10. He continues there a year and six months, 11. Gallio being deputy of Achaia, the Jews make insurrection against Paul, and bring him before the deputy, who dismisses the cause; whereupon the Jews commit a variety of outrages, 12-17. Paul sails to

Acts 19:9 — Verse Acts 19:9. When divers were hardened — τινες, When some of them were hardened; several no doubt felt the power of Divine truth, and yielded consent. Our term divers, one of the most bald in our language, has too general a meaning for this place.Behold

Acts 23:1 — that the assembly was composed of Pharisees and Sadducees, and that he could expect no justice from his judges, he asserts that it was for his belief in the resurrection that he was called in question, on which the Pharisees declare in his favour, 6-9. A great dissension arises, and the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should be pulled to pieces, brings him into the castle, 10. He is comforted by a dream, 11. More than forty persons conspire his death, 12-15. Paul's sister's son, hearing of it, informs

Acts 24:1 — CHAPTER XXIV. After five days, Ananias the high priest, the elders, and one Tertullus, an orator, come to Caesarea to accuse Paul, 1. The oration of Tertullus, 2-9. Paul's defence, 10-21. Felix, having heard his defence, proposes to leave the final determination of it till Claudius Lysias should come down; and, in the mean time, orders Paul to be treated with humanity and respect, 22, 23. Felix, and Drusilla his

Romans 10:18 — within the reach of all those who sojourn in the different Gentile countries where we have preached the Gospel, as well to the Jews as to the Gentiles themselves? Yes: for we may say of the preaching of the Gospel what the psalmist has said (Psalms 19:4) of the heavenly bodies: Their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. As the celestial luminaries have given testimony of the eternal power and Godhead of the Deity to the habitable world, the Gospel of Christ has

Romans 5:14 — 5:12. Through Christ, as its spring and fountain, righteousness becomes diffused through the earth; so that every man is made partaker of a principle of grace and truth; for he is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world, John 1:9.2. As in Adam all die; so in Christ shall all be made alive, 1 Corinthians 15:22. For, since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead, 1 Corinthians 15:21.3. As in or through Adam guilt came upon all men, so, through Christ,

1 Corinthians 1:9 — Verse 1 Corinthians 1:9. God is faithful — The faithfulness of God is a favourite expression among the ancient Jews; and by it they properly understand the integrity of God in preserving whatever is entrusted to him. And they suppose that in this sense the fidelity of

2 Corinthians 13:9 — Verse 2 Corinthians 13:9. For we are glad, when we are weak — It will give me indescribable pleasure that I should still appear to be poor, despicable, and destitute of this extraordinary power with which God has clothed me, so that you be strong in all the gifts and

Galatians 5:5 — in the experience of every genuine Christian; he is continually anticipating or receiving foretastes of that glory, the fulness of which he expects after death. Thus they are receiving the end of their faith, the salvation of their souls. 1 Peter 1:9.That they could not have the Holy Spirit without faith, was a doctrine also of the Jews; hence it is said, Mechilta, fol. 52: "That faith was of great consequence with which the Israelites believed in Him who, with one word, created the universe; and

Colossians 1:15 — inaccessible light which no man, no created being, can possibly see. This was that Divine nature, the fulness of the Godhead bodily, which dwelt in him.The first-born of every creature — I suppose this phrase to mean the same as that, Philippians 2:9: God hath given him a name which is above every name; he is as man at the head of all the creation of God; nor can he with any propriety be considered as a creature, having himself created all things, and existed before any thing was made. If it be

1 Timothy 3:6 — and man." "Why is earth and ashes proud?" "The beginning of pride is when one departeth from God." "For pride is the beginning of sin; and he that hath it shall pour out abomination." "PRIDE was not made for MEN." See verses 1 Timothy 3:7, 1 Timothy 3:9, 1 Timothy 3:12, 1 Timothy 3:13, and 18, of the above chapter.