Bible Commentaries

Matthew 12:39 — Verse 39. An evil and adulterous generation — Or, race of people; for so γενεα should be translated here, and in most other places in the Gospels; for our Lord, in general, uses it to point out the Jewish people. This translation is a key to unlock some

Matthew 23:14 — Verse Matthew 23:14. Matthew 23:13.-Verse Matthew 23:14. Ye devour widows' houses — On this subject I am in possession of nothing better than the following note of Dr. Whitby."This sect," says Josephus, (Ant. l. xvii. chap. 3,) "pretended to a more exact knowledge

Luke 24:12 — Verse Luke 24:12. Then arose Peter — John went with him, and got to the tomb before him. See John 20:2-3.The linen clothes laid by themselves — Or, The linen clothes only. This was the fine linen which Joseph of Arimathea bought, and wrapped the body in: Mark 15:46. Small as this circumstance may at first view appear, it is, nevertheless, no mean

Luke 3:14 — Verse Luke 3:14. The soldiers likewise demanded of him — He, thirdly, instructs those among the military. They were either Roman soldiers, or the soldiers of Herod or Philip. Use no violence to any, μηδενα διασεισητε, do not extort money or goods by force

John 17:15 — fruit.2. He does not intimate that they should seclude themselves from the world by going to the desert, or to the cloisters; but that they should continue in and among the world, that they may have the opportunity of recommending the salvation of God.3. Christ only prays that while they are in the world, employed in the work of the ministry, they may be preserved from the influence, του πονηρου, of the evil one, the devil, who had lately entered into Judas, John 13:27, and who would endeavour to enter

John 3:22 — where Christ held the preceding discourse with Nicodemus, was in Judea; but the evangelist means that our Lord quitted the city and its suburbs, and went into the country parts. The same distinction between Jerusalem and Judea is made, Acts 1:8; Acts 10:39; and in 1 Macc. 3:34; and in 2 Macc. 1:1, 10. See Bp. Pearce.And baptized. — It is not clear that Christ did baptize any with water, but his disciples did - John 4:2; and what they did, by his authority and command, is attributed to himself.

John 3:8 — Verse John 3:8. The wind bloweth — Though the manner in which this new birth is effected by the Divine Spirit, be incomprehensible to us, yet we must not, on this ground, suppose it to be impossible. The wind blows in a variety of directions-we hear its sound,

John 6:22 — which stood on the other side — ἙϚηκως περαν της θαλασσης, Standing by the sea side. The people were not on the other side, i.e. in Perea, as our version states, but on that side where Bethsaida lay: see the notes on Matthew 14:25; Matthew 14:34, and on Mark 6:45. The Greek word, περαν, says Bishop Pearce, seems to signify in Scripture sometimes on the side of, and sometimes on this side of: see Joshua 5:1. and 1 Macc. 9:34. The Hebrew word אבר abar, signifies by the side: Exodus 28:26, and

John 7:18 — God, and the promised Messiah.And no unrighteousness is in him. — Or, there is no falsehood in him: so the word αδικια should be translated here; and it is frequently used by the Septuagint for שקר sheker, a lie, falsehood, c. See in Psalms 52:3; Psalms 119:29; Psalms 119:69; Psalms 119:104; Psalms 119:163; Psalms 144:8. This is its meaning in Romans 2:8; where αδικια, falsehood, is put in opposition to αληθεια, truth.

Acts 11:1 — CHAPTER XI. Peter returns to Jerusalem, and is accused of having associated with the Gentiles, 1-3. He defends himself by relating at large the whole business concerning Cornelius, 4-17. His defense is accepted, and the whole Church glorifies God for having granted unto the Gentiles repentance unto life, 18. An account of the proceedings of those

Acts 15:12 — the multitude kept silence — The strong facts stated by St. Peter could not be controverted. His speech may be thus analyzed:1. Circumcision is a sign of the purification of the heart.2. That purification can only be effected by the Holy Ghost.3. This Holy Spirit was hitherto supposed to be the portion of those only who had received circumcision.4. But the Gentiles, who were never circumcised, nor kept any part of the law of Moses, have had their hearts purified by faith in Christ Jesus.5.

Romans 10:1 — according to knowledge, they sought salvation by works, and not by faith in Christ, 2-4. The righteousness which is of the law described, 5. That which is by faith described also, 6-10. He that believes and calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved, 11-13. What is necessary to salvation, believing, hearing, preaching, a Divine mission, the Gospel, and obedience to its precepts, 14-16. Faith comes by hearing, 17. The universal spread of the Gospel predicted by the prophets, 18-20. The ingratitude and

Romans 3:27 — threatens the disobedient with death. But all glorying in the expectation of salvation, through your own obedience, is excluded by the law, the doctrine of faith: faith alone, in the mercy of God, through the propitiation made by the blood of Jesus, (Romans 3:25,) is that by which you can be justified, pardoned, and taken into the Divine favour.

1 Corinthians 3:13 — Verse 1 Corinthians 3:13. The day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire — There is much difference of opinion relative to the meaning of the terms in this and the two following verses. That the apostle refers to the approaching destruction of Jerusalem

1 Corinthians 6:4 — order in the Jewish benches, as Dr. Lightfoot conjectures, of which there were five, viz:-1. The great Sanhedrin, consisting of seventy-two elders, which presided in Jerusalem.2. The little Sanhedrin of twenty-five, in large cities, out of Jerusalem.3. The Bench of Three in every synagogue.4. The Authorized, or Authentic Bench.5. The Bench not authorized, εξουθενημενος. This latter bench was so called because it received not its authority immediately from the Sanhedrin, but was chosen by the parties

Ephesians 6:1 — CHAPTER VI. Children should obey their parents, that they may live long and be happy, 1-3. Parents should be tender towards their children, 4. Servants should show all obedience and fidelity to their masters, 5-8. And masters should treat their servants with humanity, 9. All should be strong in the Lord, and be armed with his armour, because

Philippians 3:14 — line did not run lawfully, and were not crowned, even though they got first to the goal. See the concluding observations on "1 Corinthians 9:27".What is called σκοπος, mark or scope, here, is called κανων the line, i.e. the marked line, Philippians 3:16. When it was said to Diogenes, the cynic, "Thou art now an old man, rest from thy labours;" to this he answered: Ει δολιχον εδραμον, προς τῳ τελει εδει με ανειναι, και μη μαλλον επιτειναι; "If I have run long in the race, will it become me to slacken

Philippians 4:1 — CHAPTER IV. The apostle exhorts them to stand fast in the Lord, 1. And beseeches Euodias and Syntyche to be of one mind in Divine things, 2. And requests his true yokefellow to help them to a good understanding, 3. Gives them directions concerning their temper and frame of mind, 4-7. And how to act in all respects as becomes the purity and excellence of the Gospel, as they had heard from and seen in him, 8, 9. Thanks them for their attention to him in his captivity,

2 Thessalonians 2:13 — Verse 13. 14. God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, &c.] In your calling, God has shown the purpose that he had formed from the beginning, to call the Gentiles to the same privileges with the Jews, not through circumcision, and the observance

1 Timothy 1:3 — Verse 1 Timothy 1:3. I besought thee — The apostle had seen that a bad seed had been sown in the Church; and, as he was obliged to go then into Macedonia, he wished Timothy, on whose prudence, piety, and soundness in the faith he could depend, to stay behind and