Bible Commentaries

Matthew 21:38 — 38. οὗτός ἐστιν ] So Nicodemus, John 3:2 , οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἀπὸ θ . ἐλήλυθας διδάσκαλος , even at the beginning of His ministry; how much more then after three years spent in His divine working. The latent consciousness that Jesus was the Messiah , expressed in the prophecy of Caiaphas (John

Matthew 5:25 — 25. ] The whole of this verse is the earthly example of a spiritual duty which is understood, and runs parallel with it. The sense may be given: ‘As in worldly affairs, it is prudent to make up a matter with an adversary before judgment is passed,

Mark 10:2-9 — 2 9. ] See notes on Matt., with whose account ours is nearly identical. Compare however our Mar 10:3-5 with Matthew 19:7-9 , and we have testimony to the independence of the two reports for such an arbitrary alteration of arrangement is inconceivable.

Luke 16:7 — 7. κόρους ] ὁ δὲ κόρος δύναται μεδίμνους ἀττικοὺς δέκα , Jos. Antt. xv. 9. 2. There does not appear to be any designed meaning in the variation of the amount deducted. We may easily conceive a reason, if we will, in the different circumstances of the debtors.

Luke 24:47 — 47. ἀρξάμενοι ] See reff. The substance of the preaching of the Gospel literally corresponded to this description see Acts 2:38 ; μετανοήσατε , καὶ βαπτισθήτω ἕκαστος ὑμῶν ἐπὶ τῷ ὀν . Ἰησοῦ χρ . εἰς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν , were the words of the first sermon preached at Jerusalem.

Luke 5:27-39 — 27 39. ] CALLING OF LEVI. QUESTION RESPECTING FASTING. Matthew 9:9-17 . Mark 2:13-22 . For all common matter, the discussion of the identity of Matthew and Levi, &c. see notes on Matt. and Mark. I here only notice what is peculiar to Luke.

Luke 9:28-36 — 28 36. ] THE TRANSFIGURATION. Matthew 17:1-8 . Mark 9:2-8 . I have commented on the relation of the three accounts in the notes on Mark, and on the Transfiguration itself in those on Matt., which treat also of the additional particulars found here.

John 18:2 — 2. ] often, see Luke 21:37 [ch. Joh 8:1 ]. These accurate notices of our Evangelist are especially found in this last portion of his Gospel: cf. John 18:13 ; John 18:24 ; John 18:28 ; ch. John 19:14 ; John 19:20 ; John 19:41 , &c.

John 4:33 — 33. ] It is very characteristic of the first part of this Gospel to bring forward instances of unreceptivity of spiritual meaning: compare John 4:11 ; ch. John 2:20 ; John 3:4 ; John 6:42 ; John 6:52 . The disciples probably have the woman in their thoughts.

Acts 20:22 — 22. δεδεμένος τῷ πνεύματι ] bound in my spirit . This interpretation is most probable, both from the construction, and from the usage of the expression τὸ πνεῦμα repeatedly by and of Paul in the sense of his own spirit . See ch. reff., where the principal

Acts 21:17 — 17. οἱ ἀδελφοί ] The Christians generally: not the Apostles and elders, as Kuin., who imagines from Acts 21:20-21 , that ‘cœtus non favebat Paulo.’ But (1) this is by no means implied: and (2) James and the elders are not mentioned till Acts 21:18 .

Acts 5:35 — 35 .] The words ἐπὶ τ . ἀνθρ . τούτ . may be joined either with προσέχ . ἑαυτ ., or with τί μέλ . πράσς . The latter would give the more usual construction: and the transposition of words is not unexampled in the Acts, see ch. Acts 1:2 ; Acts 19:4 .

Acts 5:4 — it not in thine absolute power? and when sold, was it not (i.e. the price of it) in thine own power , to do with it what seemed good to thee? τί ὅτι , i.e. τί ἐστιν ὅτι : see reff. ἔθου ἐν τ . καρδ . , = שׂוּם עַל־לֵב , Daniel 1:8 ; Malachi 2:2 . Satan suggested the lie, which Ananias ought to have repelled: instead of that, he put it in his heart , placed it there where the springs of action are, and it passed out into an act. οὐκ ἐψ . ἀνθ ., ἀλλὰ τ . θ . ] This οὐκ , ἀλλά

Acts 7:23 — 23. τεσσερακονταετὴς χρ .] μέγας γενόμενος M [46] , Exodus 2:11 , LXX. The exact age was traditional, see Lightf. [46]. Marcion, 130; fragments in Epiph. (Mcion-e) and Tert. (Mcion-t) ἀνέβη ] No nominative (as διαλογισμός , Kuin.) must be supplied: it is impersonal; see reff.

Acts 8:14 — 14. Πέτ . κ . Ἰωάν . ] Perhaps two , in accordance with the δύο δύο of their first missionary journey ( Mar 6:7 ): so Paul and Barnabas afterwards (ch. Act 13:2 ): and the same principle seems to have been adhered to even when these last separated: Paul chose Silas, Barnabas took Mark. PETER, because to him belonged, in this early part of the Gospel, in a remarkable manner, the first establishing of the church;

Acts 8:5 — 5. Φίλιππος ] The deacon ; not, as apparently implied in the citation from Polycrates in Eus [53] H. E. iii. 31, Acts 8:24 , one of the twelve : this is precluded by Acts 8:1 ; Acts 8:14 . And it is probable, that the persecution should have been directed especially against the colleagues of Stephen. Philip is mentioned again as ὁ εὐαγγελιστής , probably from his having

Romans 15:2 — 2. ] The qualification, εἰς τὸ ἀγ . πρὸς οἰκ ., excludes all mere pleasing of men from the Christian’s motives of action. The Apostle repudiates it in his own case, Galatians 1:10 . Bengel remarks, ‘ bonum , genus, ædificatio , species:’ to a good end, and that good end his edification.

1 Corinthians 14:40 — 40 .] δέ , only provided, that .… κατὰ τάξιν ] i.e. in right time, and due proportion. Meyer compares Jos. B. J. ii. 8. 5, of the Essenes: οὔτε κραυγή ποτε τὸν οἶκον οὔτε θόρυβος μολύνει , τὰς δὲ λαλιὰς ἐν τάξει παραχωροῦσιν ἀλλήλοις . See Stanley, edn. 2, pp. 293 f.

Galatians 1:11 — 11 CHAP. Galatians 2:21 .] FIRST, or APOLOGETIC PART OF THE EPISTLE; consisting in an historical defence of his own teaching, as not being from men, but revealed to him by the Lord, nor influenced even by the chief Apostles, but of independent authority .

Revelation 2:6 — delinquencies of this sect) of the Nicolaitans (there has been much dispute who these were. The prevailing opinion among the fathers was, that they were a sect founded by Nicolaus the proselyte of Antioch, one of the seven deacons. So Irenæus (Hær. i. 26. 3(27), p. 105, “Nicolaitæ autem magistrum quidem habent Nicolaum, unum ex vii., qui primi ad diaconium ab apostolis ordinati sunt: qui indiscrete vivunt”), Tertullian (Præscr. Hær. 46, vol. ii. p. 63, “alter hæreticus Nicolaus emersit.