Bible Commentaries

Isaiah 57:1-21 — LA TRANQUILA MUERTE DE ALGUNOS JUSTOS: LA IMPIEDAD DE LOS MAS: UN RESTO DE CREYENTES SOBREVIVIRA A LOS JUICIOS GENERALES Y SERA RESTITUIDO A SU TIERRA POR EL AUTOR DE LA PAZ. En medio de los excesos de los atalayas infieles (cap. 56:10-12), la mayor parte de los pocos piadosos perece: parte, por vejación de la predominante impiedad; parte, por muerte violenta, en tiempo de persecución; profecía de los persecutorios tiempos de Manasés, anteriores a los juicios de Dios que darán

Deuteronomy 2:1 — Canaanites and Amalekites, they again had no alternative but to traverse once more the great Arabah southwards to the Red Sea, where turning to the left and crossing the long, lofty mountain chain to the eastward of Ezion-geber (Numbers 21:4; Numbers 21:5), they issued into the great and elevated plains, which are still traversed by the Syrian pilgrims in their way to Mecca. They appear to have followed northward nearly the same route, which is now taken by the Syrian hadji, along the western skirts

Acts 12:20 — 20. Herod was . . . displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon—for some reason unknown; but the effect on their commercial relations made the latter glad to sue for peace. their country was nourished by the king's country—See 1 Kings 5:11; Ezra 3:7; Ezekiel 27:17. Perhaps the famine (Acts 11:28) made them the more urgent for reconciliation.

Acts 13:41 — 41. ye will not believe though a man declare it unto you—that is, even on unexceptionable testimony. The words, from Habakkuk 1:5, were originally a merciful but fruitless warning against the approaching destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans and the Babylonish captivity. As such nothing could more fitly describe the more awful calamity impending over the generation which the apostle addressed.

Acts 19:5 — 5-7. When they heard this—not the mere words reported in Acts 19:4, but the subject expounded according to the tenor of those words. they were baptized—not however by Paul himself (1 Corinthians 1:14). in the name of the Lord Jesus—into the whole fulness of the new economy, as now opened up to their believing minds.

Acts 19:7 — 5-7. When they heard this—not the mere words reported in Acts 19:4, but the subject expounded according to the tenor of those words. they were baptized—not however by Paul himself (1 Corinthians 1:14). in the name of the Lord Jesus—into the whole fulness of the new economy, as now opened up to their believing minds.

Acts 7:42 — 42-50. gave them up—judicially. as . . . written in the book of the prophets—the twelve minor prophets, reckoned as one: the passage is from Amos 5:25. have ye offered to me . . . sacrifices?—The answer is, Yes, but as if ye did it not; for "neither did ye offer to Me only, nor always, nor with a perfect and willing heart" [BENGEL].

Acts 7:46 — 42-50. gave them up—judicially. as . . . written in the book of the prophets—the twelve minor prophets, reckoned as one: the passage is from Amos 5:25. have ye offered to me . . . sacrifices?—The answer is, Yes, but as if ye did it not; for "neither did ye offer to Me only, nor always, nor with a perfect and willing heart" [BENGEL].

Romans 16:3 — 3-5. Salute Priscilla—The true reading here is "Prisca" (as in :-), a contracted form of Priscilla, as "Silas" of "Silvanus." and Aquila my helpers—The wife is here named before the husband (as in Acts 18:18; Romans 16:26, according to the true reading; also in 2 Timothy 4:19), probably as being the more prominent and helpful to the Church.

1 Corinthians 12:5 — 5, 6. "Gifts" ( :-), "administrations" (the various functions and services performed by those having the gifts, compare :-), and "operations" (the actual effects resulting from both the former, through the universally operative power of the one Father who is "above all, through all, and in us all"), form an ascending climax [HENDERSON, Inspiration]. same Lord—whom the Spirit glorifies by these ministrations [BENGEL].

1 Corinthians 15:5 — 5. seen of Cephas—Peter ( :-). the twelve—The round number for "the Eleven" (Luke 24:33; Luke 24:36). "The Twelve" was their ordinary appellation, even when their number was not full. However, very possibly Matthias was present (Acts 1:22; Acts 1:23). Some of the oldest manuscripts and versions read, "the Eleven": but the best on the whole, "the Twelve."

1 Corinthians 4:18 — 18. some . . . as though I would not come—He guards against some misconstruing (as by the Spirit he foresees they will, when his letter shall have arrived) his sending Timothy, "as though" he "would not come" (or, "were not coming") himself. A puffed-up spirit was the besetting sin of the Corinthians (compare 1 Corinthians 1:11; 1 Corinthians 5:2).

1 Corinthians 4:20 — 20. kingdom of God is not in word—Translate, as in :-, to which the reference is "speech." Not empty "speeches," but the manifest "power" of the Spirit attests the presence of "the kingdom of God" (the reign of the Gospel spiritually), in a church or in an individual (compare 1 Corinthians 2:1; 1 Corinthians 2:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:5).

1 Corinthians 7:11 — 11. But and if she depart—or "be separated." If the sin of separation has been committed, that of a new marriage is not to be added ( :-). be reconciled—by appeasing her husband's displeasure, and recovering his good will. let not . . . husband put away . . . wife—In Matthew 5:32 the only exception allowed is, "saving for the cause of fornication."

1 Corinthians 8:12 — 12. wound their weak conscience—literally, "smite their conscience, being (as yet) in a weak state." It aggravates the cruelty of the act that it is committed on the weak, just as if one were to strike an invalid. against Christ—on account of the sympathy between Christ and His members (Matthew 25:40; Acts 9:4; Acts 9:5).

Ephesians 5:20 — 20. thanks . . . for all things—even for adversities; also for blessings, unknown as well as known (Colossians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:18). unto God and the Father—the Fountain of every blessing in Creation, Providence, Election, and Redemption. Lord Jesus Christ—by whom all things, even distresses, become ours (Romans 8:35; Romans 8:37; 1 Corinthians 3:20-23).

Colossians 4:2 — 2. Continue—Greek, "Continue perseveringly," "persevere" ( :-), "watching thereunto"; here, "watch in the same," or "in it," that is, in prayer: watching against the indolence as to prayer, and in prayer, of our corrupt wills. with thanksgiving—for everything, whether joyful, or sorrowful, mercies temporal and spiritual, national, family, and individual (1 Corinthians 14:17; Philippians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Hebrews 5:9 — 9. made perfect—completed, brought to His goal of learning and suffering through death ( :-) [ALFORD], namely, at His glorious resurrection and ascension. author—Greek, "cause." eternal salvation—obtained for us in the short "days of Jesus' flesh" ( :-; compare Hebrews 5:6, "for ever," Isaiah 45:17). unto all . . . that obey him—As Christ obeyed the Father, so must we obey Him by faith.

James 5:2 — 2. corrupted—about to be destroyed through God's curse on your oppression, whereby your riches are accumulated (James 5:4). CALVIN thinks the sense is, Your riches perish without being of any use either to others or even to yourselves, for instance, your garments which are moth-eaten in your chests. garments . . . moth-eaten—referring to Matthew 6:19; Matthew 6:20.

Revelation 13:5 — 5. blasphemies—So ANDREAS reads. B reads "blasphemy." A, "blasphemous things" (compare Daniel 7:8; Daniel 11:25). power—"authority"; legitimate power (Greek, "exousia"). to continue—Greek, "poiesai," "to act," or "work." B reads, "to make war" (compare Daniel 11:25- :). But A, C, Vulgate, Syriac, and ANDREAS omit "war." forty . . . two month—(See on Revelation 13:1; Revelation 13:1- :).