And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. AND IT CAME TO PASS IN THOSE DAYS - a general reference to the foregoing transactions, particularly the birth of John, which preceded that of our Lord by about six months ().... [ Continue Reading ]
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) (AND THIS TAXING WAS FIRST MADE WHEN CYRENIUS WAS GOVERNOR OF SYRIA) - a very perplexing verse, inasmuch as Cyrenius, or Quirinus, appears not to have been governor of Syria for about 10 years after the birth of Christ, and the t... [ Continue Reading ]
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. AND ALL WENT TO BE TAXED, EVERYONE INTO HIS OWN CITY - i:e., the city of his extraction, according to the Jewish custom; not of his abode, which was the usual Roman method.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) AND JOSEPH ALSO WENT UP FROM GALILEE, OUT OF THE CITY OF NAZARETH, INTO JUDEA, UNTO THE CITY OF DAVID, WHICH IS C... [ Continue Reading ]
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. TO BE TAXED WITH MARY HIS ESPOUSED WIFE - `betrothed' "wife." She had sometime before this been taken home by Joseph (see the notes at Matthew 1:18); but she is so called here, perhaps, for the reason mentioned home by Joseph (see... [ Continue Reading ]
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. AND SO IT WAS, THAT, WHILE THEY WERE THERE, THE DAYS WERE ACCOMPLISHED THAT SHE SHOULD BE DELIVERED. Mary had up to this time been living at the wrong place for Messiah's birth. A little longer... [ Continue Reading ]
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. AND SHE BROUGHT FORTH HER FIRST-BORN SON (SEE THE NOTE AT ), AND WRAPPED HIM IN SWADDLING CLOTHES, AND LAID HIM - that is, the mother herself di... [ Continue Reading ]
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. AND THERE WERE IN THE SAME COUNTRY SHEPHERDS ABIDING IN THE FIELD (STAYING THERE, PROBABLY IN HUTS OR TENTS), KEEPING WATCH, [ fulassontes (G5442) fulakas (G5438) tees (G3588) nuktos (G3571... [ Continue Reading ]
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. AND, LO, THE ANGEL OF THE LORD CAME UPON THEM, AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD - `the brightness or glory which is represented as encompassing all heavenly visions,' to use the w... [ Continue Reading ]
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. AND THE ANGEL SAID UNTO THEM, FEAR NOT (SEE THE NOTE AT LUKE 1:13 ); FOR, BEHOLD, I BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF GREAT JOY, WHICH SHALL BE TO ALL PEOPLE, [ panti (G3956) too (G3... [ Continue Reading ]
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. FOR UNTO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY, IN THE CITY OF DAVID, A SAVIOUR, WHICH IS CHRIST; THE LORD. Every word here contains transporting intelligence from heaven. For whom provided? "To you" - shepherds, Israel, manki... [ Continue Reading ]
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. AND THIS SHALL BE A SIGN, [ to (G3588 ) seemeion (G4592 ), 'THE SIGN,'] UNTO YOU; YE SHALL FIND THE BABE, [ brefos (G1025)] - 'a Babe.' Pity that our translators so often insert the definit... [ Continue Reading ]
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, AND SUDDENLY - as if eager to break in as soon as the last words of the wonderful tidings had dropped from their fellow's lips, THERE WAS WITH THE ANGEL - not in place of him; because he does not r... [ Continue Reading ]
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN - brief but transporting hymn, not only in articulate human speech for our behoof, but in tunable measure in, the fore of a Hebrew parallelism of two comple... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS THE ANGELS WERE GONE AWAY FROM THEM INTO HEAVEN... [ Continue Reading ]
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. AND THEY CAME WITH HASTE (SEE THE NOTES AT LUKE 1:39 ; MATTHEW 28:8 ), AND FOUND MARY - `mysteriously guided,' says Olshausen, 'to the right place through the obscurity of the night,' AND JOSEPH, AND THE BABE... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. AND WHEN THEY HAD SEEN IT, THEY MADE KNOWN ABROAD THE SAYING WHICH WAS TOLD THEM CONCERNING THIS CHILD - that is, as is evident from , before they left the neighbourhood. And so they were, as... [ Continue Reading ]
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. AND ALL THEY THAT HEARD IT WONDERED AT THOSE THINGS WHICH WERE TOLD THEM BY THE SHEPHERDS.... [ Continue Reading ]
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. BUT MARY KEPT ALL THESE THINGS, AND PONDERED [OR 'REVOLVED'] THEM IN HER HEART - seeking to gather from them, in combination, what light she could as to the future of this wondrous Babe of hers.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. AND THE SHEPHERDS RETURNED, GLORIFYING AND PRAISING GOD FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY HAD HEARD AND SEEN, AS IT WAS TOLD UNTO THEM. The word for "praising" [ ainounte... [ Continue Reading ]
And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. AND WHEN EIGHT DAYS WERE ACCOMPLISHED (SEE THE NOTE AT ) FOR THE CIRCUMCISING OF THE CHILD - `for circumcising Him' is the bett... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; AND WHEN THE DAYS OF HER PURIFICATION. This reading [ autees (G846)] has hardly any support at all. All the best and most ancient manuscripts and versi... [ Continue Reading ]
(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) (AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE LAW OF THE LORD, EVERY MALE THAT OPENETH THE WOMB SHALL BE CALLED HOLY TO THE LORD;)... [ Continue Reading ]
And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. AND TO OFFER A SACRIFICE ACCORDING TO THAT WHICH IS SAID IN THE LAW OF THE LORD, A PAIR OF TURTLE DOVES, OR TWO YOUNG PIGEONS. The proper sacrifice was a lamb for a burnt... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. AND, BEHOLD, THERE WAS A MAN IN JERUSALEM, WHOSE NAME WAS SIMEON. The attempts that have been made to identify this Sime... [ Continue Reading ]
And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. AND IT WAS REVEALED UNTO HIM BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, THAT HE SHOULD NOT SEE DEATH BEFORE HE HAD SEEN THE LORD'S CHRIST. Bengel notices the 'sweet antithesis' here between the two sight... [ Continue Reading ]
And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, AND HE CAME BY THE SPIRIT INTO THE TEMPLE - the Spirit guiding him, all unconsciously, to the temple at the very moment when the Virgin was about to present the I... [ Continue Reading ]
Then took he him up in his arms and blessed God and said Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, THEN TOOK HE HIM UP IN HIS ARMS - the same Spirit that drew him there revealing to him at once the glory of that blessed Babe. Now, since all that he uttered might as well have be... [ Continue Reading ]
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: LORD. The word is 'Master' [ Despota (G1203)], a word but rarely used in the New Testament, and never but to mark emphatically the sovereign rights of Him who is so called, as Proprietor of the persons or things meant. He... [ Continue Reading ]
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, FOR MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THY SALVATION. How many saw this Child, nay the full-grown "Man, Christ Jesus," who never saw in Him "God's Salvation!" This estimate of Simeon's was an act of pure faith. While gazing upon that infant, borne in his own arms, he "beh... [ Continue Reading ]
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; WHICH THOU HAST PREPARED BEFORE THE FACE OF ALL PEOPLE, [ pantoon (G3956) toon (G3588) laoon (G2992)] - 'of all the peoples,' or mankind at large.... [ Continue Reading ]
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. A LIGHT TO LIGHTEN THE GENTILES (THEN IN THICK DARKNESS), AND THE GLORY OF THY PEOPLE OF ISRAEL - already Thine, and now, in the believing portion of it, to be more gloriously so than ever. It will be observed that this 'swan-l... [ Continue Reading ]
And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. AND JOSEPH AND HIS MOTHER - or, according to what is probably the true reading here, 'And his father and mother,' MARVELLED AT THOSE THINGS WHICH WERE SPOKEN OF HIM - each successive recognition of the glory of this... [ Continue Reading ]
And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; AND SIMEON BLESSED THEM - the parents, AND SAID UNTO MARY HIS MOTHER, BEHOLD, THIS CHILD IS SET, [ keitai (G2749)] - 'l... [ Continue Reading ]
(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. YEA, A SWORD SHALL PIERCE THROUGH THY OWN SOUL ALSO. 'Blessed though thou art among women, thou shalt have thine own deep share of the struggles and sufferings which this Babe is to occasion'... [ Continue Reading ]
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; AND THERE WAS ONE ANNA - or Hannah, A PROPHETESS - another sign that "the last times" in which God was to "pour out His Spiri... [ Continue Reading ]
And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. AND SHE WAS A WIDOW OF ABOUT FOURSCORE AND FOUR YEARS. If this mean that she had been 84 years in a state of widowhood, then, since her married life... [ Continue Reading ]
And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. AND SHE COMING IN THAT INSTANT, [ epistasa (G2186)] - rather, 'standing by' or 'presenting herself;' for she had been there already. When Simeon's testimony to... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth. AND WHEN THEY HAD PERFORMED ALL THINGS ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF THE LORD THEY RETURNED INTO GALILEE AND WHEN THEY HAD PERFORMED ALL THINGS ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF THE LO... [ Continue Reading ]
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. AND THE CHILD GREW, AND WAXED STRONG IN SPIRIT - His mental development keeping pace with His bodily: FILLED WITH WISDOM - yet a fullness ever enlarging with His capacity to receive it; AND... [ Continue Reading ]
Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. NOW HAS PARENTS WENT, [ eporeuonto (G4198)] - 'were wont' or, 'used to go' TO JERUSALEM EVERY YEAR AT THE FEAST OF THE PASSOVER. Though the males only were required to go up to Jerusalem at the three annual festivals (E... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. AND WHEN HE WAS TWELVE YEARS OLD, THEY WENT UP TO JERUSALEM AFTER THE CUSTOM OF THE FEAST. At the age of twelve every Jewish boy was called 'a son of the law;' being then put under a course of instruction,... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. AND WHEN THEY HAD FULFILLED THE DAYS (THE SEVEN DAYS OF THE FESTIVAL); AS THEY RETURNED. Yes, they had to return. For if the duties of life must give pla... [ Continue Reading ]
But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. BUT THEY, SUPPOSING HIM TO HAVE BEEN IN THE COMPANY [ en (G1722 ) tee (G3588 ) sunodia (G4923 ), 'THE TRAVELING-COMPANY,'] WENT A DAY'S JOURNEY; AND THEY SOUGHT HI... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. AND WHEN THEY FOUND HIM NOT, THEY TURNED BACK AGAIN TO JERUSALEM, SEEKING HIM.... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT AFTER THREE DAYS THEY FOUND HIM IN THE TEMPLE. Do you inquire how he subsisted all this time? I do not. This is one... [ Continue Reading ]
And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. AND ALL THAT HEARD HIM WERE ASTONISHED AT HIS UNDERSTANDING AND ANSWERS. This confirms what we have said above, that while His "answers" to their questions made His attitude appear throughout to be that of a learner, "His u... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. AND WHEN THEY SAW HIM, THEY WERE AMAZED: AND HIS MOTHER SAID UNTO HIM, SON, WHY HAST THOU THUS DEALT WITH US? BEHOLD, THY FATHER AND... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, HOW IS IT THAT YE SOUGHT ME? WIST (KNEW) YE NOT THAT I MUST BE ABOUT MY FATHER'S BUSINESS, [ en (G1722) tois (G3588) tou (G3588) Patros (G3962) mou (G3450)]. These, as... [ Continue Reading ]
And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. AND THEY UNDERSTOOD NOT THE SAYING WHICH HE SPAKE UNTO THEM. Probably He had never said so much to them, and so they were confounded; though it was but the true interpretation of many things which they had seen and heard from Him at ho... [ Continue Reading ]
And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. AND HE WENT DOWN WITH THEM, AND CAME TO NAZARETH, AND WAS SUBJECT UNTO THEM ... This is added lest it should be thought that He now threw off the filial yoke, and beca... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. AND JESUS INCREASED IN WISDOM AND STATURE. So our translators have rendered the word [ heelikia (G2244)], with Beza, Grotius, Bengel, Meyer. But it may be rendered 'age'; and so the Vulgate, Erasmus, Calvin, DeWette, Olsh... [ Continue Reading ]