Now upon the first _day_ of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain _others_ with them. Ver. 1. _Very early in the morning_]. About which time, probably, our Saviour rose.... [ Continue Reading ]
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. Ver. 2. See Matthew 27:60; Matthew 27:66 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. Ver. 3. _Found not the body_] But the grave clothes only, John 20:6. As Samson, shut up in Gaza, took the gates on his shoulders, and went his way in despite of his enemies; so did Christ here. These women came first, by a wonderful pro... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: Ver. 4. _Two men stood_] Two angels in the guise of men.... [ Continue Reading ]
And as they were afraid, and bowed down _their_ faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? Ver. 5. See Matthew 28:5,6 .... [ Continue Reading ]
He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Ver. 6. See Matthew 28:5,6 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. Ver. 7. See Matthew 17:23; Mark 9:31; Luke 9:22 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And they remembered his words, Ver. 8. _And they remembered his words_] Which at first hearing they understood not, heeded not. So the new birth of some is like the birth of the elephant, fourteen years after the seed injected into the womb.... [ Continue Reading ]
And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. Ver. 9. _And told all these things_] _Per os mulieris mors ante processerat, per os mulieris vita reparatur, _ saith Ambrose. So, Luke 1:28,37, an angel of light communeth with a woman about man's salva... [ Continue Reading ]
It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary _the mother_ of James, and other _women that were_ with them, which told these things unto the apostles. Ver. 10. _And other women_] Who were to be _Apostolorum Apostolae, _ apostles of the mesasge, as the ancients speak.... [ Continue Reading ]
And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. Ver. 11. _As idle tales_] Set on with great earnestness, ληρος α λα, _particula intensiva, et_ ερω, _valde dico._... [ Continue Reading ]
Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. Ver. 12. _And stooping down_] _Obstipo capite et propenso collo._ We need not doubt therefore about the certainty of th... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem _about_ threescore furlongs. Ver. 13. _About threescore furlongs_] About six miles.... [ Continue Reading ]
And they talked together of all these things which had happened. Ver. 14. _And they talked together_] So did Elias and Elisha, when the heavenly chariot came to sunder them. Christ is still with two or three met for such a holy purpose.... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, that, while they communed _together_ and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. Ver. 15. _Jesus himself_] He made the third among them, as Dionysius, the king of Sicily, wished that he might be admitted into fellowship of friendship with those two fast friends,... [ Continue Reading ]
But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. Ver. 16. _But their eyes were held_] _Ut ulcus suum discipuli detegerent, ac pharmacum susciperent, _ saith Theophylact. That they may tell their own disease and receive healing.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto them, What manner of communications _are_ these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? Ver. 17. _That ye have one to another_] Gr. that ye toss one to another, as a ball is tossed between two or more. αντιβαλλετε, _tu cum duo pila lusitaut._ And are sad] Christ love... [ Continue Reading ]
And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? Ver. 18. _And one of them, whose name was Cleophas_] They that hold the other of these two to have been St Luke, are... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: Ver. 19. _Which was a prophet_] Yea, and more than a prophet. But the disciples were wondrously ignorant, till the Spirit came down up... [ Continue Reading ]
And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. Ver. 20. _Delivered him_] viz. to the Roman governor. Hence he is said to have been crucified at Rome, Revelation 11:8 .... [ Continue Reading ]
But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Ver. 21. _But we trusted_] _q.d._ Indeed now we cannot tell what to say to it. Here their hope hangs the wing extremely, their buckler is much battered, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; Ver. 22. _Made us astonished_] When they should rather have believed without sciscitation; but that their hearts were yet still stupefied.... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. Ver. 23. _Saying that they had seen a vision_] But you (wisely) thought that they had dreamed a dream rather, that they had doted and dreamed waking, Luke 24:11 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found _it_ even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. Ver. 24. _Certain of them_] viz. Peter and John. See John 20:6, _See Trapp on "_ Joh 20:6 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ver. 25. _O fools, .& c._] Those in a lethargy must have double the quantity of medicine that others have. Some slow bellies must be sharply rebuked, that they may be sound in the faithTitus 1:12,13 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? Ver. 26. _Ought not Christ_] _Ne Iesum quidem audias gloriosum, nisi videris crucifixum, _ saith Luther in an epistle to Melancthon. _Agentem fortiter oportet aliquid pati, _ It is proper that acting bravely and to suffer... [ Continue Reading ]
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Ver. 27. _The things concerning himself_] Christ is author, object, matter, and mark of Old and New Testament: the babe of Bethlehem is bound up (as I may so say) in these swathi... [ Continue Reading ]
And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. Ver. 28. _And he made as though he would, &c._] So did the angels to Lot, Genesis 19:2. See the like, Joshua 8:5,6 1 Kings 3:24. If Solomon might make as though he would do an act that was unla... [ Continue Reading ]
But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. Ver. 29. _But they constrained him_] Though they had been sharply rebuked by him, whom they knew to be no other than a mere stranger to them. _ For it is toward e... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed _it_, and brake, and gave to them. Ver. 30. _And blessed it_] It is thought they knew him by his ordinary form of giving thanks before meat.... [ Continue Reading ]
And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. Ver. 31. _Their eyes were opened_] The free and entire use of their inward and outward senses was restored unto them.... [ Continue Reading ]
And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? Ver. 32. _Did not our hearts burn_] By that spirit of burning Isa 4:4 that kindleth the fire of God Son 8:6 on the hearth of his people's hearts, while the m... [ Continue Reading ]
And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Ver. 33. _The same hour_] Late though it were, and they weary, yet they return the same night, not sparing themselves to do good to others.... [ Continue Reading ]
Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. Ver. 34. _Appeared to Simon_] 1 Corinthians 15:5. To Peter Christ appeared individually; because as he offended more heinously than the rest of the disciples, so he was more grievously troubled.... [ Continue Reading ]
And they told what things _were done_ in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. Ver. 35. _See Trapp on "_ Luk 24:30 _"_ _Ex benedictionis forma solemni ipsi Christo antequam panem frangeret, _ saith Calvin here.... [ Continue Reading ]
And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace _be_ unto you. Ver. 36. See Mark 16:14; John 20:19 .... [ Continue Reading ]
But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. Ver. 37. _But they were terrified and affrighted_] _Tam meticulosa est incredulitas. Ut etiam tutissima et maxime tranquilla timeat, _ saith Brentius here.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Ver. 38. _Why do thoughts arise_] How easily can the Lord trouble us, by turning our own thoughts loose upon us.... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. Ver. 39. _Behold my hands, &c._] With those stamps of dishonour that the Jews did me with wicked hands. These he retained even after his resurrection, as for the confirmat... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them _his_ hands and _his_ feet. Ver. 40. _He showed them his hands, &c._] For their better assurance and settlement; that they might both remember his resurrection, 2Ti 2:8 and with greater power give witness to it, Acts 4:33 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? Ver. 41. _Believed not for joy_] This was partly the joy of faith; and yet through mixture of the flesh, it became some hindrance to their faith. So Abraham laughed, and yet said in his heart, "Shall a... [ Continue Reading ]
And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. Ver. 42. _Broiled fish_] Left of last night's supper, _prandium quasi perendium._... [ Continue Reading ]
And he took _it_, and did eat before them. Ver. 43. _And did eat_] Not out of any natural necessity or desire after meat, as once before his passion; but for confirmation of their faith.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto them, These _are_ the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and _in_ the prophets, and _in_ the psalms, concerning me. Ver. 44. _And in the Psalms_] When a book is set forth, verses of comm... [ Continue Reading ]
Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, Ver. 45. _Then opened he their understanding_] He enlightened both organ and object, as Acts 16:14 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: Ver. 46. _Thus it is written, &c._] All things done and suffered by our Saviour were punctually and exactly foretold and foreshown by Moses and the prophets; and especially by Isai... [ Continue Reading ]
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Ver. 47. _And that repentance, &c._] Blessed be God, saith one, that after our shipwreck by Adam, there is such a plank as repentance for a poor sinner to swim to heaven upon. It is a... [ Continue Reading ]
And ye are witnesses of these things. Ver. 48. _And ye are witnesses_] Therefore prepare to preach the Gospel to every creature. And take it for a singular seal of my love, that notwithstanding your late shameful defection and deserting of me, I shall yet employ you as my witnesses, and make use of... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Ver. 49. _Until ye be endued_] Gr. ενδυσησθε, clothed. Carnal men are naked men; when the saints are arrayed with that fine white linen and shining, Revelation 1... [ Continue Reading ]
And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. Ver. 50. _As far as to Bethany_] Where his three dear friends dwelt, Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. From hence he went to his cross, and from hence he would go to his crown. _ He lift up his hands_] As a good house... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. Ver. 51. _And it came to pass_] See Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: Ver. 52. _With great joy_] Yet could they not hear of his ascending to the Father without great sorrow, John 14:1,31; John 16:1,33. We grieve for that sometimes which we have great cause to take comfort in; such is our weakness and... [ Continue Reading ]
And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. Ver. 53. _Praising and blessing God_] _Inter laudam devotiones, promissum Spiritus Sanct adventure, promptis per omnia paratisque cordibu exspectant._ (Beda.) So putting themselves into fit posture to receive the comfort that Chri... [ Continue Reading ]