Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Ver. 1. _Pontius Pilate being governor_] Tacitu... [ Continue Reading ]
Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness. Ver. 2. _Annas and Caiaphas being high priests_] By turns, John 11:49; Acts 4:6, contrary to the old order. Throughout the whole Turkish territories, there is but one Mufta, or high pri... [ Continue Reading ]
And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; Ver. 3. _Preaching the baptism of repentance_] John's note was still repentance. Christ comes not where this herald hath not been before him. Yet now it is come to that pass, that many men... [ Continue Reading ]
As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Ver. 4. _In the book of the words of Esaias_] Called a great roll, Isaiah 8:1; (because it treats of great things, _maxima in... [ Continue Reading ]
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways _shall be_ made smooth; Ver. 5. _Every valley shall be filled_] Every hole, or hollow, φαραγξ (Barathrum). Fainting of heart unfits the way for Christ, as well... [ Continue Reading ]
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. Ver. 6. _All flesh shall see_] viz. All that order their conversation aright, Psalms 50:23, which is the life of thankfulness, ibid.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Ver. 7. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 3:7 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to _our_ father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Ver. 8. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 3:8 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 3:9 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Ver. 9. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 3:10 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? Ver. 10. _What shall we do?_] _q.d._ What are those fruits worthy of repentance, that we in our places must bring forth? That we may find in ourselves that confident answer, stipulation, or interrogation, επερωτημα, rather of a good conscienc... [ Continue Reading ]
He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Ver. 11. _He that hath two coats_] Thus Tyre evidenced her repentance, Isaiah 23:18, by feeding and clothing God's saints with her merchandise. Thus Zaccheus,... [ Continue Reading ]
Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? Ver. 12. _Then came also publicans_] These were toll takers, custom gatherers for the Romans, and most of them greedy gripers. Publicans they were called, because they took up _publica, _ the goods of the empire.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. Ver. 13. _Exact no more_] πρασσετε, make no more of your places, than ye may with a good conscience. Shun that mystery of iniquity that is crept into most callings. A great part of the Turk's civil justice to this day is grounde... [ Continue Reading ]
And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse _any_ falsely; and be content with your wages. Ver. 14. _Do violence to no man_] Διασεισητε, shake no man by the shoulders, toss no man to and fro to put him into a... [ Continue Reading ]
And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not; Ver. 15. _Whether he were the Christ_] Yet John did no miracle, but he was a burning and a shining light, he thundered in his doctrine and lightened in his life. Hence was he so muc... [ Continue Reading ]
John answered, saying unto _them_ all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: Ver. 16. _The latchet of whose shoes, &c._] By this expression the Baptist acknowled... [ Continue Reading ]
Whose fan _is_ in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. Ver. 17. _Whose fan_] viz. The preaching of the gospel.... [ Continue Reading ]
And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people. Ver. 18. _And many other things preached he_] Being _concionator admirabilis_ (as Keckerman saith of Jeremiah), an admirable preacher, full of pregnant instructions and admonitions, he did no miracle indeed, but he uttered many s... [ Continue Reading ]
But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, Ver. 19. _For Herodias his brother Philip's wife_] Whom it was not lawful for Herod to have, though Philip were dead, as Josephus saith he was. This was the case so much... [ Continue Reading ]
Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison. Ver. 20. _Added yet this_] There is no stint in sin; but as one wedge makes way for another, so here. As after Jonathan and his armourbearer, came the whole host, so.... [ Continue Reading ]
Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, Ver. 21. _And praying, the heaven was opened_] Prayer is the key of God's kingdom, and must be used, as at other times, so especially when we or ours receive the sacraments; t... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. Ver. 22. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 3:16 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 3:17 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was _the son_ of Heli, Ver. 23. _Being, as was supposed_] But falsely: for Joseph was no more than his _Pater politicus, _ as Postellus calleth him, his foster-father, reputed father. _ Which... [ Continue Reading ]
Which was _the son_ of Matthat, which was _the son_ of Levi, which was _the son_ of Melchi, which was _the son_ of Janna, which was _the son_ of Joseph, Ver. 24. St Luke reckoneth from the last of Christ's progenitors to the first. And first he mentioneth private men, not read of in the Scriptures.... [ Continue Reading ]
Which was _the son_ of Mattathias, which was _the son_ of Amos, which was _the son_ of Naum, which was _the son_ of Esli, which was _the son_ of Nagge, Ver. 25. St Luke reckoneth from the last of Christ's progenitors to the first. And first he mentioneth private men, not read of in the Scriptures.... [ Continue Reading ]
Which was _the son_ of Maath, which was _the son_ of Mattathias, which was _the son_ of Semei, which was _the son_ of Joseph, which was _the son_ of Juda, Ver. 26. St Luke reckoneth from the last of Christ's progenitors to the first. And first he mentioneth private men, not read of in the Scripture... [ Continue Reading ]
Which was _the son_ of Joanna, which was _the son_ of Rhesa, which was _the son_ of Zorobabel, which was _the son_ of Salathiel, which was _the son_ of Neri, Ver. 27. _Which was the son of Neri_] Salathiel was naturally the son of Neri, but legally, and by succession, the son of Jechoniah,Matthew 1... [ Continue Reading ]
Which was _the son_ of Melchi, which was _the son_ of Addi, which was _the son_ of Cosam, which was _the son_ of Elmodam, which was _the son_ of Er, 29 Which was _the son_ of Jose, which was _the son_ of Eliezer, which was _the son_ of Jorim, which was _the son_ of Matthat, which was _the son_ of L... [ Continue Reading ]
Which was _the son_ of Melea, which was _the son_ of Menan, which was _the son_ of Mattatha, which was _the son_ of Nathan, which was _the son_ of David, 32 Which was _the son_ of Jesse, which was _the son_ of Obed, which was _the son_ of Booz, which was _the son_ of Salmon, which was _the son_ of... [ Continue Reading ]
Which was _the son_ of Saruch, which was _the son_ of Ragau, which was _the son_ of Phalec, which was _the son_ of Heber, which was _the son_ of Sala, Ver. 35. _Which was the son of Thara_] So there are reckoned ten generations from Abraham to Noah. And again, ten from Noah to Adam.... [ Continue Reading ]
Which was _the son_ of Cainan, which was _the son_ of Arphaxad, which was _the son_ of Sem, which was _the son_ of Noe, which was _the son_ of Lamech, Ver. 36. _Which was the son of Cainan_] This name crept, by some means, into the Greek copies after Jerome's time, say Beza and Paraeus. Others say... [ Continue Reading ]
Which was _the son_ of Mathusala, which was _the son_ of Enoch, which was _the son_ of Jared, which was _the son_ of Maleleel, which was _the son_ of Cainan, 38 Which was _the son_ of Enos, which was _the son_ of Seth, which was _the son_ of Adam, which was _the son_ of God. Ver. 38. _Which was th... [ Continue Reading ]