The fifteenth year of Tiberius — Reckoning from the time when Angustus made him his colleague in the empire. Herod being tetrarch of Galilee — The dominions of Herod the Great were, after his death, divided into four parts or tetrarchies. This Herod his son was tetrarch of Galilee, reigning over tha... [ Continue Reading ]
Annas being high priest, and Caiaphas — There could be but one high priest, strictly speaking, at once. Annas was the high priest at that time, and Caiaphas his sagan or deputy.... [ Continue Reading ]
Isaiah 40:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
Every valley shall be filled, &c. — That is, every hinderance shall be removed.... [ Continue Reading ]
The salvation of God — The Saviour, the Messiah.... [ Continue Reading ]
Say not within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father — That is, trust not in your being members of the visible Church, or in any external privileges whatsoever: for God now requires a change of heart; and that without delay.... [ Continue Reading ]
He answereth — It is not properly John, but the Holy Ghost, who teaches us in the following answers, how to come ourselves, and how to instruct other penitent sinners to come to Christ, that he may give them rest. The sum of all this is, Cease to do evil, learn to do well. These are the fruits worth... [ Continue Reading ]
He shut up John — This circumstance, though it happened after, is here mentioned before our Lord's baptism, that his history (that of John being concluded) may then follow without any interruption.... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus praying, the heaven was opened — It is observable, that the three voices from heaven, see Luke 9:29, Luke 9:35; John 12:28; by which the Father bore witness to Christ, were pronounced either while he was praying, or quickly after it. Matthew 3:13; Mark 1:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jesus was — John's beginning was computed by the years of princes: our Saviour's by the years of his own life, as a more august era. About thirty years of age — He did not now enter upon his thirtieth year (as the common translation would induce one to think) but he now entered on his public min... [ Continue Reading ]
Adam the son of God — That is, whatever the sons of Adam receive from their human parents, Adam received immediately from God, except sin and misery.... [ Continue Reading ]