PRESSED UPON HIM (επικεισθα). Luke in this paragraph (Luke 5:1-11; Mark 1:16-20; Matthew 4:18-22) does not follow the chronology of Mark as he usually does. It seems reasonably clear that the renewed call of the four fishermen came before the first tour of Galilee in Luke 4:42-44. It is here assum... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO BOATS (πλοια δυο). Some MSS. have πλοιαρια, little boats, but πλοια was used of boats of various sizes, even of ships like νηες.THE FISHERMEN (ο αλεεις). It is an old Homeric word that has come back to common use in the _Koine_. It means "sea-folk" from αλς, sea.WERE WASHING (επλυνον). Imp... [ Continue Reading ]
TO PUT OUT A LITTLE (επαναγαγειν ολιγον). Second aorist infinitive of the double compound verb επ-αν-αγω, found in Xenophon and late Greek writers generally. Only twice in the N.T. In Matthew 21:18 in the sense of leading back or returning and here in the sense of leading a ship up upon the sea,... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD LEFT SPEAKING (επαυσατο λαλων). He ceased speaking (aorist middle indicative and present active participle, regular Greek idiom).PUT OUT INTO THE DEEP (επαναγαγε εις το βαθος). The same double compound verb as in verse Luke 5:3, only here second aorist active imperative second person singul... [ Continue Reading ]
MASTER (επιστατα). Used only by Luke in the N.T. and always in addresses to Christ (Luke 8:24; Luke 8:45; Luke 9:33; Luke 9:49; Luke 17:13). Common in the older writers for superintendent or overseer (one standing over another). This word recognizes Christ's authority.WE TOILED (κοπιασαντες). Th... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY INCLOSED (συνεκλεισαν). Effective aorist active indicative with perfective compound συν.THEY SHUT TOGETHER. WERE BREAKING (διερησσετο). Imperfect passive singular (δικτυα being neuter plural). This is the late form of the old verb διαρηγνυμ. The nets were actually tearing in two (δια-) and... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY BECKONED (κατενευσαν). Possibly they were too far away for a call to be understood. Simon alone had been ordered to put out into the deep. So they used signs.UNTO THEIR PARTNERS (τοις μετεχοις). This word μετοχος, from μετεχω, to have with, means participation with one in common blessings ... [ Continue Reading ]
FELL DOWN AT JESUS' KNEES (προσεπεσεν τοις γονασιν Ιησου). Just like Peter, from extreme self-confidence and pride (verse Luke 5:5) to abject humilation. But his impulse here was right and sincere. His confession was true. He was a sinful man.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE WAS AMAZED (θαμβος γαρ περιεσχεν). Literally,FOR A WONDER HELD HIM ROUND . Aorist active indicative. It held Peter fast and all the rest.... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT CATCH MEN (εση ζωγρων). Periphrastic future indicative, emphasizing the linear idea. The old verb Ζωγρεω means to catch alive, not to kill. So then Peter is to be a catcher of men, not of fish, and to catch them alive and for life, not dead and for death. The great Pentecost will one d... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY LEFT ALL, AND FOLLOWED HIM (αφεντες παντα ηκολουθησαν). Then and there. They had already become his disciples. Now they leave their business for active service of Christ. The conduct of this group of business men should make other business men to pause and see if Jesus is calling them to do... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD (κα ιδου). Quite a Hebraistic idiom, this use of κα after εγενετο (almost like οτ) with ιδου (interjection) and no verb.FULL OF LEPROSY (πληρης λεπρας). Mark 1:40 and Matthew 8:2 have simply "a leper" which see. Evidently a bad case full of sores and far advanced as Luke the physician no... [ Continue Reading ]
TO TELL NO MAN (μηδεν ειπειν). This is an indirect command after the verb "charged" (παρηγγειλεν). But Luke changes (_constructio variata_) to the direct quotation, a common idiom in Greek and often in Luke (Acts 1:4). Here in the direct form he follows Mark 1:43; Matthew 8:4. See discussion ther... [ Continue Reading ]
SO MUCH THE MORE (μαλλον). Mark 1:45 has only "much" (πολλα, many), but Mark tells more about the effect of this disobedience.WENT ABROAD (διηρχετο). Imperfect tense. The fame of Jesus kept going.CAME TOGETHER (συνηρχοντο). Imperfect tense again. The more the report spread, the more the crowd... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE WITHDREW HIMSELF IN THE DESERTS AND PRAYED (αυτος δε ην υποχωρων εν ταις ερημοις κα προσευχομενος). Periphrastic imperfects. Literally, "But he himself was with drawing in the desert places and praying." The more the crowds came as a result of the leper's story, the more Jesus turned away... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT (κα). Use of κα = οτ (that) like the Hebrew _wav_, though found in Greek also.HE (αυτος). Luke sometimes has αυτος in the nominative as unemphatic "he" as here, not "he himself."WAS TEACHING (ην διδασκων). Periphrastic imperfect again like our English idiom.WERE SITTING BY (ησαν καθημε... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WAS PALSIED (ος ην παραλελυμενος). Periphrastic past perfect passive where Mark 2:3; Matthew 9:2 have παραλυτικον (our paralytic). Luke's phrase is the technical medical term (Hippocrates, Galen, etc.) rather than Mark's vernacular word (Ramsay, _Luke the Physician_, pp. 57f.).THEY SOUGHT... [ Continue Reading ]
BY WHAT WAY THEY MIGHT BRING HIM IN (ποιας εις ενεγκωσιν αυτον). Deliberative subjunctive of the direct question retained in the indirect.THE HOUSETOP (το δωμα). Very old word. The flat roof of Jewish houses was usually reached by outside stairway. Cf. Acts 10:9 where Peter went for meditation.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR FAITH (την πιστιν αυτων). In all three Gospels.MAN (ανθρωπε). Mark and Matthew have "child" or "Son" (τεκνον). Are forgiven (αφεωντα). This Doric form of the perfect passive indicative is for the Attic αφειντα. It appears also in Luke 5:23; Luke 7:47; Luke 7:48; John 20:23; 1 John 2:12; Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT GOD ALONE (ε μη μονος ο θεος). Mark has εις (one) instead of μονος (alone).... [ Continue Reading ]
PERCEIVING (επιγνους). Same form (second aorist active participle of επιγινωσκω, common verb for knowing fully) in Mark 2:8.REASON YE (διαλογιζεσθε) as in Mark 2:8; Matthew 9:4 has ενθυμεισθε.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SAITH UNTO HIM THAT WAS PALSIED (ειπεν τω παραλελυμενω). This same parenthesis right in the midst of the words of Jesus is in Mark 2:11; Matthew 9:6, conclusive proof of interrelation between these documents. The words of Jesus are quoted practically alike in all three Gospels, the same purpos... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREON HE LAY (εφ' ο κατεκειτο). Imperfect, upon which he had been lying down. Luke uses this phrase instead of repeating κλινιδιον (verse Luke 5:24).GLORIFYING GOD (δοξαζων τον θεον). As one can well imagine.... [ Continue Reading ]
AMAZEMENT (εκστασις). Something out of its place, as the mind. Here the people were almost beside themselves as we say with the same idiom. See on Mark 5:42. So they kept glorifying God (imperfect tense, εδοξαζον) and at the same time "were filled with fear" (επλησθησαν φοβου, aorist passive).STR... [ Continue Reading ]
A PUBLICAN NAMED LEVI (τελωνεν ονοματ Λευειν). Mark 2:13 has also "The son of Alphaeus" while Matthew 9:9 calls him "Matthew." He had, of course, both names. All three use the same words (επ το τελωνιον) for the place of toll. See discussion ofPUBLICAN (τελωνης) on Matthew 9:9. All three Gospel... [ Continue Reading ]
HE FORSOOK ALL (καταλιπων παντα). This detail in Luke alone. He left his profitable business for the service of Christ.FOLLOWED HIM (ηκολουθε αυτω). Imperfect active, perhaps inchoative. He began at once to follow him and he kept it up. Both Mark 2:14; Matthew 9:9 have the aorist (ηκολουθησεν),... [ Continue Reading ]
A GREAT FEAST (δοχην μεγαλην). Here and in Luke 14:13 only in the N.T. The word δοχη, from δεχομα, means reception. Occurs in Plutarch and LXX. Levi made Jesus a big reception.PUBLICANS AND OTHERS (τελωνων κα αλλων). Luke declines here to use "sinners" like Mark 2:15 and Matthew 9:10 though he... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PHARISEES AND THEIR SCRIBES (ο Φαρισαιο κα ο γραμματεις αυτων). Note article with each substantive and the order, not "scribes and Pharisees," but "the Pharisees and the scribes of them" (the Pharisees). Some manuscripts omit "their," but Mark 2:16 (the scribes of the Pharisees) shows that it... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THAT ARE WHOLE (ο υγιαινοντες). Old Greek word for good health from υγιης, sound in body. So also in Luke 7:10; Luke 15:27; 3 John 1:2. This is the usual word for good health used by Greek medical writers. Mark 2:17; Matthew 9:12 have ο ισχυοντες (those who have strength).... [ Continue Reading ]
TO REPENTANCE (εις μετανοιαν). Alone in Luke not genuine in Mark 2:17; Matthew 9:12. Only sinners would need a call to repentance, a change of mind and life. For the moment Jesus accepts the Pharisaic division between "righteous" and "sinners" to score them and to answer their criticism. At the o... [ Continue Reading ]
OFTEN (πυκνα). Only in Luke. Common word for thick, compact, often.AND MAKE SUPPLICATIONS (κα δεησεις ποιουντα). Only in Luke.BUT THINE (ο δε σο). Sharp contrast between the conduct of the disciples of Jesus and those of John and the Pharisees who here appear together as critics of Christ and... [ Continue Reading ]
CAN YE (μη δυνασθε). So Luke, addingMAKE , ποιησα, where Mark and Matthew have μη δυναντα. All three have μη and expect the answer no.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN IN THOSE DAYS (τοτε εν εκειναις ταις ημεραις). Here Mark 2:20 has "then in that day," and Matthew 9:15 only "then.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALSO A PARABLE (κα παραβολην). There are three parables here in the answer of Jesus (the bridegroom, the patch on the garment, the wineskin). They are not called parables save here, but they are parables and Luke's language means that.RENDETH (σχισας). This in Luke alone. Common verb. Used of s... [ Continue Reading ]
MUST BE PUT (βλητεον). This verbal adjective in -τεος rather than -τος appears here alone in the N.T. though it is common enough in Attic Greek. It is a survival of the literary style. This is the impersonal use and is transitive in sense here and governs the accusative "new wine" (οινον νεον), t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE OLD IS GOOD (Hο παλαιος χρηστος εστιν). So the best MSS. rather that χρηστοτερος, comparative (better). Westcott and Hort wrongly bracket the whole verse, though occurring in Aleph, B C L and most of the old documents. It is absent in D and some of the old Latin MSS. It is the philosophy of t... [ Continue Reading ]