_And the third day_ Namely, after Christ's coming into Galilee, and discoursing there with Nathanael, as related above; _there was a marriage in Cana_ A town which originally belonged to the tribe of Asher, Joshua 19:28. There were two other towns of the same name, one in the tribe of Ephraim, the o... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when they wanted wine_ It is probable that, in consequence of its being known that Jesus would be present at this feast, a greater resort of company came than was expected, and that this occasioned a failure of the wine. _The mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine_ Some infer from th... [ Continue Reading ]
_His mother_ Either gathering from his answer, or from something he said to her which the evangelists have not recorded, that he would perform something extraordinary; _saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it_ Obey his orders immediately and exactly, for he may have reasons for... [ Continue Reading ]
_There were six water-pots of stone_ Which were placed there, some of them for the cleansing of cups and tables, &c., and others for such purifications as required the immersion of the whole body; _after the manner of the purifying of the Jews_ Who were accustomed to purify themselves by frequent wa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus saith unto them_ After some convenient pause, that the failing of the wine might be the more observed; _Fill the water-pots with water_ Choosing, for wise reasons, to make use of these rather than the vessels in which the wine had before been contained: one of which reasons might be to preven... [ Continue Reading ]
_This beginning of miracles did Jesus_, &c. Grotius supposes the meaning to be, that this was the first miracle wrought at Cana, another being afterward mentioned, John 4:46. But it is plain there must have been a long series of miracles wrought here to justify such a manner of speaking, which doth... [ Continue Reading ]
_After this he went down to Capernaum_ A city that lay near the north part of the sea of Galilee, and on the south border of the land of Naphthali. See note on Matthew 4:13. Here Christ and his disciples continued but a short time, the passover of the Jews being at hand, which Jesus, who was made un... [ Continue Reading ]
_And found in the temple those that sold oxen_, &c. Used for sacrifice. It seems the officers, whose province it was to take care of the temple, permitted a market of these animals, and other things necessary for sacrifice, to be kept in the court of the Gentiles, in order that the worshippers might... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when he had made a scourge of small cords_ Εκσχοινιων, _of rushes_, rather, which he found strewed on the ground. This circumstance, seemingly slight, was inserted to show that the instrument could not be the cause of so wonderful an effect as is here mentioned. _He drove them all out_ Namely,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then answered the Jews_ “A fact so public and remarkable as that just mentioned, could not but immediately come to the knowledge of the priests and rulers of the Jews, whose supreme council sat in a magnificent chamber belonging to the temple;” some of them, therefore, _said unto him, What sign sho... [ Continue Reading ]
_When he was in Jerusalem, in the feast-day_ Or rather, during the feast, as εν τη εορτη, should undoubtedly be translated: that is, during all the days of the solemnity; _many believed in his name_ Were inwardly persuaded that he was the Messiah, or, at least, that he was a teacher sent from God; _... [ Continue Reading ]