AND HE WENT OUT FROM THENCE,.... From Capernaum; AND CAME INTO HIS OWN COUNTRY; or "city", as the Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read, the city of Nazareth; so called because it was the place where Christ was conceived, and where he was educated; for which he had a regard, and was wi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE SABBATH DAY WAS COME,.... For it seems that it was on a weekday, or on one of the common days of the week, that he entered into the city, where he remained without making himself known, till the sabbath day came: and then HE BEGAN TO TEACH IN THE SYNAGOGUE; that is, at Nazareth; where... [ Continue Reading ]
IS NOT THIS THE CARPENTER?.... Some copies read, "the carpenter's son", as in Matthew 13:55 and so the Arabic and Ethiopic versions; but all the ancient copies, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Persic versions, read "the carpenter": such may Christ be reasonably thought to be, since his father was; and wh... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT JESUS SAID UNTO THEM,.... The following proverb; A PROPHET IS NOT WITHOUT HONOUR, BUT IN HIS OWN COUNTRY, AND AMONG HIS OWN KIN, AND IN HIS OWN HOUSE; the same as in Matthew 13:57; Matthew 13:57. Only the phrase, "among his own kin", is here added: very probably some of those that made these r... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE COULD THERE DO NO MIGHTY WORK,.... Or miracle; not that Christ had no power in himself to work miracles, though their unbelief and contempt of him were very great; but it was not fit and proper that he should do any there, since such were their prejudices against him: it is an usual way of sp... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE MARVELLED BECAUSE OF THEIR UNBELIEF,.... Which was the reason, as Matthew says, Matthew 13:58, why he did not many mighty works there, because they continued their prejudices against him, and their unbelief in him, notwithstanding what he did do, which was matter of admiration to him; wherefo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE CALLED UNTO HIM THE TWELVE,.... "His twelve disciples", as some copies read; whom he had before called by his grace, and had appointed and ordained them his apostles, but had not yet publicly sent forth; in order to which, he now called them to him, and gave them their commission, qualificati... [ Continue Reading ]
AND COMMANDED THEM THAT THEY SHOULD TAKE NOTHING FOR [THEIR] JOURNEY,.... To accommodate them in it, except those things after directed to: SAVE A STAFF ONLY; a single one, for staves in the plural number are forbidden, Matthew 10:10; NO SCRIP, NO BREAD, NO MONEY IN THEIR PURSE. Travellers used to... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT BE SHOD WITH SANDALS,.... Which were different from shoes, and more fit to travel with, and therefore allowed when shoes were forbidden; Matthew 10:10, though some think there was no difference between shoes and sandals, and that Christ, in Matthew 10:10, does not forbid the taking of shoes, but... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO THEM,.... He continued giving orders and directions to them, saying, IN WHAT PLACE SOEVER YOU ENTER INTO AN HOUSE, THERE ABIDE TILL YE DEPART FROM THAT PLACE: that is, in whatsoever city or town they should come to, the first house they went into, they should continue in, during th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, WHOSOEVER SHALL NOT RECEIVE YOU, NOR HEAR YOU,.... Who would neither take them into their houses, nor hear what they had to say to them: WHEN YE DEPART THENCE; from the house or the city, or town, in which it is, SHAKE OFF THE DUST UNDER YOUR FEET, FOR A TESTIMONY AGAINST THEM; that they had... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY WENT OUT,.... From that part of the country where they then were, some one way, and some another, two by two, with these instructions, and according to these directions; in order to preach the word, and work miracles, in the several parts where they were sent: AND PREACHED THAT MEN SHOULD... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY CAST OUT MANY DEVILS,.... Which they had power given them to do; and this they did, in confirmation of their mission and doctrine, and for the benefit of miserable creatures, who were possessed by them; and to show their power over the devils, and as a prelude of what they were to be the in... [ Continue Reading ]
AND KING HEROD HEARD [OF HIM],.... "Of Jesus", as the Syriac version supplies it; or "the miracles of Jesus", as the Persic version. This Herod here called a king, as he might be by his courtiers, and the common people, is the same with the Tetrarch in Matthew 14:1, for he was only Tetrarch of Gali... [ Continue Reading ]
OTHERS SAID THAT IT IS ELIAS,.... This was the opinion, either of many of the Jews, who expected that Elias the Tishbite would come in person, before the coming of the Messiah; and thought by the appearance and wonderful works of Jesus, that he was now come: or of Herod's courtiers, who said this to... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN HEROD HEARD THEREOF,.... Either of Christ, or rather of the different opinions about him, HE SAID, IT IS JOHN, WHOM I HAVE BEHEADED: the thought stuck close to him, and continued with him; he could not get rid of it, nor persuade himself to the contrary; nor could any of his servants get h... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HEROD HIMSELF HAD SENT FORTH,.... Some of his guard, a detachment of soldiers, AND LAID HOLD UPON JOHN; who seized upon him, and took him up: AND BOUND HIM IN PRISON; in the castle of Machaerus: FOR HERODIAS' SAKE, HIS BROTHER PHILIP'S WIFE, FOR HE HAD MARRIED HER; whilst his brother was livi... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR JOHN HAD SAID UNTO HEROD,.... He had been personally with him, and had plainly and freely told him of his sin, and faithfully reproved him for it; alleging what he had done was contrary to the law of God: IT IS NOT LAWFUL, FOR THEE TO HAVE THY BROTHER'S WIFE: Matthew 14:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE HERODIAS HAD A QUARREL AGAINST HIM,.... Was angry with him, conceived wrath, and laid up hatred against him, and was an adversary to him; which is the sense of the Oriental versions. She bore him an inward grudge, and lay in wait to take the first opportunity of dispatching him: AND WOULD... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HEROD FEARED JOHN,.... Had him in great respect; he had a great veneration for him; which was the reason that Herodias could not as yet accomplish her design against him, and vent her rage upon him. Though some understand this not of his reverence, but of his dread of him: he knew as follows, th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN A CONVENIENT DAY WAS COME,.... For Herodias; who had long sought and watched for an opportunity of avenging herself on John, and such a time Herod's birthday proved; though some think, that this phrase is the same with יום טוב, "a good day"; often used by the Jews for a festival, any one of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE DAUGHTER OF THE SAID HERODIAS CAME IN,.... To the hall, where Herod and his guests were, after supper was over; or rather, whilst at it: she is called the daughter of Herodias, and not of Herod; she having had her not by him, but by his brother Philip: her name is thought to be Salome;... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SWARE UNTO HER,.... He added an oath to what he had before said, the more to confirm it, and to encourage her in her request, and which he repeated in stronger language: WHATSOEVER THOU SHALT ASK OF ME, I WILL GIVE IT THEE, UNTO THE HALF OF MY KINGDOM; Matthew 14:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE WENT FORTH AND SAID UNTO HER MOTHER,.... The king having made such a promise to her, and annexed his oath to it, she thought proper before she asked any thing of him, to withdraw from the hall and company, and consider with herself, and consult with her mother, who was not at the entertainme... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE CAME IN STRAIGHTWAY WITH HASTE UNTO THE, KING,.... Having had her mother's advice, and being hastened by her, she immediately returned to the hall, where the king and his guests were, with much Concern, eagerness, and diligence: AND ASKED, SAYING, I WILL THAT THOU GIVE ME BY AND BY IN A CHA... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING WAS EXCEEDING SORRY,.... Matthew 14:9 YET FOR HIS OATH'S SAKE, [AND] FOR THEIR SAKES WHICH SAT WITH HIM; as Matthew adds, "at meat", Matthew 14:9; for it seems as if supper was not over, when all this was transacting. HE WOULD NOT REJECT HER; deny her her request, or send her away wi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IMMEDIATELY THE KING SENT AN EXECUTIONER,.... Matthew 14:10 AND COMMANDED HIS HEAD TO BE BROUGHT; ordered him to cut off his head in prison, and bring it away forthwith in a charger to him: AND HE WENT AND BEHEADED HIM IN THE PRISON; according to his orders.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BROUGHT HIS HEAD IN A CHARGER,.... In a large dish, to Herod, who GAVE IT TO THE DAMSEL; the daughter of Herodias, as she had requested: AND THE DAMSEL GAVE IT TO HER MOTHER; who had instigated her to it; Matthew 14:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HIS DISCIPLES HEARD OF IT,.... That is, when the disciples of John heard of this barbarous execution of their master, THEY CAME; to the prison in the castle of Machaerus, AND TOOK UP HIS CORPSE; the trunk of his body; for his head was carried away, to glut the revenge of Herodias; AND LA... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE APOSTLES GATHERED THEMSELVES TOGETHER,.... The twelve apostles of Christ, whom he had sent out, two by two, into different parts, having gone through them, and finished the embassy, they were sent about, met together in one place, and came in a body together, UNTO JESUS; their Lord and mast... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO THEM,.... After he had heard their account, was satisfied with it, and approved of what they had said and done: COME YE YOURSELVES APART INTO A DESERT PLACE, AND REST A WHILE: where they might be free from noise and hurry, and take some rest and refreshment, after their wearisome j... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY DEPARTED INTO A DESERT PLACE,.... Which belonged to the city of Bethsaida, Luke 9:10, BY SHIP, PRIVATELY; over some part of the sea of Tiberias, this place lying on a more remote side of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PEOPLE SAW THEM DEPARTING,.... The multitude that came to and fro, saw Christ and his disciples taking ship, and launching off; for though they were as private as could be, and intended to have gone in a very private manner, yet the people observed them: AND MANY KNEW HIM: Jesus; some copie... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JESUS, WHEN HE CAME OUT,.... Of the ship, and was got ashore, SAW MUCH PEOPLE; who came partly from the places where he came from, and partly from the cities and towns adjacent: AND WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION TOWARDS THEM; Matthew 14:14, the reason follows, BECAUSE THEY WERE AS SHEEP, NOT HAVI... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE DAY WAS NOW FAR SPENT,.... Or "much time was gone", in teaching the people, and healing the sick: HIS DISCIPLES CAME UNTO HIM; nearer to him, as he was preaching, or healing the sick; AND SAID, THIS IS A DESERT PLACE, AND NOW THE TIME IS FAR PASSED; Matthew 14:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
SEND THEM AWAY,.... Leave off preaching, dismiss the assembly; see Matthew 14:15; THAT THEY MAY GO INTO THE COUNTRY ROUND ABOUT; or "into the fields"; that is, to the odd houses; which were here and there in the fields; Mark 5:14; AND INTO THE VILLAGES; the little country towns that were near at... [ Continue Reading ]
HE ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO THEM, GIVE YE THEM TO EAT,.... This he said to try their faith, and make way for the following miracle: AND THEY SAY UNTO HIM, SHALL WE GO AND BUY TWO HUNDRED PENNYWORTH OF BREAD, AND GIVE THEM TO EAT? This might be just the sum of money they now had in the bag, as Grotius... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAITH UNTO THEM, HOW MANY LOAVES HAVE YE?.... This he said, not as ignorant, but as willing to try their faith yet more, and that the after miracle might be more manifest and illustrious: GO AND SEE; meaning, either that they should examine their own store, if they had any; or rather go and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE COMMANDED THEM TO MAKE ALL SIT DOWN,.... Christ ordered his disciples, without any more ado, to cause the whole multitude, men, women, and children, to sit, or lie down, as they used to do at table when about to take a meal: and as they had no table before them, nor beds, or couches to sit, o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SAT DOWN IN RANKS,.... Or "beds": in such form as little beds are placed in a garden, or as rows of vines in a vineyard, in which form the scholars of the wise men sat in their schools: it is said g, "R. Eliezer ben Azariah expounded before the wise men in the vineyard (i.e. the university... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD TAKEN THE FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISHES,.... Out of the hands of those that brought them into his own: HE LOOKED UP TO HEAVEN, AND BLESSED, AND BRAKE THE LOAVES: Matthew 14:19, AND GAVE THEM TO HIS DISCIPLES TO SET BEFORE THEM; the multitude, in order to eat of them: AND THE TWO FIS... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY DID ALL EAT, AND WERE FILLED. Matthew 14:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY TOOK UP TWELVE BASKETS FULL OF THE FRAGMENTS,.... Of the broken pieces of bread, after all had eaten, and were satisfied: AND OF THE FISHES; what remained of them:, for though there was but one loaf for a thousand persons and more, and two small fishes to be divided among five thousand and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY THAT DID EAT OF THE LOAVES,.... And also of the fishes; for they all ate of both; WERE ABOUT FIVE THOUSAND MEN; the word ωσει, "about", is omitted in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, Persic and Ethiopic versions, reading five thousand men certain. The Evangelist Matthew adds, "beside chi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND STRAIGHTWAY HE CONSTRAINED HIS DISCIPLES,.... The reasons of this is Matthew 14:22, TO GET INTO THE SHIP; in which they came to this place, and which was waiting for them: AND TO GO TO THE OTHER SIDE BEFORE UNTO BETHSAIDA; or rather "to go to the other side over against Bethsaida"; for they we... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD SENT THEM AWAY,.... Either his disciples, or rather the multitude: HE DEPARTED INTO A MOUNTAIN TO PRAY: after his disciples were gone, and he had dismissed the people, he went from the desert where he had been, up into a mountain; being a retired place, to spend some time in private... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN EVEN WAS COME,.... The second evening, and it was properly night: THE SHIP WAS IN THE MIDST OF THE SEA; of Galilee, about twenty five or thirty furlongs from the shore; see John 6:19; AND HE ALONE ON THE LAND; upon the mountain. This is observed, partly to show what distress the disciples... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAW THEM TOILING IN ROWING,.... He saw them either with his bodily eyes from the mountain on which he was; or he perceived in his Spirit, he knew, by virtue of his omniscience as God, what distress his disciples were in; being tossed about with the waves of the sea, and were labouring with al... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN THEY SAW HIM WALKING ON THE SEA,.... Matthew 14:26; THEY SUPPOSED IT HAD BEEN A SPIRIT; a phantom, a spectre, an apparition, a nocturnal demon: AND CRIED OUT; as men affrighted at the sight, and fearing they should be hurt by it, or that it portended some evil to them; Matthew 14:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY ALL SAW HIM, AND WERE TROUBLED,.... Had it been only seen by one, it might have been thought a fancy, and the effect of mere imagination; but as every one saw it, it was out of all doubt that so it was, and which gave them the greater concern: AND IMMEDIATELY HE TALKED WITH THEM; as soon a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE WENT UP UNTO THEM IN THE SHIP,.... That is, after Peter had desired he might be bid to come to him upon the water, and having got leave, made an essay; but the wind being boisterous, and beginning to sink, he cried out for help; when Christ stretched out his hand, and saved him; and then he,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY CONSIDERED NOT THE MIRACLE OF THE LOAVES,.... Which they had seen but the day before; they did not attend to it, nor learn from it, as they might, the wonderful glory of Christ, and the greatness of his power; which was as much an act of omnipotence, as either his walking upon the water, or... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY HAD PASSED OVER,.... The lake of Gennesaret, or sea of "Galilee", THEY CAME INTO THE LAND OF GENNESARET; Matthew 14:34; to Capernaum, as appears from John 6:17 for Capernaum was in the land of Gennesaret; to which agrees what Josephus says, that the land of Gennesaret was watered with... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY WERE COME OUT OF THE SHIP,.... Christ and his disciples, and were ashore, STRAIGHTWAY THEY KNEW HIM; that is, the men of that place, as in Mt. 14:35, Matthew 14:35; and so the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions read here, "the inhabitants of that country", the country of Gennesaret;... [ Continue Reading ]
AND RAN THROUGH THAT WHOLE REGION ROUND ABOUT,.... That is, the inhabitants of that part of the country where Christ landed, ran many of them themselves, and others sent messengers into all parts of it, on every side: AND BEGAN TO CARRY ABOUT IN BEDS THOSE THAT WERE SICK; or lame, or so disordered... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHITHERSOEVER HE ENTERED, INTO VILLAGES, OR CITIES, OR COUNTRY,.... Whether in smaller towns, or larger cities, or the fields, where were houses, here and there one: THEY LAID THE SICK IN THE STREETS; or "markets", in any public places: AND BESOUGHT HIM THAT THEY BUT MIGHT TOUCH THE BORDER OF... [ Continue Reading ]