ΤΟῪΣ ΔΏΔΕΚΑ ΜΑΘΗΤΆΣ. The first passages in St Mark and St Luke record the _choice_ or _calling_ of the Twelve, this chapter and Mark 6 and Luke 9 narrate _the_ mission or α mission of the disciples. Possibly they were sent forth more than once. The number twelve was doubtless in reference to the twe... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΠΟΣΤΌΛΩΝ, the only passage in this Gospel where the word occurs. The literal meaning, ‘sent forth,’ or ‘envoys,’ though scarcely recognised by classical authors, was not new. It seems to have been a ‘title borne by those who were despatched from the mother city by the rulers of the race on any fore... [ Continue Reading ]
ΘΑΔΔΑΙ͂ΟΣ (א B and several versions). The other reading Λεββαῖος has however the authority of D, and it is difficult to account for the presence of the word (which occurs here only) unless it was the original reading. 3. Philip, also a Greek name prevalent at the time, partly through the influence... [ Continue Reading ]
Simon ὁ Καναναῖος, (Aramaic _Kanani_, Hebr. _Kannah_, ‘jealous,’ Exodus 20:5), or ζηλωτής, equivalent terms. The fierce party of the Zealots professed a rigid attachment to the Mosaic law; they acknowledged no king save God. Under Judas the Gaulonite they rose in rebellion at the time of the census.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἸΣ ὉΔῸΝ ἘΘΝΩ͂Ν ΜῊ�. For the expression ‘way of the Gentiles,’ cp. ch. Matthew 4:15, ‘the way of the sea.’ This prohibition is not laid on the Seventy (St Luke 10:1-16), they are expressly commissioned to carry tidings of the gospel to cities and places which our Lord Himself proposed to visit. ΕἸΣ... [ Continue Reading ]
CHRIST’S CHARGE TO THE APOSTLES This discourse falls naturally into two divisions; of which the first (Matthew 10:5-15) has reference to the immediate present, the second relates rather to the church of the future. The subdivisions of the first part are: (1) Their mission field, 5, 6. (2) Their wor... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΡῸΣ ΤᾺ ΠΡΌΒΑΤΑ ΤᾺ�. See note ch. Matthew 9:36.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΝΕΚΡΟῪΣ ἘΓΕΊΡΕΤΕ (א B C D), omitted in most of the later uncials and by many cursives and versions. Tischendorf has replaced the words in his text, ed. 8. 8. ΛΕΠΡΟῪΣ ΚΑΘΑΡΊΖΕΤΕ. Leprosy is not classed with the other diseases. As especially symbolical of a sin-stricken man, the leper requires cleans... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜῊ ΚΤΉΣΗΣΘΕ. ‘Do not get, acquire,’ εἰς τὰς ζώνας ὑμῶν ‘for your girdles.’ The disciples must not furnish themselves with the ordinary equipment of an Eastern traveller. ΧΡΥΣῸΝ … ἌΡΓΥΡΟΝ … ΧΑΛΚΌΝ. Of the three metals named the brass or copper represents the native currency. The coinage of Herod the... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΎΟ ΧΙΤΩ͂ΝΑΣ. See ch. Matthew 5:40. In like manner the philosopher Socrates wore one tunic only, went without sandals, and lived on the barest necessaries of life. See Xen. _Mem._ I. 6. 2, where Antiphon, addressing Socrates, says: ζῇς γοῦν οὕτως, ὡς οὐδʼ ἂν εἶς δοῦλος ὑπὸ δεσπότῃ διαιτώμενος μείνει... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἸΣΕΡΧΌΜΕΝΟΙ ΕἸΣ ΤῊΝ ΟἸΚΊΑΝ. ‘When ye are entering into the house,’ i.e. the house of him who is indicated as ‘worthy.’ The injunction to remain in the same house was, perhaps, partly to avoid feasting from house to house, partly for the sake of secrecy—a necessary precaution in after times. Such ‘w... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΚΤΙΝΆΞΑΤΕ ΤῸΝ ΚΟΝΙΟΡΤΌΝ, as St Paul did at Antioch in Pisidia, Acts 13:51. The cities of Israel that rejected the Gospel should be regarded as heathen. The very dust of them was a defilement as the dust of a heathen land. See Lightfoot, _ad loc_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. ch. Matthew 11:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
ὩΣ ΠΡΌΒΑΤΑ ἘΝ ΜΈΣΩΙ ΛΎΚΩΝ] Clemens Rom. (II. 5), who quotes these words, adds to them: ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ὁ Πέτρος αὐτῷ λέγει, Ἐὰν οὖν διασπαράξωσιν οἱ λύκοι τὰ�; Εἶπεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τῷ Πέτρῳ, Μὴ φοβείσθωσαν τὰ�. ΦΡΌΝΙΜΟΙ … ἈΚΈΡΑΙΟΙ. The qualities required for the safety of the unarmed traveller. Prudence and... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHURCH OF THE FUTURE (1) The Apostolic character, 16. (2) Persecution, 17–25. (3) Consolation—the care of the Father, 26–31. (4) The reward, 32. (5) The Christian choice, 33–39. (6) The hosts of the Church, 40–42.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΡΟΣΈΧΕΤΕ�. Perhaps with a reference to the serpents and the doves, which shun the approach of men; but comp. ch. Matthew 17:22, μέλλει ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ�. ΣΥΝΈΔΡΙΑ. i.e. provincial synagogue-tribunals. See note, ch. Matthew 4:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἩΓΕΜΌΝΑΣ. Such as Felix and Festus at Cæsarea, the Praetors or Duumviri at Philippi (Acts 16:20), the Politarchs at Thessalonica (Acts 17:6). ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙ͂Σ. As Herod Agrippa or the Roman Emperor.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜῊ ΜΕΡΙΜΝΉΣΗΤΕ ΠΩ͂Σ Ἢ ΤΊ ΛΑΛΉΣΗΤΕ. Curiously enough this has been quoted as if it justified want of preparation for sermons or addresses to a Christian congregation. The direction points definitely to the Christian ‘apologies,’ of which specimens have come down to us in the Acts (Acts 4:8-12; Acts 5... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῸ ΠΝΕΥ͂ΜΑ ΤΟΥ͂ ΠΑΤΡῸΣ ὙΜΩ͂Ν. The Christian ‘apologist’ shall not stand alone. The same Spirit instructs him which inspires the universal Church. St Paul experienced such consolation: ἐν τῇ πρώτῃ μου� … ὁ δὲ Κύριός μοι παρέστη. 2 Timothy 4:16-17. It is to this work of the Holy Spirit that the word π... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΔΕΛΦῸΣ … ἈΔΕΛΦΌΝ … ΠΑΤῊΡ ΤΈΚΝΟΝ. The history of persecutions for religion affords many instances of this. It is true even of civil disputes. Thucydides, describing the horrors of the Corcyrean sedition, says (III. 81, 82), καὶ γὰρ πατὴρ παῖδα� … καὶ τὸ ξυγγενὲς τοῦ ἑταιρικοῦ�. ἘΠΑΝΑΣΤΉΣΟΝΤΑΙ. ἐπαν... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ ΔῈ ὙΠΟΜΕΊΝΑΣ ΕἸΣ ΤΈΛΟΣ Κ.Τ.Λ. The parallel expression Luke 21:19 is made clear by this verse, ἐν τῇ ὑπομονῇ ὑμῶν κτήσεσθε τὰς ψυχὰς ὑμῶν, ‘by your patience ye shall win for yourselves your souls,’ i.e. win your true life by enduring to the end. Comp. Romans 5:3-5, καυχῶμεθα ἐν ταῖς θλίψεσιν εἰδότε... [ Continue Reading ]
ὍΤΑΝ ΔῈ ΔΙΏΚΩΣΙΝ ὙΜΑ͂Σ. Such words indicate that these ‘instructions’ have a far wider range than the immediate mission of the Apostles. They are prophetic, bringing both warning and consolation to all ages of the Church. ἝΩΣ ἊΝ ἜΛΘΗΙ Ὁ ΥἹῸΣ ΤΟΥ͂�. The passage in Luke 21, which is to a great extent... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓Κ ἜΣΤΙΝ ΜΑΘΗΤῊΣ ὙΠῈΡ ΤῸΝ ΔΙΔΆΣΚΑΛΟΝ. The disciples of Jesus can expect no other treatment than that which befell their Master Christ. The same proverb occurs in a different connection Luke 6:40, where Christ is speaking of the responsibility of the Apostles as _teachers_; ‘as they are, their disc... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΕΚΆΛΕΣΑΝ, a certain correction for ἐκάλεσαν. For the difference of meaning see notes _infra_. 25. ἈΡΚΕΤῸΝ ἽΝΑ, comp. ‘sufficit ut exorari te sinas.’ Plin. Such use of _ut_ in Latin will illustrate and indeed may have influenced the extended use of ἵνα. in later Greek. ΒΕΕΛΖΕΒΟΎΛ. Baal Zebub = ‘Lo... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓ΔῈΝ ΓΆΡ ἘΣΤΙΝ ΚΕΚΑΛΥΜΜΈΝΟΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. Two reasons against fear are implied: (1) If you fear, a day will come which will reveal your disloyalty; (2) Fear not, for one day the unreality of the things that terrify you will be made manifest.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὃ ΕἸΣ ΤῸ ΟΥ̓͂Σ�. Lightfoot (_Hor. Heb._) refers this to a custom in the ‘Divinity School’ of the synagogue (see ch. Matthew 4:23), where the master whispered into the ear of the interpreter, who repeated in a loud voice what he had heard. ἘΠῚ ΤΩ͂Ν ΔΩΜΆΤΩΝ. Travellers relate that in the village dist... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΠΟΚΤΕΝΝΌΝΤΩΝ. Reduplication of consonants was characteristic of the Alexandrine dialect; Sturz (_de dial. Al. et Mac._ p. 128), quotes as instances, ἁμαρτάννειν, φθάννειν, καταβέννειν, &c. 28. ἈΠΟΚΤΕΝΝΌΝΤΩΝ. Among other instances of this Alexandrine form quoted by Sturz (_de dial. Mac. et Alex._)... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΤΡΟΥΘΊΑ, translated ‘sparrows’ (A.V.) means any kind of small bird. ΚΑῚ ἛΝ ἘΞ ΑΥ̓ΤΩ͂Ν Κ.Τ.Λ. Two deductions may be drawn—(1) That human life is more precious in God’s sight than the life of the lower animals (Matthew 10:31); (2) That kindness to animals is part of God’s law.... [ Continue Reading ]
ὉΜΟΛΟΓΉΣΕΙ ἘΝ ἘΜΟΊ. Confess _in_ me: make me the central point and object of his confession.... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses exhibit beautifully three characteristics of Hebrew poetry, antithesis, climax, refrain. The first four lines μὴ νομίσητε … οἱ οἰκιακοὶ αὐτοῦ, which reflect the words of Micah 7:6, indicate the separating influence of Christianity. Note here, as in all great revolutions of thought, the... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙΧΆΣΑΙ. ἅπαξ λεγ. in N.T. carries on the idea of separation involved in μάχαιρα, for which Luke in parallel passage Luke 12:52 has διαμερισμόν.... [ Continue Reading ]
The connection is this: there will be divisions in families; My disciples must not hesitate to side with _Me_ rather than with father or mother, or son or daughter. The new life changes the old relationships: everything is viewed now in reference to Christ, to whom His followers are related as mothe... [ Continue Reading ]
ὍΣ ΟΥ̓ ΛΑΜΒΆΝΕΙ ΤῸΝ ΣΤΑΥΡῸΝ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂. A further advance in the devotion and self-abandonment required in the disciples of Jesus. These are deeply interesting and solemn words. The cross is named for the first time by the Saviour. The expression recurs ch. Matthew 16:24, following upon the announcemen... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ ΕὙΡῺΝ ΤῊΝ ΨΥΧῊΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. ψυχὴ embraces every form of life from mere vegetative existence to the highest spiritual life of the soul. Sometimes this variety of meaning is found within the limits of a single sentence—‘He that findeth the life of external comfort and pleasure, shall lose the eternal lif... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ ΔΕΧΌΜΕΝΟΣ. In the sense of receiving as a teacher, and of welcoming as a guest, see Matthew 10:14. Whoever welcomes the Apostles and listens to them, listens to the voice of Jesus Christ and of God the Father Himself, and They ‘will make their abode with him,’ John 14:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RECEPTION OF THE APOSTLES AND MINISTERS OF JESUS CHRIST In respect of poetical form, note first the ascending climax ὑμᾶς … ἐμὲ … τὸν πέμψαντα ἐμέ. And then the descending climax, προφήτην … δίκαιον … ἕνα τῶν μικρῶν. The privilege rises to the highest point conceivable; the reward is not only f... [ Continue Reading ]
ΛΉΜΨΕΤΑΙ (א B C D). The non-assimilation of consonants was also characteristic of the Alexandrine dialect, as ἐνγύς, σύνκεισθε, συνπάτει. On the other hand assimilation takes place in the Alexandrine dialect in the case of ν, contrary to the usage of other dialects, as ἐμμέσῳ, ἐμ Πάρῳ ἐγ Κυβέλοις, t... [ Continue Reading ]
ἝΝΑ ΤΩ͂Ν ΜΙΚΡΩ͂Ν. The reference may be to the disciples. But there appears to be a gradation, in the lowest step of which are ‘_these_ little ones.’ Possibly some children standing near were then addressed, or, perhaps, some converts less instructed than the Apostles had gathered round. ‘The little... [ Continue Reading ]