_Now_ Rather, BUT. _very early in the morning_ Literally, AT DEEP DAWN, I.E. at the earliest morning twilight, -while it was yet dark" (John 20:1), though the sun began to rise before they reached the tomb (Mark 16:2 _)._St John mentions only Mary of Magdala (John 20:1); St Matthew adds Mary, mother... [ Continue Reading ]
2-12. Vision of Angels to the Women. Peter visits the Tomb. 2. _they found the stone rolled away_ On their way they had considered how they should get over this difficulty, since the stone was "very great" (Mark 16:3). From St Mark's expression, "looking up," we infer that the tomb was slightly ele... [ Continue Reading ]
_found not the body_ Even advanced sceptics admit this circumstance as _indisputable_, nor has one of them been able to invent the most remotely plausible explanation of the fact by natural causes. For the white-robed angel or angels in the tomb, see Mark 16:5; John 20:11-12 _._On the mention, omiss... [ Continue Reading ]
_much perplexed_ The word means -utterly at a loss." _in shining garments_ Literally, _"flashing as with lightning_,which recalls the expression of Matthew 28:3; comp. Luke 9:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Why seek ye the living among the dead?_ Comp. Acts 1:11. The expression "_the living_" is probably used on the lips of the angels with something of its true mystic depth. John 1:4; John 5:26; John 11:25; John 20:31.... [ Continue Reading ]
_when he was yet in Galilee_ Matthew 17:22-23. __... [ Continue Reading ]
_._ _returned from the sepulchre_ Comp. Matthew 28:8. From John 20:2 we infer that Mary of Magdala had, in the first instance, run from the sepulchre to tell Peter and John of the removal of the stone, and had therefore not seen the first vision of angels. The apparent contradiction in Mark 16:8 obv... [ Continue Reading ]
_and other women_ See Luke 8:2-3.... [ Continue Reading ]
_as idle tales_ The strong word used (_leros)_implies mere nonsensical talk. _believed them not_ The imperfect shews _persistent_incredulity; -they _disbelieved_them.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then arose Peter_ For the fuller details see John 20:2-9. It should be simply - _but Peter arose."_The -but" implies his readiness to believe. The presence of John, though omitted here, is implied in Luke 24:24. The verse is probably genuine, though omitted in D. _the linen clothes Othonia_, a ver... [ Continue Reading ]
The Disciples at Emmaus. 13. _two of them_ It is expressly implied in Luke 24:33 that they were not Apostles. One was Cleopas (an abbreviation of Cleopatros), of whom we know nothing, for the _name_is not the same as Clopas (=Alphaeus or Chalpai, John 19:25), though they m _ay_have been the same pe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus himself drew near_ A beautiful illustration of the promise in Matthew 18:20 _._... [ Continue Reading ]
_that they should not know him_ Rather, RECOGNISE HIM. There are two other instances of the same remarkable fact. Mary of Magdala did not recognise Him (John 20:14), nor the disciples on the Lake (John 21:4). The same thing is evidently implied in Luke 24:37 and in Matthew 28:17; and it exactly acco... [ Continue Reading ]
_that ye have one to another_ Literally, " _cast to and fro."_ and are sad The true reading seems to be AND THEY STOOD STILL _(estathesan,_ א, A, B, and some ancient versions; _estesan_, L), LOOKING SAD. They stopped short, displeased at the unwelcome, and possibly perilous, intrusion of a stranger... [ Continue Reading ]
_whose name was Cleopas_ See on Luke 24:13. The mention of so entirely obscure a name alone proves that the story is not an invention. _Pii non sua sed aliorum causa memorantur._Bengel. _Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem_ Rather, DOST THOU LIVE ALONE AS A STRANGER IN JERUSALEM; art thou some lo... [ Continue Reading ]
_a prophet_, _mighty in deed and word_ See a remarkable parallel to this description in Acts 2:22 _._... [ Continue Reading ]
_we trusted_ This would imply that now their hope was dimmed, if not quenched. This perhaps led to the reading _-we trust_" (_elpizomen_ for _elpizomen_) inand some inferior MSS., which Alford calls a "_correction for decorum."_ which should have redeemed Israel The _form_of the expected redemption... [ Continue Reading ]
_which said_ Rather, which say. This mention of a sort of double hearsay (-women _saying_of angels who _say")_shews the extreme hesitation which appears throughout the narrative.... [ Continue Reading ]
_hut him they saw not_ This phrase most naturally and tenderly expresses their incredulity and sorrow. It also shews how impossible is the sceptical theory that the Disciples were misled by hallucinations. "_Les hallucines,"_says Bersier, "parlent _en hallucines;"_ but against any blind enthusiasms... [ Continue Reading ]
_O fools_ The expression is much too strong. It is not the word _aphrones_(see Luke 11:40), but _anoetoi_, -foolish," -unintelligent." (Galatians 3:1.)... [ Continue Reading ]
_ought not Christ to have suffered_ Rather, the Christ. It was a divine necessity (_ouchi edei?),_Matthew 26:54; John 12:24; John 12:32; John 11:49-52; Acts 17:3; 1 Peter 1:10-11. Thus St Luke mainly dwells on the Resurrection as a spiritual necessity; St Mark as a great fact; St Matthew as a glorio... [ Continue Reading ]
_beginning at Moses_ The promise to Eve (Genesis 3:15); the promise to Abraham (Genesis 22:18); the Paschal Lamb (Exodus 12); the Scapegoat (Leviticus 16:1-34); the brazen serpent (Numbers 21:9); the greater Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15); and the star and sceptre (Numbers 24:17); the smitten rock (Nu [ Continue Reading ]
_he made as though he would have gone further_ Rather, WOULD GO. It is of course implied that He would have gone further, but for the strong pressure of their entreaty. Comp. Mark 6:48. We learn from these passages how needful it is to win Christ's Presence by praying for it.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Abide with us_ It is this beautiful verse which has furnished the idea of Lyte's dying hymn, -Abide with me, fast falls the eventide." _he went in to tarry with them_ Comp. Hebrews 13:2, "thereby some have entertained angels unawares.... [ Continue Reading ]
_he took bread, and blessed it, and brake_, _and gave to them_ Rather, THE BREAD. Comp. Luke 22:19 . Our Lord seems, by a kind of natural authority, to have assumed the position of host; which shews that they were at an inn.... [ Continue Reading ]
_he vanished_ See on Luke 24:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Did not our heart burn_ Rather, WAS NOT OUR HEART BURNING? _while he talked with us_ Rather, TO US. "Never man spake like this man," John 7:46.... [ Continue Reading ]
_and returned to Jerusalem_ "They fear no longer the night journey from which they had dissuaded their unknown companion." Bengel.... [ Continue Reading ]
_hath appeared to Simon_ The same appearance, to Simon alone, is mentioned in 1 Corinthians 15:5, but there is not even a tradition as to the details. (The passage in 1 Corinthians 15:4-8 is the earliest written allusion to the facts of the Resurrection.)... [ Continue Reading ]
_in breaking of bread_ Rather, IN THE BREAKING of THE BREAD. The alteration is important as giving to the act a sacramental character. It has been objected that Cleopas and his companion, not being Apostles, had not been present at the institution of the Lord's Supper; but this was by no means the _... [ Continue Reading ]
36-49 _._ Appearance of Jesus to the Apostles. 36. _stood in the midst of them_ The words imply a sudden appearance. The Eleven, with the exception of Thomas the Twin, were sitting at supper with the doors closed through their fear of the Jews (John 20:19). This is one of the most remarkable appeara... [ Continue Reading ]
_terrified_ Literally, _"scared"_ that they had seen a spirit] Rather, THAT THEY WERE GAZING ON A SPIRIT. See on Luke 24:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
_thoughts_ Rather, REASONINGS.... [ Continue Reading ]
_handle me, and see Pselaphesate;_"which we have looked upon and _our hands have handled_(_epselaphesan_) of the Word of Life," 1 John 1:1; comp. John 20:20; John 20:27. For other uses of the word see Acts 17:27; Hebrews 12:18. _hath not flesh and bones_ "I am not a bodiless spirit" are words attrib... [ Continue Reading ]
_and his feet_ which must therefore have been _pierced_, and not merely _tied_to the Cross.... [ Continue Reading ]
_believed not for joy_ One of the psychological touches of which St Luke is fond, and profoundly true to nature (comp. Liv. xxxix. 49). _any meat_ Rather, anything to eat; see on Luke 3:11; Luke 8:55.... [ Continue Reading ]
_a piece of a broiled fish_ A meal of fish at Jerusalem might surprise us, if we did not learn from the Talmud that it was regularly supplied from the inexhaustible stores of the Lake of Gennesareth _(Life of Christ_, i. 142). _and of a honeycomb_ Omitted in א, A, B, D, L, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
_and did eat before them_ This was one of the -infallible proofs" appealed to in Acts 1:3; comp. John 21:12-13; "who did eat and drink with Him after He rose from the dead," Acts 10:41. Jerome _(adv. Pelag._ii.) mentions a strange addition in some MSS., viz. that the disciples said that -the wickedn... [ Continue Reading ]
_These are the words_ i.e. this is the meaning of the words. _which I spake unto you_ Luke 18:31; Matthew 16:21. _while I was yet with you_ Important as shewing that the forty days between the Resurrection and the Ascension were not _intended_to be a continuous sojourn with the Disciples, or an in... [ Continue Reading ]
_opened he their understanding_ Spiritual things can only be spiritually discerned, 1 Corinthians 2:10-13. On this most important truth see Matthew 11:27; Matthew 13:11; Matthew 16:17; John 16:13; Acts 16:14. "Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law," Psalms 119:18. _th... [ Continue Reading ]
_and thus it behoved Christ to suffer_ Read, _thus it is written that the Christ should suffer_, א, B, C, D, L. __... [ Continue Reading ]
_._ _remission of sins_ See on Luke 1:77."Your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake," and 1 John 2:12. _among all nations_ See Genesis 12:3, "all families of the earth." Psalms 22:27, "all kindreds of the nations." Isaiah 49:6, "a light to the Gentiles," &c. See on Luke 2:32. _beginning at Jer... [ Continue Reading ]
_ye are witnesses_ John 15:27. How prominent in the minds of the Apostles was this ministry of _witness_may be seen from Acts 1:8; Acts 2:32; Acts 3:15; Acts 4:33; Acts 5:30-32, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the promise of my Father_ both in the Prophecies of the Old Testament (Isaiah 44:3; Ezekiel 36:26; Joel 2:28) and by His own mouth (John 14:16-17; John 14:20; John 15:26; John 16:7). Comp. Acts 1:4-5; Acts 1:8. It is difficult not to see in this exp [ Continue Reading ]
50-53. The Ascension. 50. _he led them out_ Not of course at the conclusion of the last scene, but at the end of the forty days, Acts 1:3. _as far as to Bethany_ Rather, as far as towards Bethany _(pros,_ א, B, C, D, &c.). The traditional scene of the Ascension is the central summit of the Mount o... [ Continue Reading ]
_he was parted front them_ "A cloud received Him out of their sight," Acts 1:9. The original however conveys a clearer impression. _He stood apart from them_(aorist) _and was gradually borne into heaven._ The latter words are not found in א, D. _carried up into heaven_ See Ephesians 4:8. The withdr... [ Continue Reading ]
_returned to Jerusalem_ For fuller details see Acts 1:3-12 _._ with great joy as Jesus had promised (John 16:20; John 16:22 _)._It is remarkable that they shewed great joy now that they were losing for ever the earthly presence of their Lord. It shews their faith in the promise that His spiritual p... [ Continue Reading ]
_continually in the temple_ This expression is one of the links between the Gospel and the Acts (see Acts 2:46; Acts 3:1, &c.). _praising and blessing God_ Acts 2:46; Acts 5:42. -Praise is the fruit of joy." A characteristic close in accordance with the usual spirit of St Luke. See Introd. p. 24, an... [ Continue Reading ]