NOW IN THE FIFTEENTH YEAR - This was the “thirteenth” year of his being sole emperor. He was “two” years joint emperor with Augustus, and Luke reckons from the time when he was admitted to share the empire with Augustus Caesar. See Lardner’s “Credibility,” vol. i. TIBERIUS CAESAR - Tiberius succeed... [ Continue Reading ]
ANNAS AND CAIAPHAS BEING HIGHPRIESTS - There was, properly speaking, but one high priest of the Jews; yet the name of high priest continued to be given to those who had been in that office, and especially when they still possessed some civil office after they had left the high priesthood. In this ca... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THE BAPTISM OF JOHN - see the notes at Matthew 3.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT SHALL WE DO, THEN? - John had told them to bring forth fruits appropriate to repentance, or to lead a life which showed that their repentance was genuine. They very properly, therefore, asked how it should be done, or what “would be” such a life.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT HATH TWO COATS ... - Or, in other words, aid the poor according to your ability; be benevolent, and you will thus show that your repentance is genuine. It is remarkable that one of the “first” demands of religion is to do good, and it is in this way that it may be shown that the repentance i... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PUBLICANS - See the notes at Matthew 5:47. There is reason to think that the “publicans” or “tax-gatherers” were especially oppressive and hard in their dealings with the people; and that, as they had every opportunity of exacting more than they ought, so they often did it, and thus enriched the... [ Continue Reading ]
EXACT - Demand, or take, no more. THAN THAT WHICH IS APPOINTED - That is, by the government. John does not condemn the office, or say that the employment should be forsaken. Though it was hated by the people - though often abused and therefore unpopular - yet “the office itself” was not dishonorabl... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SOLDIERS LIKEWISE - It seems that “they,” also came to his baptism. Whether these were Jews or Romans cannot be ascertained. It is not improbable that, as Judea was a Roman province, they were Jews or Jewish proselytes in the service of Herod Antipas or Philip, and so were really in the Roman se... [ Continue Reading ]
IN EXPECTATION - Expecting the Messiah. Margin, “suspense.” That is, they were not certain whether John was not himself the Messiah. They confidently “expected” his appearing, and there minds were in “suspense,” or they were in a state of doubt whether he had not already come, and whether John was n... [ Continue Reading ]
See the notes at Matthew 3:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
See the notes at Matthew 14:1. “Added this above all.” To all his former crimes he added this; not implying that this was the “worst” of his acts, but that this was “one” of his deeds, of like character as the others. The event here mentioned did not take place until some time after this, but it is... [ Continue Reading ]
See the notes at Matthew 3:13. “Jesus being baptized;” or, Jesus “having been” baptized. This took place after the baptism, and not “during” its administration, Matthew 3:16. PRAYING - This circumstance is omitted by the other evangelists; and it shows, * That Jesus was in the habit of prayer.... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS BEGAN TO BE ... - This was the age at which the priests entered on their office, Numbers 4:3, Numbers 4:47; but it is not evident that Jesus had any reference to that in delaying his work to his thirtieth year. He was not subjected to the Levitical law in regard to the priesthood, and it does... [ Continue Reading ]
See, on this genealogy, the notes at Matthew 1:1.... [ Continue Reading ]