_The beginning of the gospel_ That is, of the gospel history; _of Jesus Christ, the Son of God_ Who was, or is, in the bosom of the Father, John 1:18, and came down from heaven, John 3:13, to reveal his Father's will unto us, to confirm his doctrine by a great variety of astonishing miracles, to set... [ Continue Reading ]
_John_ Who was the very person spoken of by those prophets, being sent of God for that end, _did baptize in the wilderness_ Which lay east from Jerusalem, along the river Jordan and the lake Asphaltites, also called _the Dead sea._ By wilderness, in the Scriptures, it is plain that we are not always... [ Continue Reading ]
_There went out to him all Judea_, &c. So disposed were the people to receive his baptism. See note on Matthew 3:5. _The latchet of whose shoes_, &c. That is, whose servant I am not worthy to be, or to perform for him the meanest offices. _He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost_ The promise of whi... [ Continue Reading ]
_It came to pass in those days_ Of John's baptism at the river Jordan; _that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee_ Where he lived for many years in a retired manner, with his parents; _and was baptized of John in Jordan_ Near Bethabara. John 1:28. See on Matthew 3:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Immediately the Spirit driveth him_ Gr. εκβαλλει, _thrusteth him out_, or, _sends him away_, as the same word signifies, Mark 1:43. Luke says, ηγετο, _he was moved_, or led; Matthew, ανηχθη, _he was led up_, namely, from the plain of Jordan. _He was forty days tempted of Satan_ Invisibly. After thi... [ Continue Reading ]
_After John was put in prison_ B _y_ Herod; _Jesus came into Galilee, preaching_, &c. Till that time, say the fathers, ανεμεινε αυτον μαρτυρησαι περι αοτου, _he waited for John's testimony concerning him._ Accordingly, St. Peter represents Christ as beginning thus to preach from Galilee, _after the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Come, and I will make you fishers of men_ I will enable you to draw them into my true church by the net of my gospel. _And straightway_ Upon his call; _leaving their nets, they followed him_ From this time they forsook their employ, and constantly attended him. Happy they who follow Christ at the f... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they went into Capernaum_ When our Lord had thus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John, they all left the side of the lake, and entered with him into the city of Capernaum. _And straightway on the sabbath day_ Doubtless the next sabbath, which was probably the very next day. The word for _sabba... [ Continue Reading ]
_And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit_ Luke, _which had a spirit of an unclean devil. And he cried out_ Luke, _with a loud voice._ As soon as the devil saw Jesus, dreading his power, and expecting to be dispossessed, he cried out in great terror: _saying_, in the name of all... [ Continue Reading ]
_They entered into the house of Simon_ That is, of Peter. See the notes on Matthew 8:14. _And all the city was gathered together at the door_ Namely, of the house in which Jesus was; some coming as humble petitioners for themselves or their friends, others as spectators of the surprising miracles wh... [ Continue Reading ]
_And in the morning, a great while before day_ Εννυχου λιαν, _When the night was very far advanced_, or, _when it was yet deep night, he went out_, &c. Thus diligently did the Son of God labour for us! After the preceding day had been spent in preaching, and the evening in working miracles, Jesus al... [ Continue Reading ]
_And there came a leper_, &c. Concerning the miracle recorded in these verses, see the notes on Matthew 8:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
_But he went out, and began to publish it much_, &c. But the man, instead of concealing the cure, was so overjoyed at the suddenness and greatness of the blessing, and of the divine mercy manifested toward him in so miraculous a deliverance, that he could not forbear publishing it everywhere; _insom... [ Continue Reading ]