_And he came into his own country_, &c. For an explanation of this paragraph, see the notes on Matthew 13:53. _Is not this the carpenter's son?_ There can be no doubt that Jesus in his youth wrought with his supposed father Joseph. _He could there do no mighty work_ Not consistently with his wisdom... [ Continue Reading ]
_He calleth unto him the twelve_ While Jesus preached among the villages in the neighbourhood of Nazareth, he sent his twelve apostles through the several cities of Galilee, to proclaim that God was about to establish the kingdom of the Messiah, wherein he would be worshipped in spirit and in truth;... [ Continue Reading ]
_He commanded that they should take nothing for their journey_ That they might be always unencumbered, free, ready for motion. _Save a staff only_ He that had one might take it; but he that had not, was not to provide one. _No scrip, no bread_ Our Lord intended by this mission to initiate them into... [ Continue Reading ]
_In what place soever ye enter_ See these verses explained, Matthew 10:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
_They went, and preached that men should repent_ They went away and published everywhere the glad tidings of the approach of the Messiah's kingdom, and exhorted men on that consideration to turn to God in true repentance, forsaking all their sins in temper, word, and work, and in all respects bringi... [ Continue Reading ]
_And King Herod_ (the tetrarch; see notes on Matthew 2:1; Mat 14:1) _heard of him_ While the apostles were making their circuit about the country, proclaiming everywhere the glories of their great Master, and working miracles in his name, information concerning him and his marvellous works came to t... [ Continue Reading ]
_For Herod had laid hold on John_, &c. See the note on Matthew 14:3. _Herodias had a quarrel against him_ This princess was the granddaughter of Herod the Great, by his son Aristobulus, and had formerly been married to her uncle Philip, the son of her grandfather, by Mariamne, and brother to Herod t... [ Continue Reading ]
_The apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus_ Namely, at, or quickly after the time of the awful event of the Baptist's death, related above; _and told him all things_, &c. Recounted to him; _both what_ miracles _they had done_ In his name and by his power; _and what_ doctrine _they had tau... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the day was far spent_, &c. See notes on Matthew 14:15, where the circumstances of the miracle here recorded are explained at large. _And they sat down in ranks_ Or rather, _in squares_, as Campbell renders πρασιαι, observing, “The word denotes a small plat, such as a flower-bed in a garden. I... [ Continue Reading ]
For an explanation of these verses, see the notes on Matthew 14:22.... [ Continue Reading ]