_MARY COMETH TO THE SEPULCHRE: SO DO PETER AND JOHN, IGNORANT OF THE RESURRECTION: JESUS APPEARETH TO MARY MAGDALENE, AND TO HIS DISCIPLES. THE INCREDULITY AND CONFESSION OF THOMAS. THE SCRIPTURE IS, UNDER DIVINE GRACE, SUFFICIENT TO SALVATION._ _Anno Domini 33._... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHE RUNNETH—TO SIMON PETER,— See the note on Luke 24:5. The reader of the following annotations on this and the next chapter, will be pleased to refer to the notes on the parallel places.... [ Continue Reading ]
PETER THEREFORE WENT FORTH,— Peter and John only are mentioned in this relation; but the circumstances taken notice of by the other evangelists shew, that the apostles lodged all together in one house, as they used to do while their Master was alive: if so, it is reasonable to believe, that they all... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMON PETER—WENT INTO THE SEPULCHRE, AND SEETH, &C.— These circumstances were very awakening, and very proper to prepare the minds of the disciples for something extraordinary, since nothing but the resurrection of Jesus could in right reason be concluded from them. The body they saw was gone; but b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BELIEVED.— The plain interpretation of this passage seems to be, that John entering into the sepulchre, saw every thing as above related, and consequently _believed,_ not that Christ was risen, but that the body was taken away, as Mary Magdalene had informed them: for the apology which he immedi... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE DISCIPLES WENT AWAY— _The disciples;_ that is, Peter and John: _to their own home,_ is in the original, προς εαυτους, which seems evidently to signify "to their companions." Accordingly, soon after this, the women found the eleven and the rest together. Luke 24:9. It probably appeared prude... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT MARY STOOD WITHOUT AT THE SEPULCHRE WEEPING:— The vision mentioned in Matthew and Mark was of one angel; that seen by Mary was of two; as was likewise that by Joanna and those with her. And whereas the first angel was found by the women upon their entering the sepulchre, sitting on the right sid... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE, SUPPOSING HIM TO BE THE GARDENER, &C.— It is very probable that Jesus might speak low, or in a different way from what he usually did; and Mary's taking him for the gardener, seems to intimate, that there was nothing very splendid in his dress. Accordingly, when he appeared to the two disciples... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS SAITH UNTO HER, &C.— Christ had stood by her some time, had spoken to her, and she answered him before she knew him to be Christ; on the contrary, she took him for the gardener; by all which it is manifest, that it was not a spectre of her creating. Her mind, as we have observed in a preceding... [ Continue Reading ]
TOUCH ME NOT; FOR I AM NOT YET ASCENDED, &C.— The objectors to the resurrection of Jesus, have inferred fromthis circumstance, that Christ's body was not a real tangible body: but this could never be inferred from the words _Touch me not;_ for thousands make use of that expression every day, without... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE SAME DAY—WHEN THE DOORS WERE SHUT, &C.— "After this, in the evening of the very same day on which he arose and appeared to Mary Magdalene, that is to say the first day of the week; when the disciples were gathered together in a private room, and were comparing their informations concerning... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHEWED UNTO THEM HIS HANDS AND HIS SIDE.— Probably the marks made by the nails and the spear were retained, on purpose to give the greater satisfaction to the disciples of the truth of his resurrection, and perhaps for many other reasons; though indeed, without that additional circumstance, the e... [ Continue Reading ]
AS MY FATHER HATH SENT ME, &C.— "As my heavenly Father sent me into the world, to discharge the office of the Messiah; even so I, by my plenary authority, and in proof of my mediatorial commission, send you to discharge the office of apostles and ministers in preaching the gospel to every creature,... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE HAD SAID THIS, HE BREATHED ON THEM,— St. Luke, Luke 24:35 informs us, that the disciples from Emmaus told their brethren on this occasion, what things were done in the way. Among the rest_,_ no doubt, they repeated the interpretations which Jesus gave of the prophesies concerning his own suf... [ Continue Reading ]
THOMAS, ONE OF THE TWELVE,— It is said, Luke 24:33 that the disciples from Emmaus gave the eleven, and those who were with them, an account of their meeting with Christ, and of the other circumstances accompanying that event. _The eleven_ was the name by which the apostles went after the death of Ju... [ Continue Reading ]
EXCEPT I SHALL SEE IN HIS HANDS THE PRINT, &C.— The repetition of the word _print_ seems to be a very great beauty, as it admirably represents the language of a _positive man,_ declaring again and again what he insisted upon. The word εις, rendered _into,_ in the next clause, signifies _upon,_ in Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
REACH HITHER THY FINGER, &C.— It is observable, that our Lord here repeats the very words which Thomas had made use of; and thus demonstrated, not only that he was risen, but also that he was possessed of divine knowledge, from his being conscious of the words and actions of men, though spoken or do... [ Continue Reading ]
THOMAS ANSWERED AND SAID, &C.— Though the nominative often occurs for the vocative, it is the former case which is used here, the words συ ει, _thou art,_ being understood. To this the context agrees; for we are told that these words were addressed to Jesus; wherefore they cannot be taken merely as... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THOU HAST SEEN ME, &C.— The word _seen,_ according to the Hebrew idiom, is often applied to the other senses; and therefore may here signify that Thomas had the unitedtestimony of all his senses, that Christ had a real, that is to say, a material body. See 1 John 1:1 and Acts 10:41. The word... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MANY OTHER SIGNS, &C.— He appeared on several other occasions to his disciples after his resurrection; and by many infallible proofs, which are not written in this book, convinced them that he was alive after his pardon. The appearances mentioned by the _evangelists_ are _nine_ in number; St. Pa... [ Continue Reading ]