Category: History - Religious
“AFTER the death of Nehemiah, about B.C. 413, a thick curtain falls on the history of the Jews till the accession of Antiochus Epiphanes, B.C. 175[2].” During upwards of 230 years, a period as long, to compare it with modern history, as from the death of Queen Elizabeth to the...
“AFTER the death of Nehemiah, about B.C. 413, a thick curtain falls on the history of the Jews till the accession of Antiochus Epiphanes, B.C. 175[2].” During upwards of 230 yea...
18. CHAPTER II.ON the death of Alexander, B.C. 323, the vast empire, which he had won by his arms, was divided amongst his generals, and Palestine, as a province of Syria, passed into the poss...
19. CHAPTER III.ON the death of Philadelphus, Ptolemy Euergetes succeeded to the Egyptian throne. The new king considerably extended the privileges of the Jews, and bestowed many presents upon...
20. CHAPTER I.THE battle of Mount Panium marks an era in the history of the Jews. For a century since the battle of Ipsus they had been steadfast in their allegiance to the Egyptian throne. T...
21. CHAPTER II.THE long-continued subjection of the Jews to Grecian monarchs had by this time exerted a very considerable influence on their habits and mode of life. Familiar not only with the...
22. CHAPTER III.HIS exchequer recruited by this valuable plunder, Antiochus in the following year, B.C. 169, led a third expedition into Egypt, and once more laid siege to Alexandria. But his l...
23. CHAPTER I.NEVER did the fortunes of the Chosen People look so dark and troubled as now; never did the nation itself, never did the religion of Jehovah appear so near to total exterminatio...
24. CHAPTER II.ON the departure of Antiochus, the regent, who entered zealously into all his plans, began to concert measures with Ptolemy Macron, the governor of Cœlesyria, and diligently col...
25. CHAPTER III.THIS recovery of a powerful city by the skill and energy of one man, was regarded with no friendly feelings by the surrounding nations. But Judas, resolving to be beforehand wit...
26. CHAPTER IV.THE death of their great leader was a terrible blow to the hopes of the Jewish patriots, and for a short time their plans were totally disorganized. The Syrians regained their a...
27. CHAPTER V.THE accession of the new Syrian monarch once more raised the hopes of the faction opposed to Jonathan, who had gathered his forces and laid siege to the Syrian garrison in the A...
28. CHAPTER VI.NEWS of these occurrences filled the Jews with the deepest sorrow and the utmost consternation. For 17 years their late leader had conducted the affairs of the country with prud...
29. CHAPTER VII.THOUGH the confederacy between Ptolemy and Antiochus was thus disconcerted by the rapid movements of Hyrcanus, the Syrian monarch nevertheless led his forces into Palestine, ove...
30. PART IV.31. CHAPTER I.BESIDES the new high-priest, Alexander had left another son named Aristobulus, a man of an ardent and impetuous temper, who took no pains to conceal his dislike of his mother’s...
32. CHAPTER II.MISFORTUNE seemed to follow in the footsteps of every Roman general that interfered in the affairs of Judæa. Gabinius was ignominiously exiled, Crassus perished miserably in a f...
33. CHAPTER III.MEANWHILE the Parthians had made themselves masters of Jerusalem, reinstated Antigonus in the supreme power, and delivered into his hands the captives Hyrcanus and Phasael. The...
34. CHAPTER IV.MEANWHILE the friendship between Octavius and Antonius had at length been broken, and the whole East rang with preparations for the coming contest between the triumvirs for the...
35. CHAPTER V.THUS Judæa seemed to be sinking more and more into the form of a Roman province, while Herod rivalled the other vassal kings of Rome in subservience to the master of the world....
36. CHAPTER VI.BUT the return of the young princes, Alexander and Aristobulus, from Rome was the signal for a scene of bloodshed, still more awful than that which had darkened the beginning of...
37. CHAPTER I.ARRIVED at the threshold of the Gospel History, it may not be amiss to survey some of the more prominent features of the period we have traversed, and to notice some of the chan...
38. ii. 10), and the towns of the Pentapolis, and inland to the realms ofThe Seleucidæ, in their turn, were equally anxious to locate colonies of Jews in the cities which they founded. Seleucus Nicator invited them to his new capital at Antioch[140];...
39. i. The earliest dispersion in Babylonia produced a change in the olderHebrew of Judæa. The language spoken in the days of David and Solomon was gradually exchanged for the Chaldee or “Syrian tongue.” (Comp. 2 K. xviii. 26; Isai. xxxvi. 11; Dan. ii...
40. ii. After the conquests of Alexander, Greek became the language almostof the whole world[145]. It was a Greek speech that Pompeius was reading, preparatory to delivery, when he received his deathblow off the port of Alexandria. It was in Greek tha...
41. i. These Houses of Meeting varied in size according to the town orvillage in which they were built[148]. They were usually erected on the highest ground available, and so constructed, that a worshipper, when entering, or kneeling in prayer, mi...
42. xxiii. 6); a silver lamp always kept burning; and an eight-branchedcandlestick, only lighted on the greater festivals. About the centre of the building was a raised platform, on which was a desk, where the reader _stood_ to read the lesson or _...
43. ii. The chief officers of each synagogue were (a) a kind of Chapteror college of elders, presided over by the _ruler of the Synagogue_ (Lk. viii. 41, 49; Acts xviii. 8, 17), who superintended the services, and had the power of excommunication[1...
44. iii. The worship of the Synagogues was on the model of the TempleServices, and at the same hours, the third, sixth, and ninth[152] (Acts iii. 1; x. 3, 9). On entering, the people bowed towards the ark, and took their places in the body of the...
45. CHAPTER II.HAVING considered in the previous Chapter the wide dispersion of the Jewish nation, the change in their language, and the general adoption of synagogue worship, we shall now pro...
46. ii. 42), who seem to have been already in existence as a distinct party,and bound by a vow to the strict observance of the Law. The name they assumed sufficiently indicates their views. Living in times when their countrymen were becoming more and mo...
47. i. Many looked for a great Conqueror, whom God would send, investingHim with the attributes of majesty and humanity, describing Him as the “Elect One,” the “Anointed,” the “Son of Man,” who should “execute a terrible vengeance on the enemies of...
48. ii. With these regal attributes others combined prophetic functions,and looked for _the Prophet_ that should come into the world (Comp. Jn. vi. 14; i. 21, 46; vii. 40; 1 Macc. xiv. 41), expecting that He would show “signs” not unlike the giving...
49. CHAPTER I.ABOUT the year B.C. 5, when the bloodstained reign of Herod was approaching its close, there lived in Judæa, either at the little village of Juttah, or the time-honoured city of...
50. CHAPTER II.THE voice of Prophecy (Mic. v. 2) had declared that the Messiah should be born at Bethlehem of Judæa, a spot endeared to every Jew as the birth-place of the son of Jesse. Though...
51. ii. 27), and no sooner did he behold the Child, than he saw that thelong-promised hour was come. He _took Him up in his arms_, and blessed God that at length his eyes had been permitted to _see His Salvation, the Light to lighten the Gentiles, a...
52. CHAPTER III.THIS ferocious action was one of the last crimes in the bloodthirsty career of this guilty monarch. Very shortly afterwards he died under circumstances already related[210] at J...
53. PART II.54. CHAPTER I.THE strange Preacher was none other than John, the son of Zacharias. Recalling in his garb and appearance one of the Prophets of the Old Testament, he now came forth from his re...
55. CHAPTER II.SUSTAINED by the ministries of these blessed spirits the Saviour returned towards the Jordan Valley, and drew near the ford of Bethabara or Bethany (Jn. i. 28). Here again He me...
56. CHAPTER III.AFTER a stay of not many days at Capernaum (Jn. ii. 12) the Redeemer and His five disciples turned their steps southward towards Jerusalem, to celebrate the first Passover of Hi...
57. PART III.58. CHAPTER I.THE private interview with Nicodemus just related appears to have closed the occurrences at this first eventful Passover. When the pilgrim-companies broke up each for their own...
59. CHAPTER II.AFTER this stay in Samaria the Saviour returned to Galilee. Thither had gone before Him the fame of the miracles He had wrought at Jerusalem, reported by those Galilæans who had...
60. CHAPTER III.AMONGST the places He now visited, the Redeemer repaired to Nazareth, where _He had been brought up_ (Lk. iv. 16), and where many, if not all His kindred were residing. The Sabb...
61. CHAPTER IV.EARLY on the following morning Peter and his companions found that their Master had left the city, and retired to a solitary place for the purpose of engaging in secret prayer....
62. PART IV.63. CHAPTER I.WE have now reached a very important turning-point in the Gospel History. While the fame of the Saviour had spread abroad in every direction throughout the land, the animosity o...
64. xv. 40), also of Bethsaida, and4. John, his brother, afterwards known as “the friend of Jesus,” the “♦disciple whom Jesus loved” (Jn. xiii. 23), and in the ancient Church as ὁ ἐπιστήθιος, he who “leaned on Hi...
65. CHAPTER II.APPARENTLY while He was in the neighbourhood of Nain[311], the Saviour received an invitation from a Pharisee, named Simon, to enter his house, and sit at meat with him (Lk. vii...
66. CHAPTER III.IMMEDIATELY after this miracle the Lord crossed over to the western shore of the lake (Mk. v. 21), where a great multitude was awaiting Him, and amongst them one of the prefects...
67. PART V.68. CHAPTER I.AT this time the Passover, the second Passover, as seems most probable, during the Saviour’s public ministry, drew nigh (Jn. vi. 4), but on this occasion He does not appear to h...
69. vi. 19), when one of those sudden storms of wind to which the lakeis subject, rushed down from the western mountains, and lashing the usually placid surface into waves (Mtt. xiv. 24) prevented them making their way towards Capernaum, and expos...
70. CHAPTER II.THE fact of the Saviour’s presence on the western side of the lake was soon spread abroad amongst the people (Mk. vi. 54), and, as so often before, they brought their sick, who...
71. CHAPTER III.THE effect of these miraculous cures on the inhabitants of the half-pagan district of Decapolis was very great, and they confessed that the God who had chosen Israel was indeed...
72. viii. 34), and in their hearing, as well as that of the Apostles,bade any who would come after Him, _take up his Cross_ and follow Him, for through the gate of suffering lay the road to Glory, not only for Himself, but for all His followers (...
73. CHAPTER IV.AFTER the announcement we have just considered, the teaching of the Lord as addressed to His disciples assumed a new character. The mysterious close of His life had been already...
74. ix. 32), we infer that evening was the time of this retirement ofthe Holy One, the close, it may be, of a long day spent in going about doing good. While, then, they slept and He continued engaged in prayer, a marvellous change came over His...
75. CHAPTER V.AFTER the incidents just related, the Redeemer appears to have again turned His steps southward through the northern parts of Galilee and in the direction of Capernaum (Mtt. xvi...
76. vii. 5), were yet not above cherishing feelings of pride and exultationat the mighty works which He wrought[371], bade Him leave Galilee, and display proofs of His wonder-working power, no longer in obscure northern towns, but in the streets of Jer...
77. PART VI.78. CHAPTER I.MEANWHILE the excitement at Jerusalem respecting the Saviour was very great. The Festivals of Passover and Pentecost had alike passed away, and He had not assumed publicly the t...
79. vii. 37), taking up His parable from the water brought in a goldenvessel from the Pool of Siloam and poured before the Brazen Altar[376], preached with peculiar appropriateness on _the living waters_ of the Spirit, which should flow forth when...
80. viii. 1), and reappeared in the Temple surrounded by the multitude,they brought to Him a woman who had been taken in the act of adultery, and placing her in the midst requested His decision respecting her. The Law of Moses certainly denounced d...
81. CHAPTER II.AFTER this signal discomfiture of His enemies, the Redeemer would seem to have been permitted to resume His discourses to the people in one of the temple corridors, known as the...
82. CHAPTER III.FROM this point the exact movements of our blessed Lord are enwrapped in some obscurity, and the region whither he now retired is a matter of conjecture. It seems probable, howe...
83. CHAPTER IV.BY the time the incident recorded in the last Chapter took place, the season of winter had returned (Jn. x. 22), and the snow lay upon the mountains[401]. With the return of win...
84. CHAPTER V.WHILE the Lord was in Peræa, and apparently in the neighbourhood of Bethabara, a messenger reached Him from the sisters Martha and Mary[421], announcing that their brother Lazar...
85. CHAPTER VI.The effect it exerted upon those who witnessed it was twofold. Many of those, who had come to mourn with the sisters of Bethany, avowed their belief in the Saviour’s claims (Jn....
86. x. 32), and the dauntless resolution with which He pressed on towardsJerusalem (Mk. x. 33), they could not enter into the meaning of His words. His predictions of suffering and death clashed with all their deeply-rooted ideas of the nature of the...
87. CHAPTER I.IT was apparently on a Friday evening when the Saviour reached the hamlet of Bethany, where in quiet retirement He could spend His last earthly Sabbath. At Bethany resided one S...
88. xii. 9) resorted thither not only to see Him but Lazarus also, whoseresurrection from the dead caused many to avow their belief in the Lord of life (Jn. xii. 11). This fact was well known to the chief-priests, and a council was convened to consi...
89. xix. 37), their feelings found expression in the prophetic languageof the Psalms, and with loud Hosannas they glorified God (Lk. xix. 37), and proclaimed the approach of the _Son of David_ to receive the kingdom of His Father, and to establish...
90. CHAPTER II.THE country between Bethany and Jerusalem, as has been observed in the previous Chapter, abounded in gardens of fig-trees, from which fact indeed Bethphage, or the “House of Fig...
91. CHAPTER III.THUS far the efforts of the ruling powers had been of no avail. The authority of the Lord with the people remained unshaken, His career was unchecked, and they themselves had be...
92. i. First, then, approached the Herodians with certain of the Pharisees(Mtt. xxii. 16) enquiring whether it was _lawful to give tribute to Cæsar, or not_? How keenly this question was debated in Palestine, and what disturbances it had caused, espec...
93. CHAPTER IV.AT the close of these solemn prophecies the Redeemer reminded the Apostles that after two days the Passover would be celebrated, and the Son of Man would be betrayed to be cruci...
94. xxii. 8), and informed them that on entering it they would meet a manbearing a pitcher of water, whom they were to follow to whatever house he should enter. On reaching it they were to address to the owner[491] of this house the significant words...
95. CHAPTER V.THE road, which the Redeemer and His Apostles now traversed, led across the Kidron, and thence to a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives, which from the produce of the adja...
96. xxii. 51); then rebuking the disciple for his over-hasty zeal, andprotesting[506] meekly against the mode in which He had been arrested by His captors, He allowed Himself to be bound and led towards the city; for it was their _hour and the pow...
97. CHAPTER VI.The first object was to secure the agreement of two witnesses on some specific charge (Mtt. xxvi. 59; Mk. xiv. 55). But this was found to be a matter of the utmost difficulty. M...
98. CHAPTER VII.WHAT amount of knowledge Pilate already possessed of the Saviour’s person and character is not known. But he could not fail to have been surprised, on this occasion, at the earn...
99. CHAPTER VIII.THUS the Holy One was formally delivered into the hands of the soldiers[563], who instantly made their preparations for His crucifixion. The place of execution was a spot of sli...
100. xxvii. 34), but would not drink it, being resolved to preserve Hissenses clear, and to endure all the coming agony in the full possession of His consciousness. Then the soldiers stripped Him of His garments, nailed His hands and feet to the Cr...
101. CHAPTER IX.THE day was now far advanced. Unconscious that the true Paschal Lamb, the antitype of all previous sacrifices, had offered up Himself upon the altar of His Cross for the sins of...
102. xx. 16), and apparently in her bewildered joy sought to clasp the feetof His risen Body. But this might not be. The relations between herself and the mighty Conqueror of death were changed. _Touch Me not_[611], said He, _for I am not yet ascended...
103. CHAPTER X.Early in the same afternoon two[613] of the disciples, Cleopas[614] and another, whose name is not recorded, set out from Jerusalem in the direction of the village of Emmaus[615...
104. CHAPTER I.IN accordance with the command of their lately ascended Lord, the Apostles remained in the Holy City, and there _continued with one accord in prayer and supplication_ (Acts i. 1...
105. CHAPTER II.THUS at the Feast which celebrated the ingathering of the natural harvest, a rich harvest of souls was for the first time gathered into the Christian garner, the Church assumed...
106. CHAPTER III.THUS terminated the first collision of the Christian community with the ruling powers at Jerusalem. Within that community itself all as yet went well. While the Apostles with in...
107. CHAPTER IV.UP to this time, it will be observed, the attempts to put down the new Faith had come from the Sadducaic party. Separated in no respect from the nation, the members of the Chris...
108. CHAPTER I.THE martyrdom of the great Hellenist, who was conveyed to his grave amidst much lamentation _by devout men_[737] (Acts viii. 2), was the signal for a furious persecution of the...
109. CHAPTER II.IN His parting charge to His Apostles the Saviour had declared that they should be His witnesses _in Jerusalem, and in all Judæa, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of...
110. CHAPTER III.WHATEVER was the precise object of this journey to Arabia, and whatever was its duration, certain it is that the Apostle returned thence to Damascus (Gal. i. 17), and _preached...
111. CHAPTER IV.Cæsarea, as has been already stated, was the head-quarters of the Roman government in Judæa[816]. Among the troops quartered there was a cohort of Italians[817], possibly volunt...
112. CHAPTER V.ABOUT the time when these delegates from the church at Antioch arrived on their errand of Christian love at Jerusalem, a severe calamity befell the Church there. On the accessio...
113. PART III.114. CHAPTER I.THE martyrdom of Stephen exercised, as we have seen, an important influence on the development of the Church, scattering the disciples over heathen lands. The martyrdom of James...
115. CHAPTER II.ON reaching Iconium[888], as they had done at Antioch, the Apostles repaired to the synagogue, and there proclaimed their message with such success, that a great multitude both...
116. CHAPTER III.FOLLOWING the coast-line of Phœnicia[909], and then traversing the midland districts of Samaria and Judæa, the deputation from the church at Antioch proclaimed in every town the...
117. xv. 12) Paul and Barnabas rose, and were eagerly listened to whilethey recounted in a continued narrative what God had wrought by their instrumentality among the Gentiles in Antioch and Cyprus and the cities of Pamphylia and Lycaonia, and decl...
118. ii. 9), and agreed to recognise unreservedly his independent missionto the heathen as well as their own to the Jews (Gal. ii. 9). One condition only was annexed, that in his journeys among the Gentiles and the dispersed Jews he would not forget...
119. CHAPTER I.THE sphere of the labours of St Paul, as the Apostle of the Gentiles, having been publickly recognized at Jerusalem, he did not deem it right to linger at Antioch, and therefore...
120. iii. 1) they received with eagerness and deep fervour, and many, bothJews and Gentiles, men and women, freemen and slaves[956] (Gal. iii. 27, 28), professed themselves believers, and the churches of Galatia were added to those of Cilicia, Lycaoni...
121. iv. 14), who had now joined him, either by pre-arrangement, or by aprovidential meeting, or perhaps in consequence of his feeble state of health[965]. They were not long in coming to a conclusion. The vision could have but one meaning. The Lord...
122. CHAPTER II.THE wind blew fair, when the Apostle and his companions left Troas, and running before it in a straight course they reached, probably the same night[966], the island of Samothra...
123. i. 11), a town in proconsular Asia, famous ever since the days of HomerOn the Sabbath the newly-arrived strangers joined the little company by the river-side, and sitting down[976] in the attitude of teachers, spoke to the women there assembled. Ly...
124. CHAPTER III.LEAVING, then, their first Macedonian converts, Paul and Silas proceeded along the great Roman road, known as the Via Egnatia, to Amphipolis[984], and thence through Apollonia[9...
125. xvii. 17), and preached to the Jews and proselytes, and during the weekIn such a place and among such a people he was not likely to lack an audience. _All the Athenians and the strangers that were there_, writes St Luke, _spent their time in nothin...
126. CHAPTER IV.AFTER a stay at Athens, the duration of which is not recorded, the Apostle Paul repaired to Corinth, a place eminently adapted to be the centre of missionary operations, being t...
127. iv. 9, 10), and a tendency to despise the gift of prophesying, orFor these reasons he addressed his first Epistle to the Thessalonians. Meanwhile the progress of the Church at Corinth had awakened the determined opposition of the Jews, who no...
128. ii. 2), and the authority of a rumoured letter from the Apostle himselfin support of their views (2 Thess. ii. 2). To discourage such ideas, and that neglect of daily employments (2 Thess. iii. 6–16) to which they led, the Apostle wrote again, A.D....
129. CHAPTER I.AFTER staying some time at Antioch, the Apostle resolved to enter upon his third missionary journey. Accompanied, it is probable, by Timothy[1021], he began by a systematic visi...
130. CHAPTER II.DURING the Apostle’s stay at Ephesus disastrous intelligence arrived from Corinth. The Church established there combined two distinct elements, Jews or proselytes and Gentiles,...
131. CHAPTER III.ON the occasion of his former visit to Troas[1044] the Apostle had been able to stay but a very short time. Now, however, though disturbed in mind by the late outbreak, he occup...
132. i. 1), but till Titus arrived his flesh could find no rest; he wasAt last the long-expected messenger reached Philippi, and bore with him tidings sufficiently cheering to relieve the Apostle of the chief load of his anxieties. His first Epistl...
133. CHAPTER IV.DEEP as was the grief of the brethren at the departure of the Apostle, no long time could be devoted to its indulgence. The wind blew fair[1058], and the vessel was ready to dep...
134. CHAPTER V.STANDING then on the stairs, and beckoning to the crowd with his chained hands to invite their attention, the Apostle began to address them in the Hebrew language. Charmed by th...
135. CHAPTER VI.FIVE days after the Apostle’s arrival at Cæsarea his accusers made their appearance, headed by the high-priest Ananias, certain of the elders, and an orator named Tertullus[1100...
136. CHAPTER I.AS soon, then, as it was actually decided that St Paul should be sent to Rome, he was delivered over with certain other prisoners to a centurion, named Julius, belonging to the...
137. xxvii. 16), forgetful of past difficulties, and blind to impendingdangers[1130],” when suddenly a violent wind, called Euroclydon[1131], came down from the heights of Ida[1132] on the Cretan shores, and striking the ship whirled her round with...
138. CHAPTER II.THUS flung upon the shore, the exhausted voyagers ascertained that the island was none other than Melita[1140], at that time much uncultivated and overrun with wood, and inhabit...
139. xxviii. 13), to put into Rhegium at the entrance of the straits, wherethey remained one day. On the following morning a south wind sprang up, and they were enabled to reach Puteoli[1143], the most sheltered part of the bay of Naples, and the great...
140. CHAPTER III.BEYOND the point where the last Chapter ends, the sacred narrative, contained in the Acts of the Apostles, does not conduct us. The incidents connected with St Paul’s imprisonme...
141. CHAPTER IV.THE Apostle’s trial, as we have seen in the preceding Chapter, was long delayed. At length, however, a time was fixed for hearing his case, and after a trial in all probability...
142. Part III. Three Apostles.1 ‒ The Edition of the _Synopsis Evangelica_ of Tischendorf referred to is the First Edition, 1854; that of Wieseler’s _Synopsis of the Four Gospels_ is the English Translation...
143. xvi. 1) in all probability the same as the ancientGezer or Gazer (Josh. x. 33; xii. 12), between the lower Beth-horon and the sea. Thither we find David pursued the Philistines (2 Sam. v. 25; 1 Chr. xiv. 16), and the place was...
144. i. Some would throw the emphasis on the ἐγένετο, andtranslate, “This enrolment first _took effect_ when Cyrenius was governor of Syria,” i.e. the enrolment, enumeration of persons, _descriptio capitum_, was made at the time of ou...
145. iii. It appears, however, almost certain, Merivale says_demonstrated_, that Publius Sulpicius Quirinus (Cyrenius) was _twice_ governor of Syria, _first_ from A.U.C. 750–753, or B.C. 4–1, and _secondly_ from A.U.C. 760–765, or A.D. 6...
146. ix. 11), and were then or afterwards colonised by strangers(Is. ix. 1), who increased in number during the Captivity and the times of the Maccabees (1 Macc. v. 20–23), and chiefly consisted of Syrians, Phœnicians, Arabs, and Greeks. It...
147. xix. 38), who was appointed by lot, held his authority(ii) _Imperial_ provinces were governed by a _Proprætor_, in Greek Ἀντιστράτηγος, or as he was sometimes termed “Legatus,” or Πρεσβευτής, the representative or “Commissioner” of...
148. xxvii. 27); (d) came up to Jerusalem at the time of thegreat festivals, when, according to Josephus, he resided in the palace of Herod (_B. J._ II. 14. 3); (e) had an audience-chamber (Acts xxv. 23), and a judgment-seat (Acts xxv. 6...
149. c. Philip first brought Nathanael to Jesus, and150. d. St Luke couples Philip with Bartholomew precisely in255 ‒ Perhaps for the purpose of prayer and meditation. “The foliage of the fig-tree produces a thick shade, and the Jewish Rabbis were accustomed to rise early and study beneat...
151. xi. 23) that the very site of Capernaum, then a flourishingand populous place, is now one of the most hotly-contested points connected with the geography of Palestine: (i) some would place it at _Khân Minyeh_, at the N.E. end of the Pla...
152. vi. The women and children picking out from the wheatthe tall green stalks, called by the Arabs _Zurwân_, = the Greek _Zizania_, = the _Lollia_ of the Vulgate, = the _tares_ of our version, which if sown designedly throughout the...
153. vi. 10) still fresh in the spring of the year, before ithad faded away in the summer sun――the tall grass which, broken down by the feet of the thousands there gathered together, would make as it were couches (Mk. vi. 39, 40) for them...
154. xiii. 19), and with a village on a conspicuous conical hill,435 ‒ “In this border-land it was more natural than elsewhere that they should find themselves in one company, and thus a Samaritan had found admission into this forlorn assembl...
155. i. When they had reclined, he began by taking one of thefour cups of wine in his right hand, and pronounced the benediction over the wine and the feast, saying, _Blessed be Thou, O Lord our God, the King of the universe_, who hast cr...
156. iii. The table was next set out with the unleavened bread,157. iv. The Proclaimer of the Feast then blessed God for thev. The _Haggadah_ or _showing forth_ now commenced, and the Celebrant declared the circumstances of the delivery from Egypt, as commanded in the law (Ex. xii. 27; xiii. 8). Then...
158. vi. Then, after a second washing of hands, taking two ofthe unleavened cakes, the Celebrant broke one of them, pronouncing the consecration in these words; _Blessed be Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who bringest forth fr...
159. vii. The flesh of the Lamb was now eaten, and the160. viii. After thanksgiving for the food of which they hadpartaken, for the delivery from Egypt, the covenant of circumcision, and the Law, a fourth cup was filled and drunk, known as the _Cup of Joy_, for the remainder of the Hallel,...
161. ix. Occasionally a fifth cup was drunk, while Psalms493 ‒ The view here taken, then, is that (i) the Supper, to which our Lord sat down, was, as the first three Evangelists (Mtt. xxvi. 17; Mk. xiv. 12; Lk. xxii. 7) clearly intima...
162. xxi. 8), and two of them perform the work of preachers718 ‒ Among the conspicuous opponents of the great Hellenist in the synagogue of Cilicia was doubtless _a young man_ (Acts vii. 58) a citizen of Tarsus, distinguished already by...
163. vi. 9, the most probable are (i) that they were theinhabitants of Libertum, a town in the proconsular province of Africa, a bishop of which place is mentioned in the Council of Carthage, A.D. 411; (ii) that they were Jews, who h...
164. xiii. 39 the first germ of the deeper teaching of St Paul888 ‒ Now called _Konieh_, situated on the western part of an extensive table-land of Asia Minor, not far north of Mount Taurus. This region was anciently called Lycaonia, and t...
165. v. 2); but he had never been at Rome, hence in his Epistleto that Church he puts the same points upon argument. “This distinction between the two Epistles is suited to the relation in which the Apostle stood to his different correspond...
166. xxi. 38), whom he persuaded to follow him to the Mountof Olives, promising that the walls of Jerusalem would fall down at his command, and they would be enabled to seize Jerusalem, and assume the government. Felix, however, marched...