Chapter 2:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Lightfoot
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| McGee
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Mark John
Luke 2
Verse 1. That all the world should be enrolled - That all the inhabitants,
male and female, of every town in the Roman empire, with their
families and estates, should be registered.
Verse
2. When Cyrenius was governor of Syria - When Publius
Sulpicius Quirinus governed the province of Syria, in which Judea
was then included.
Verse
6. And while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she
should be delivered - Mary seems not to have known that the
child must have been born in Bethlehem, agreeably to the
prophecy. But the providence of God took care for it.
Verse
7. She laid him in the manger - Perhaps it might rather be
translated in the stall. They were lodged in the ox stall, fitted up
on occasion of the great concourse, for poor guests. There was no
room for them in the inn - Now also, there is seldom room for
Christ in an inn. Matt. i, 25.
Verse
11. To you - Shepherds; Israel; mankind.
Verse
14. Glory be to God in the highest; on earth peace; good will
toward men - The shouts of the multitude are generally broken
into short sentences. This rejoicing acclamation strongly
represents the piety and benevolence of these heavenly spirits: as
if they had said, Glory be to God in the highest heavens: let all the
angelic legions resound his praises. For with the Redeemer's birth,
peace, and all kind of happiness, come down to dwell on earth:
yea, the overflowings of Divine good will and favour are now
exercised toward men.
Verse
20. For all the things that they had heard - From Mary; as it was
told them - By the angels.
Verse
21. To circumcise the child - That he might visibly be made under
the law by a sacred rite, which obliged him to keep the whole law;
as also that he might be owned to be the seed of Abraham, and
might put an honour on the solemn dedication of children to God.
Verse
22. The days - The forty days prescribed, Lev. xii, 2, 4.
Verse
23. Exod. xiii, 2.
Verse
24. A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons - This offering
sufficed for the poor. Lev. xii, 8.
Verse
25. The consolation of Israel - A common phrase for the Messiah,
who was to be the everlasting consolation of the Israel of God.
The Holy Ghost was upon him - That is, he was a prophet.
Verse
27. By the Spirit - By a particular Revelation or impulse from
him.
Verse
30. Thy salvation - Thy Christ, thy saviour.
Verse
32. And the glory of thy people Israel - For after the Gentiles are
enlightened, all Israel shall be saved.
Verse
33. Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were
spoken - For they did not thoroughly understand them.
Verse
34. Simeon blessed them - Joseph and Mary. This child is set for
the fall and rising again of many - That is, he will be a savour of
death to some, to unbelievers: a savour of life to others, to
believers: and for a sign which shall be spoken against - A sign
from God, yet rejected of men: but the time for declaring this at
large was not yet come: that the thoughts of many hearts may be
revealed - The event will be, that by means of that contradiction,
the inmost thoughts of many, whether good or bad, will be made
manifest.
Verse
35. A sword shall pierce through thy own soul - So it did, when he
suffered: particularly at his crucifixion.
Verse
37. Fourscore and four years - These were the years of her life,
not her widowhood only. Who departed not from the temple -
Who attended there at all the stated hours of prayer. But served
God with fastings and prayers - Even at that age. Night and day -
That is, spending therein a considerable part of the night, as well
as of the day.
Verse
38. To all that were waiting for redemption - The scepter now
appeared to be departing from Judah, though it was not actually
gone: Daniel's weeks were plainly near their period. And the
revival of the spirit of prophecy, together with the memorable
occurrences relating to the birth of John the Baptist, and of Jesus,
could not but encourage and quicken the expectation of pious
persons at this time. Let the example of these aged saints animate
those, whose hoary heads, like theirs, are a crown of glory, being
found in the way of righteousness. Let those venerable lips, so
soon to be silent in the grave, be now employed in the praises of
their Redeemer. Let them labour to leave those behind, to whom
Christ will be as precious as he has been to them; and who will be
waiting for God's salvation, when they are gone to enjoy it.
Verse
40. And the child grew - In bodily strength and stature; and waxed
strong in spirit - The powers of his human mind daily improved;
filled with wisdom - By the light of the indwelling Spirit, which
gradually opened itself in his soul; and the grace of God was upon
him - That is, the peculiar favour of God rested upon him, even as
man.
Verse
43. The child Jesus - St. Luke describes in order Jesus the fruit of
the womb, chap. i, 42; an infant, chap. ii, 12; a little child, ver. 40;
a child here, and afterward a man. So our Lord passed through
and sanctified every stage of human life. Old age only did not
become him.
Verse
44. Supposing him to have been in the company - As the men and
women usually travelled in distinct companies.
Verse
46. After three days - The first day was spent in their journey, the
second, in their return to Jerusalem: and the third, in searching for
him there: they found him in the temple - In an apartment of it:
sitting in the midst of the doctors - Not one word is said of his
disputing with them, but only of his asking and answering
questions, which was a very usual thing in these assemblies, and
indeed the very end of them. And if he was, with others, at the
feet of these teachers (where learners generally sat) he might be
said to be in the midst of them, as they sat on benches of a
semicircular form, raised above their hearers and disciples.
Verse
49. Why sought ye me? - He does not blame them for losing, but
for thinking it needful to seek him: and intimates, that he could
not be lost, nor found any where, but doing the will of a higher
parent.
Verse
50. It is observable that Joseph is not mentioned after this time;
whence it is probable, he did not live long after.
Verse
52. Jesus increased in wisdom - As to his human nature, and in
favour with God - In proportion to that increase. It plainly
follows, that though a man were pure, even as Christ was pure,
still he would have room to increase in holiness, and in
consequence thereof to increase in the favour, as well as in the
love of God.
Chapter 2:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Lightfoot
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGarvey Pendleton
| McGee
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Mark John
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
Genesis
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