A paraphrase and annotations upon all the books of the New Testament briefly explaining all the difficult places thereof / by H. Hammond.

CHAP. III.

1. AND he entred again into [the synagogue,] and there was a man there which had a withered hand.

[Paraphrase] 1. the Synagogue at Ca∣pernaum, c. 1. 21.

2. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day, that they might accuse him.]

[Paraphrase] 2. And the Pharisees v. 6. desirous to have somewhat to lay to his charge, thought they had now an opportunity, and therefore observed greedily what he would doe to this lame man, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day or no.

3. And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth.

4. And he saith unto them, [Is it lawfull to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill?] but they held their peace.

[Paraphrase] 4. Which do you conceive to be most unlawfull on the sabbath day, to hurt by not helping, when I am able, to be guilty of killing one whom I can save? Or else to work a cure, to deliver one in distress or danger?

5. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved [for the hardness of their hearts,] he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand, and he stretched it out, and his hand was restored whole as the other.

[Paraphrase] 5. that their hearts were so hardned, as flesh which hath a thick skin grown over it, keeping his words, or miracles from having impression on them.

6. And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway [took counsel with the Hero∣dians] against him, how they might destroy him.

[Paraphrase] 6. entred a consultation with the Herodians; see note on Mat. 22. b.

7. But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea, and a great multi∣tude from Galilee followed him, and from Judea,

8. And from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and from beyond Jordan, and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.

9. And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him, because of the multitude, lest they should throng him.

10. For he had healed many,* 1.1 insomuch that [they [note a] pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues.]

[Paraphrase] 10. They besought him to give them leave but to touch him, and as many of them as had any disease upon them, (see note on 1 Cor. 4. c.)

11. And unclean spirits] when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the son of God.

[Paraphrase] 11. And those that were possessed with devils, or the devils in the possest,

12. And he straitly charged [them] that they should not make him known.

[Paraphrase] 12. those that were thus cured by him, and dispossest (see note Mat. 8. b.)

13. And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him [whom he* 1.2 would,] and they came unto him.

[Paraphrase] 13. A select number.

14. And he ordained twelve, that they should [be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,]

[Paraphrase] 14. be continually atten∣dant on him as disciples are wont, and go on his errands, to preach his doctrine, &c.

15. And to have power] to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils.

[Paraphrase] 15. And to those he gave power.

16. And Simon he surnamed Peter.

[Paraphrase] 16. And these twelve were, 1. Simon, on whom he bestowed a surname, signifying a stone, or rock.

17. And James the son of Zebedee, and John the broher of James (and he sur∣named them [note b] Boanerges, which is, the sons of thunder.)

18. And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the* 1.3 Canaanite.

19. And Judas Is••ariot, which also† 1.4 betrayed him. And they‖ 1.5 went into [an house.]

[Paraphrase] 19. the forementioned house in Capernaum, c. 2. 1.

20. And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread.]

[Paraphrase] 20. And again so great a multitude came in unto him, that they had no time or vacancy to take food, he and his disciples,

21. And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him, for they said,* 1.6 He is [note c] beside himself.]

[Paraphrase] 21. And when his kinred heard the reports abroad con∣cerning him, they came to him to get him home with them, for it was commonly reported, that he was in some excess or tran∣sportation,

22. And the Scribes which came down from Jerusalem, said, [He hath Beelze∣bub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.]

[Paraphrase] 22. He is possessed with the devil, the prince or chief of the devils, (see note on Mar. 12. f.) and by his power it is, not by any divine authority, that he cures, and casts out devils.

23. And he called them to him, and said unto them in parables [How can Satan cast out Satan?]

[Paraphrase] 23. See Lu. 11. 18.

24. And if a kingdome be divided against it selfe, that kingdome cannot stand.

25. And if a house be divided against it self, that house cannot stand.

26. And if [Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end.]

[Paraphrase] 26. the whole community of devils make an insurrecti∣on and schisme against one another, they will certainly be destroyed and not long continue.

27. No man can enter into a strong mans house and* 1.7 spoil his goods] unless he first bind the strong man, and then he will spoil his house.

[Paraphrase] 27. No man can come in∣to the house of a strong man, and rob him. See Mat. 12. 29.

28. Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

[Paraphrase] 28. See Mat. 12. 31.

29. But he that [shall blaspheme against the holy Ghost, hath never forgive∣ness,] but is† 1.8 in danger of eternal damnation.

[Paraphrase] 29. shall resist the holy Spirit (see note on Mat. 12. h.) there is no pardon to be had for him, without particular repentance and reformation,

30. Because they said, [He hath an unclean spirit.]

[Paraphrase] 30. The miracles he doth, are by the power of the devil, v. 22.

31. There came then his brethren and his mother, and standing without sent unto him,* 1.9 calling him.

32. And the multitude sate about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mo∣ther and thy brethren without [seek for thee.]

[Paraphrase] 32. desire thee to come to them.

33. And he answered, saying. Who is my mother or my brethren?

34. And he looked round about on them which sate about him, and said, Be∣hold my mother and my brethren.

35. For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same [is my brother and my sister, and mother.]

[Paraphrase] 33. shall be valued by me as dearly, as any of the nea∣rest relations is by any man.

Annotations on Chap. III.

[ a] * 1.10 V. 10. Pressed upon him] The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 seems to be mistaken by Interpreters, when 'tis rendred either irruere, or incidere, to rush or press upon. It is all one with 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 v. 11. to fall down at his feet, as they do that have any petition or request to make, as these had here, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that they might touch him. Thus ch. 6. 52. in a like matter, it is, in another phrase, to this sense, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, they besought him that they might but touch the hem, &c.

[ b] * 1.11 V. 17. Boanerges] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is the corruption of the Hebrew 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 sons of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, earthquake, or any other the greatest commotion, such as here is stiled 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 thunder. And the meaning of this title may seem to be, that those two sons of Zebedee were to be special eminent Ministers of the Gospel, which is call'd Hebr. 12. 26. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a voice shaking the earth, taken from Hag. 2. 7. which is directly the periphrasis of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 which is here rendred 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 thunder, in the no∣tion, wherein 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 voice, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 thunder are pro∣miscuously used for the same thing (see Note on Act. 9. b.) and wherein the last sort of revelations, the voice from heaven, was wont to be called among the Jews, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the daughter of voice, or thunder.

[ c] * 1.12 V. 21. Beside himself] The word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 here used, doth in all places of the new Testament but this, and 2 Cor. 5 13. signifie being amazed or astonished, some sudden perturbation of mind, which deprives the man of the exercise of his faculties. In that place to the Co∣rinthians 'tis set opposite to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, sobriety, or tem∣per, the speaking magnificently of himself, commending his own office, or performances, exceeding a little in such kind of speeches of himself. For which he saith in ano∣ther place, that he may be counted a fool by some; And thus in the old Testament 'tis variously used for ex∣cesses, or vehemencies, or commotions of mind, Psal. 31. 23. I said in my haste, the Hebrew hath 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Greek,* 1.13 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and the Vulgar Latine, in excessu mentis meae, in the excess, or vehemence of my mind. And the same Hebrew word Psal. 48. 5. is rendred 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 commoti sunt, they were troubled. Agreeably here, I suppose, it will be most fitly taken for a commo∣tion, excess, vehemence, transportation of mind, acting or speaking in zeal (above that which is called (ordi∣narily) temper, and sobriety,) or in such a manner, as they which are moved by some extraordinary spirit, are wont to do, as Prophets &c. according to that of S. Chry∣sostome, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c. 'tis proper to Prophets to be thus transported. See Note on 2 Cor. 12. a. Which sense of the word will be thus fitted to the place. In this chapter Christ began to shew him∣self in the full lustre of his office, he cures on the Sab∣bath day, which the Pharisees conceived unlawfull, v. 2. looks about him 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, with some incitation of mind, v. 5. is followed by great multitudes, v. 7. heals the diseased, and is flocked to for that purpose, v. 10. is called openly the son of God by the demoniacks, v. 11. makes 12. disciples, and sends them out to preach, and cure, v. 14. and upon this the Pharisees and Herodi∣ans take counsel against him, v. 6. those of their faction say he acts by Beelzebub, v. 22. and is possess'd by him, that is, that he was acted by some principal evil spirit, and did all his miracles thus, and so was not to be followed, but abhorred by men. And they that said not these high blasphemies against him, yet 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, said that this making of disciples &c. was a kind of excess, an height, a transportation, and this was the conceit of his own kinred. They had a special preju∣dice against him, ch. 6. 4. and did not believe on him, Joh. 7. 5. And accordingly hearing this report of his doing these high things, came out 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 to get him into their hands, and have him home with them, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, for they said that he was guilty of some excesses. As for that interpretation which renders it of fainting through hunger, though it be favoured by† 1.14 learned men, yet it seems not to have any ground in the nature of the word, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, nor in 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, (being here joyn'd not with a Genitive, but an Accusative case) nor in any circumstances of the Context, save onely the casual mention of their having no time to eat bread, v. 20. (which one thing hath seemed to some to be of so much force, Act. 10. 10. as to cause them to render the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that fell on S. Peter, no more but a sleep, that such as faint, or are dispirited through hunger, fall into, when the vision that is added to it, shews that it was a trance, into which he was cast by God,) but is made improbable by many other circumstances. Of the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, see Note on Act. 10. c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  so that they fell down be∣fore him,
• * 1.2

  pleased, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 see Note on Col. 2. 18.
• * 1.3

  Zelot, see Note on Mat. 10. 4.
• † 1.4

  delivered him up, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• ‖ 1.5

  come into the house, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.6

  That he was out of himself.
• * 1.7

  take away or plunder his houshold fluffe, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.8

  lyable to, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.9

  or, seeking him, for the Kings MS. reads 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.10

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.11

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.12

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.13

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• † 1.14

  See I••. Ca∣s••ubon ad Baron. p 247.