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of death. And it has been remarked that one was brought to repentance there to show that no one should despair on a dying bed, and but one, that no one should be presumptuous and delay repentance to that awful moment. 'When thou comest,' &c. It is impossible now to fix the precise idea which this robber had of Christ's coming. All that we know is, that he fully believed him to be the Messiah, and that he desired to obtain an interest in that kingdom which he knew he would establish.

43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily, I say unto thee, To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

'To-day,' &c. It is not probable that the dying thief expected that his prayer would be so soon answered. It is rather to be supposed that he looked to some future period when the Messiah should rise, or should return. But Jesus assured him that he should receive an answer to his prayer that day, and be with him in his kingdom. 'Paradise.' This word denotes any place of happiness; and particularly the word was used to signify the abodes of the blessed in another world. See 2 Cor. xii. 4. The Jews supposed that the souls of the righteous would be received into such a place, and those of the wicked cast down to Gehenna until the time of the judgment. The plain meaning of the passage is, To-day thou shalt be made happy, or be received to a state of blessedness with me after death.

44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour 45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

See Matt. xxvii. 45-51.

47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man. 48 And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. 49 And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

See Matt. xxvii. 52-56. 'The things which were done.' The earthquake, and darkness, and the sufferings of Jesus. 'Smote their breasts. In token of alarm, fear, and anguish. They saw the judgment of God; they saw the guilt of the rulers; and they feared the further displeasure of the Almighty.

50 ¶ And behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: 51 (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them ;) he was of Arimathea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. 54 And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. 55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. 56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbathday according to the commandment.

See note on Matt. xxvii. 57-61. Mark xv. 42-47.

CHAPTER XXIV.

1 NOW upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8 And they remembered his words, 9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles 11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. 12 Then arose Peter, and ran

unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. See notes on Matt. xxviii. 1-10.

13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

'Two of them.' Two of the disciples. The name of one of them was Cleopas, ver. 18. Lightfoot has shown also that Cleopas is the same as Alpheus, who was the father of the apostle James, Matt. x. 3. 'Emmaus.' This place was situated to the west of Jerusalem. Three score furlongs.' Sixty furlongs, or about seven or eight miles. It seems that they had given up all for lost. Their master had been crucified contrary to their expectation; their hopes dashed; and they were now returning in sadness, and very naturally conversed on the way of the things which had happened in Jerusalem.

14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together, and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

'Communed together.' Talked together. And reasoned.' They reasoned, doubtless, about the probability or improbability that Jesus was the Messiah; about the evidence of his resurrection; and about what was to be done in the present state of things. 'Jesus himself drew near,' &c. The disciples were properly employed. Their minds were anxious about the state of things, and they endeavoured to arrive at the truth. Jesus came to solve their doubts, and establish them in the belief that he was the Christ. And we may learn from this, that Christ will guide those who are sincerely endeavouring to know the truth, and often will appear, in an unexpected manner, to dissipate their doubts and scatter all their perplexities.

16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

Their eyes were holden.' This expression is used merely to denote that they did not know who he was. It may easily be accounted for. Jesus appeared in another form, Mark xvi. 12; that is, in an appearance different from his usual appearance. They were not expecting to see him; indeed they did not suppose that he was alive.

17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

'What manner of communications.' What is the subject of your conversation? What is it that has so much affected your minds?

18 And the one of tnem, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

'Art thou only a stranger? Many Jews came up from all parts of the world to Jerusalem, to keep the passover there. They took Jesus to be such a stranger, or foreigner. The meaning of this verse may be thus expressed: The affair concerning which we are sad, has been public, well-known, and has made a great talk and noise, so that all, even the strangers who have come up to remain there but a little time, are well acquainted with it. Art thou the only one of them who hast not heard it? Is every body so well acquainted with it, and thou hast not heard of it ?""

19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him

'A prophet. A teacher sent from God. They did not now call him the Messiah, for his death had led them to doubt that. Mighty in deed.' Powerful in working miracles. In word." In teaching, Before God and all the people.' Manifestly, publicly. So that God owned him, and the people regarded him as a distinguished teacher.

21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and besides all this, to-day is the third day since these things were done.

'We trusted.' We hoped and expected. Should have redeemed Israel.' That he was the Messiah, who would have delivered the nation from the Romans. 'Besides all this.' Cleopas states things as they occurred to his own mind. There is little connexion. His mind is confused. There were so many things that were remarkable in Jesus; there was so much evidence that he was the Messiah; and yet all their hopes had been dashed so suddenly by his death; and even the wonders did not cease then; that his mind was confused, and he knew not what to think. The expressions here bespeak an agitated mind. If this had been an imposture, this artless and perplexed narrative would not have been thought of. Today is the third day,' &c. As if they had said, the third day had come, and we have not seen him.

Yet we begin to remember his promise; the angels have informed us that he is alive; but we do not know how to put these things together, and what to make of them.

22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre ; 23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, That they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

'Certain women.' See Matt. xxviii. 1-7. 'A vision of angels.' An appearance of angels. See John xx. 12.

24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

'Certain of them which were with us.' Peter and John. See John xx. 2-9.

25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

O fools.' The word 'fool,' in this place, denotes weakness or dulness. It does not in the original imply as much reproach as the word fool does among us. It was not an expression of contempt, but denoted merely that they were thoughtless, that they did not properly attend to the evidence that he must die, and rise again. Slow of heart to believe.' He reproached them for not seeing what he had himself so clearly predicted, and what had been foretold by the prophets. They had suffered their previous opinions and prejudices to prevent their seeing the evidence that he must die, and rise from the dead. 'All that the prophets have spoken. Respecting the character and sufferings of the Messiah. See note on ver. 27.

26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

'Ought not Christ.' Was there not evidence that he would do it; and was it not indispensable that he should do it in order to fulfil the prophecies? The reason why it was predicted, and why it was necessary that it should be, was that God was just; that it was proper he should manifest his justice, and do honour to his law, while he pardoned the guilty.

27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

'Beginning at Moses.' At the writings of Moses, or at the beginning of the Old Testament. of the Old Testament generally.

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6 All the prophets.' The books He expounded.' He explained

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