:

in pieces neither could any man tame him.

5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,

7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

8 (For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.)

9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we

are many.

10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the

melancholy wanderings, and self-injury, ver. 5, all indicate an aggravated case of insanity, and fully correspond with what is now frequently witnessed in madmen.

6. Worshipped him. "Fell down before him." Luke viii. 28.

13. Entered into the swine. "That the madness was actually transferred, we need not assert. The physical manner in which a miracle was wrought is a needless subject of discussion. It must be observed that those who are called demoniacs spake and acted according to their own ideas, as if they had been really possessed; as, in modern times, those who attributed natural diseases to the power of witchcraft, supposed that the terrors of their minds, and the pains of their bodies, were caused by the immediate agency of persons, who, from the belief and prejudices of the age, were constantly haunting their imaginations. It did not be

13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand) and were choked in the sea.

14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.

15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind and they were afraid.

16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.

17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.

19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home long to our Lord's department, as a religious instructer, to correct the physical errors of the Jews; and therefore he used the common phraseology on the subject of demoniacs."-Newcome.

15. Sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind. A graphic description of a restoration from madness to perfect sanity. Afraid. Awe-struck. They felt that wonderful power had been exerted. Jesus, with a word, had done what others had in vain attempted, by force and persuasions.

18. Prayed him that he might be with him. Perhaps being fearful that his malady would return, and desirous, in such case, to be near the mighty Physician.

29. Jesus suffered him not. From what follows in this verse, it seems probable Jesus refused to grant his request, in order that both he and his countrymen might know that his cures were effectual; and that there was no

22 And behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

25 And a certain woman which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things need that he should keep his patients perpetually under his own eye.

20. Decapolis. See note on Matt. iv. 25. All men did marvel. Where the miracles of Jesus failed to convince, they filled the beholders with astonishment; for they could not be blind to the fact, that more than human power was exerted.

21. Unto the other side. That is, to Capernaum. See Matt. ix. 1. As usual, a multitude assembled immediately. "When Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him, for they were all waiting for him." Luke

viii. 40.

22-43. See notes on Luke viii. 41-56. Parallel also with Matt. ix. 18-26. 26. Rather grew worse. This notice of the ineffectual results of medical treatment, some of which would seem to have been of a painful character, evinces the inveteracy of the disease, and the greater apparent difficulty attending its cure.

of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment:

28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made

30. Virtue had gone out of him. Rather, power; for such is the import of the original; that is, power to heal, or miraculous power. Who touched my clothes? Of course he knew who touched, and whom he healed; but he asked this question, that the woman might have an opportunity gratefully to acknowledge the blessing, and that the bystanders might know he had power to heal without addressing, touching, or even seeing, the subject of his cure.

33. The woman, fearing and trembling. Her humility and modesty induced a fear that Jesus would reprove her presumption in touching his garments. T Told him all the truth. "Declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately." Luke viii. 47.

34. Daughter. An affectionate manner of address. She had no occasion to fear or tremble, after she heard the

CHAPTER VI.

AND he went out from thence,

and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. 2 And when the sabbath-day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

6 And he marvelled because of

"Jesus did not impose perpetual silence upon the parents, but forbade them to divulge the matter immedi ately, so that he might escape the multitude assembled at the door, and furnish no occasion of tumult."-Kuinoel. Or perhaps what he forbade was a public declaration of his Messiahship, lest there should be a tumult among the people, or a premature violent opposition by the civil or ecclesiastical rulers. See note on Matt. ix. 30. Given her to eat. An evidence that she was restored not only to life, but to health, so that she might again partake of her customary food with perfect safety.

CHAPTER VI.

1-6. See this passage fully explained, in notes on Matt. xiii. 53-58. 7. By two and two. That they might render mutual advice and assistance. See notes on Matt. x. 1, 5.

8-11. See notes on Matt. x. 9-15. See also Luke ix. 1-5.

their unbelief. And he went round about the villages teaching.

7 And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

8 And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: 9 But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

10 And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into a house, there abide till ye depart from that place.

11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet, for a testimony against them. Verily, I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city.

12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

12. Preached that men should repent. "Preaching the gospel." Luke ix. 6. The gospel or the good news of the kingdom is frequently mentioned as productive of repentance or reformation. See Matt. iii. 2; iv. 17; Rom. ii. 4; Tit. ii. 11, 12. An exhibition of divine grace naturally tends to melt the heart, and to turn it from iniquity to righteousness.

13. Many devils. See note on ch. v. T Anointed with oil. Anointing with oil was in common use among the Jews in cases of sickness. By them it was applied medicinally; but not so by the apostles. "The oil was a sign of this miraculous working, and not a medicine to heal diseases."-Geneva Bible. Thus the apostle directs, "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up," &c. James v. 14, 15.

14 And king Herod heard of him, (for his name was spread abroad,) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

15 Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.

16 But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded he is risen from the dead.

17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her.

18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could

not:

20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and a holy, and observed him: and

No efficacy is here ascribed to the oil, and it can be regarded only as an emblem. The prayer of faith is the only human means represented as contributing to the result. Exercising such faith, they should be able to heal the sick by the divine power miraculously exerted. Our Lord, though he could heal by a touch, a word, or even by an effort of the will alone, sometimes made use of visible emblems, not medically, but to fix the attention of the witnesses more fully and distinctly upon the miracle. John ix. 6, 7, 11. It may be added, that when the Jews anointed with oil as a medicine, it often failed to cure; but when applied as an emblem by the apostles, the healing influence of divine power was effectual.

12.

14-29. See notes on Matt. xiv. 1

19. She could not. Herodias was so exasperated against John, because he had borne a faithful testimony against her adulterous and incestuous conduct, that she would have killed him. And

when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod, and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me, by and by, in a charger, the head of John the Baptist.

26 And the king was exceeding

nothing hindered her from at once adding murder to her other crimes, except the lack of power. Her husband, who held the power, would not yield, for he had some respect for John as a just man and a holy; and, for a time, prevented his wife from staining her hands with blood. At length, however, she accomplished her design by artifice; and her vengeance was glutted to satiety, when she saw the head of John presented upon the platter. Well did the wise man represent the steps of the strange woman as taking hold on death and the grave. Prov. v. 5.

20. Did many things. It has been judiciously and forcibly observed, that though Herod did many things, in consequence of his respect for John, yet "he did not do the thing which was demanded of him,-to break off from his sins. He attempted to make a compromise with his conscience. He still loved his sins, and did other things, which he supposed might be accepted, in the place of putting away, as he