Geneva Study Bible The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. {1} As it is written in the {a} prophets, Behold, {b} I send my messenger {c} before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
(1) John goes before Christ as it was foretold by the prophets. (a) This is the figure of speech called metonymy, by which is meant the books of the prophets Malachi and Isaiah. (b) The prophet uses the present tense when he speaks of a thing to come, as he is as sure of it as if he had already seen it. (c) A metaphor taken from the practice of kings, who used to have ushers go before them. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. {2} John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the {d} baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
(2) The sum of John's doctrine, or rather Christ's, is remission of sins and amendment of life. (d) The Jews used many kinds of washings: but here a peculiar kind of washing is spoken of, which contains within it true baptism, amendment of life, and forgiveness of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. {3} And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to {e} stoop down and unloose.
(3) John and all ministers cast their eyes upon Christ the Lord. (e) The evangelist is expressing here the condition of the basest servant. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. I indeed have {f} baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
(f) He shows that all the power of baptism proceeds from Christ, who baptizes the inner man. And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. {4} And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
(4) Christ consecrates our baptism in himself. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: {5} And straightway {g} coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:
(5) The vocation of Christ from heaven, as head of the Church. (g) John, who went down into the water with Christ. And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am {h} well pleased.
(h) See Geneva Mt 3:17 And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. {6} And immediately the Spirit {i} driveth him into the wilderness.
(6) Christ being tempted overcomes. (i) Driveth here does not refer to something violent and forcible: but the divine power clothes Christ (who had lived until this time as a private man) with a new person, and prepares him for the battle that was at hand, and for his ministry. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, {7} Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
(7) After John is taken Christ shows himself more fully. And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. {8} Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
(8) The calling of Simon and Andrew. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. {9} And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
(9) The calling of James and John. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they went into {k} Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
(k) From the city of Nazareth. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, {10} And there was in their synagogue a man {l} with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
(10) He preaches that doctrine by which alone Satan is driven out of the world, which he also confirms by a miracle. (l) Literally, a man in an unclean spirit, that is to say, possessed with an evil spirit. Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou {m} Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the {n} Holy One of God.
(m) He was born in Bethlehem, but through the error of the people he was called a Nazarene, because he was brought up in Nazareth. (n) He alludes to the name that was written in the golden plate which the high Priest wore; Ex 28:36 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. And when the unclean spirit {o} had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
(o) See below, Mr 9:20. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned {p} among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority {q} commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
(p) As men who were amazed. (q) By his own authority, or as a lord. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region {r} round about Galilee.
(r) Not only into Galilee, but also into the countries bordering upon it. And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. {11} And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
(11) By healing different diseases he shows that he has brought true life into the world. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.
And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.
And all the city was gathered together at the door. And all the city was gathered together at the door.
And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and {f} suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
(s) For it is not proper for the demons to preach the gospel; Ac 16:18 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.
And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee. And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.
And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. And he said unto them, Let us go into the {t} next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
(t) Villages which were like cities. And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.
And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. {12} And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
(12) By healing the leprous he shows that he came for this reason: to wipe out the sins of the world with his touch. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;
And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. {13} And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the {u} priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
(13) He shows that he was not motivated by ambition, but only by the desire for his Father's glory, and by his love towards poor sinners. (u) All the posterity of Aaron had the authority to judge a leper. But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter. But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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