Luke 7:15

And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(15) He delivered him to his mother.—Literally, He gave him. The mother was, probably, following at some little distance with the other mourners. As she came up she received her son as given to her once again, “God-given,” in a higher sense then when she had rejoiced that a man-child was born into the world.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

7:11-18 When the Lord saw the poor widow following her son to the grave, he had compassion on her. See Christ's power over death itself. The gospel call to all people, to young people particularly, is, Arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light and life. When Christ put life into him, it appeared by the youth's sitting up. Have we grace from Christ? Let us show it. He began to speak: whenever Christ gives us spiritual life, he opens the lips in prayer and praise. When dead souls are raised to spiritual life, by Divine power going with the gospel, we must glorify God, and look upon it as a gracious visit to his people. Let us seek for such an interest in our compassionate Saviour, that we may look forward with joy to the time when the Redeemer's voice shall call forth all that are in their graves. May we be called to the resurrection of life, not to that of damnation.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The gate of the city - Cities were surrounded by walls, to defend them from their enemies. They were entered through "gates" placed at convenient distances from each other. In most cities it was not allowed to bury the dead within the walls; hence, they were carried to some convenient burial-place in the vicinity of the city.

A dead man carried out - A funeral procession. Anciently no Jews were buried within the walls of the city, except the kings and distinguished persons, 1 Samuel 28:3; 2 Kings 21:18. The custom of burying within cities, and especially within the walls of churches or in their vicinity, had its origin among Christians very early; yet perhaps few customs are more deleterious to health than burials within large cities, especially within the walls of frequented buildings. The effluvia from dead bodies is excessively unwholesome. Burial-places should be in situations of retirement, far from the tread of the happy and busy world, where all the feelings may be still and calm, and where there can be no injury to health from the mouldering bodies of the dead.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

14, 15. What mingled majesty and grace shines in this scene! The Resurrection and the Life in human flesh, with a word of command, bringing back life to the dead body; Incarnate Compassion summoning its absolute power to dry a widow's tears!

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Luke 7:11"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And he that was dead,.... That had been dead, (for he was now alive,) as it was a clear case to all his relations and friends, or they would never have brought him out to bury him:

sat up; upon the bed, or bier: and began to speak; both which, his sitting up and speaking, were plain proofs of his being brought to life:

and he delivered him to his mother; for whose sake he raised him from the dead, commiserating her case: wherefore, as Christ showed his power in raising the dead man, he discovered great humanity, kindness, and tenderness, in delivering him alive to his mother; which might be done after he came off of the bier, by taking him by the hand, and leading him to his mother, and giving him up into her arms: think what affecting scene this must be!

Geneva Study Bible

And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 7:15. ἀνεκάθισεν, sat up: the ἀνὰ is implied even if the reading ἐκάθισεν be adopted; to sit was to sit up for one who had been previously lying; sitting up showed life returned, speaking, full possession of his senses; the reality and greatness of the miracle thus asserted.

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 7:15. Ἔδωκεν, gave) For the youth had already ceased to belong to his mother.[72] Comp. ἀπέδωκε, ch. Luke 9:42; 1Ma 10:9.

[72] By His death: therefore he used ἔδωκεν, not a ἀπέδωκεν, which however Ac reads, though BDab Vulg. Iren. support ἔδωκεν.—ED. and TRANSL.

Luke 7:15

Vincent's Word Studies

Sat up (ἀνεκάθισεν)

Compare Acts 9:40. In this in-transitive sense the word is used mostly by medical writers.

Delivered (ἔδωκεν)

Rev., gave. "For he had already ceased to belong to his mother" (Bengel). Compare Luke 9:42.