Luke 5

Luke 5:2

And saw two boats, one belonging to Andrew and Simon, Matt. iv. 18, the other to Zebedee and his sons, James and John; and the fishermen having made an end of fishing for that time, had carried out their nets and cleansed them, meaning not to let them down or use them any more. both the boats with the weight of the fish sunk into the water discernibly, and were in danger to be lost.

[a] gone out of them Some differences seem to be between the story of Christ’s coming to these two boats, &c. here set down, from what it had been in St. Matthew. There Peter and Andrew were casting nets into the sea, or lake, Matt. iv. 18, and James and John were in

Luke 5:9

This he spake not out of a desire to be rid of his company, but out of a great sense of his own unworthiness, and a great dread and amazement wrought in him by the miracle. ’thou shalt be a fisherman no longer, thy trade shall be changed into a more honourable, that of catching, so as to keep alive, and not (as in hunting and fishing, &c. it is ordinary) to kill what is caught by thee; thou shalt catch men, and by so doing preserve them to all eternity. ‘all four of them forsook all— ‘recover me from my foul disease.

Luke 5:13

And he did but touch him, and speak the word, and immediately— ‘but, said he, Go, &c. See note [d] on Matt. viii.

Luke 5:17

[n] opened the book The word ἀνοπτύσσω refers to the manner of writing among the Jews, which was not in parchments or papers sewed together, as we now use, but in one continued page or long roll, and that folded up to save it from dust or other harm. So the Hebrew מִגְלָתָה signifies no more than charta volubilis, a paper, or parchment folded up, according to that of Isaiah xxxiv. 4, וְנָגַל and the heavens shall be folded up בְּסַפֵּר as a book, referring to the custom of folding books and writings; and so Apoc. vi. 14, the heavens passed away, ὡς βιβλίον ἐλισσόμενον, as a folded book, that is, מִגְלָתָה, which is by the Greek sometimes called βιβλίον, and by us rightly rendered a bill, Deut. xxiv. 1; and sometimes κεφαλὶς, from the round form, when it is folded up; as in architecture some round parts are called κεφαλίδες, Exod. xxvi. 32, xxvii. 17, xxxvi. 34, xxxviii. 28, 27; and so saith Suidas, Κεφαλὶς βιβλίον: “Οπερ τινὲς εἴλημά φασιν, ’the volume,’ or ‘round form of a book, which some call the folding.’ Thus it is used Heb. x. 7, out of the psalmist, for a roll, or instrument, or indenture, wherein Christ undertakes in writing, under his hand as it were, to do God’s will, or that which God requires of him, by way of office. And Theophylact, who explains it by εἰλητάρων, a roll. After the manner of these rolls or bills were their books and other writings rolled up, when they would shut them, סַפְּרִי תּוֹרָה שֶׁנִּגְלָלִין, “the books of the law folded up,” saith R. Eliezer, in Gemar. Sanhed. c. 7, and opened by way of ἀνάπτυξις, unfolding, or unrolling; and then again, πτυσσόμενα, rolled up; as here, πτύξας, rolling it up, ver. 20, which the Hebrews ordinarily express by וְנָלַל and he folded up the book, or roll, that is, shut it up, Joma. c. 7. §. 1.

Luke 5:20

Matt. ix. 2. ‘This is sure a blasphemer, making a God of himself, for none but such can forgive sins. h What ground have you for this dispute beginning in your hearts, and expressed by your tongues? (ver. 21.) 23, 24. Is it blasphemy for him that is endued with divine power, and can cure all diseases with his word, ‘he was also teaching, and, sal aibri h v bidamw: sal

Luke 5:23

[e] son of Heli The settling of the genealogy of Christ, and reconciling the differences between St. Luke and St. Matthew, is a matter of some uncertainty, arising from the customs of the Jews in reckoning their genealogies, among whom it is ordinary to find different pedigrees, which seem to contradict one another when they do not. And the matter requiring some length, I rather refer the reader to the labours of the learned H. Grotius on this place, and in the particular of Cainan, ver. 36, to the learned Sam. Bochartus, in his Phaleg. l. 11. c. 13.

Luke 5:30

[b] their scribes] Αὐτῶν, their, or of them, cannot relate to those which went next before, the publicans, and other guests at the feast; for

Luke 5:39

It is not best immediately to bring men to an austere course of life, but by degrees, lest they fall off upon the ungratefulness of it: for they that have tasted old wine, which is the smoother, will not willingly leave that for new, which is more harsh, (see Ecclus. ix. 10,) the old being sweeter, more grateful and delightful, and agreeable to the stomach: and thus it is fit to condescend to the weaknesses of men, and not presently to require of my disciples the austerities of fastings, &c., especially while I am with them, which is rather a time of festivity to them, but there will soon be a season for fasting also: ver. 35. &c.