Matt. and Mark only give particulars of John's death. Matt.'s account agrees with Mark's in the main; but the latter adds that Herodias bore John a grudge,—that Herod feared John because he was just and holy, guarded him, heard him gladly, and frequently followed his precepts,that the supper was given to Herod's lords, and high captains, and to the chief men of Galilee,— and that Herod promised Salome anything up to half his kingdom. Mark omits, however, that John's disciples went and told Christ.

"Herod the tetrarch,"-Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee. "He is risen from the dead."-Herod, though a Sadducee, was here coërced by his fears into believing in a Resurrection.

"Mighty works,"-rather, "mighty powers," i.e., angelic agencies.

"Had laid hold on John," - after about 6 months' ministry.

"Herodias, his brother Philip's wife," - Herodias was grand-daughter of Herod the Great, by his son Aristobulus. Philip was son of Herod the Great by Mariamne.

He was a private individual,—not the same as Philip, the tetrarch of Perxa.

Herodias was thus married to her uncle.

She was induced by Herod Antipas to desert her husband for him.

"It is not lawful," &c.-His crime was incestuous adultery. Had her husband been dead, Herod ought not to have married her. The only case in which a brother might marry a deceased wife's sister was to raise up seed to his brother, and Herodias had a daughter by Philip.

"Herod's birthday,”—either his natal day, or that of his accession to power.

"The daughter of Herodias,"-Salome.

"Give me here," &c.-It was usually the custom for the head of the decapitated person to be brought in this manner, as a proof of the deed being done.

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"Charger" dish, (Fr. charger to load). doubtless, one of the dishes on the table.

It was,

"For his oath's sake.”—He had no right to keep his oath. God's command, "Thou shalt not kill," is never to be

violated, any more than any command of His, by any rash oath.

"And them," &c.-Here is the secret motive of compliance. He could brave God, and yet be a coward to his fellows!

"He sent."-Mark tells us he sent "one of his guard," the term indicating an officer who would have been with him on a march against an enemy. Accordingly we find from Josephus, that his father-in-law Aretas, King of Arabia, whose daughter he had divorced for Herodias, marched against him. He was at this time on his way against him, and had reached Macharus, where John was confined. Herod was shamefully beaten, and, had he not obtained the Roman Emperor's orders to Aretas, not to continue the war, would soon have been annihilated.

On the Return of the Apostles, Jesus takes them apart, the Multitude following: the 5000 are fed.

(IN THE DESERT OF BETHSAIDA, IN DECAPOLIS.)

(c. xiv. 13–21.)

"When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. He said, Bring them hither to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples, to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments

that remained twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children."

The feeding the 5000 is related by all the Evangelists.

Mark and Luke record that the apostles returned, and told Christ what they had done; that Christ's reason for retiring was that the apostles were tired, and the multitude so thronged them that they had no leisure even to eat." Matthew, Mark, and Luke say the disciples came and asked Jesus to send away the people to buy bread: John makes Christ introduce the subject in a speech to Philip.

Mark and John alone mention the two hundred pennyworth of bread.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke represent the conversation preceding the miracle as being carried on between Christ and the Twelve; John, as between Christ, Philip, and Andrew.

John states that the event occurred just before a Passover, (Christ's 3rd.)

With regard to the locality—

Matthew and Mark merely say it was a desert place.

John, that they crossed the Lake, (from Capernaum,) to get there.

Luke clearly defines the spot, by saying that the desert place belonged to Bethsaida.

"When Jesus heard of it,"-i.e., of John's execution. Only Matthew records this as the reason of Christ's retiring.

By crossing to the Wilderness of Bethsaida He was out of Herod's jurisdiction.

"On foot,"-should be, "by land," as opposed to "by ship."

66

Evening," the first evening, commencing at 3 P.M. “Loaves,”—John says “barley-loaves."

"The time,―i.e., for supper, or the chief meal, which commonly took place after the heat of the day.

66

Blessed,"―i.e., gave thanks.

"Brake."-The "loaves" were in the form of broad thin cakes: they would, then, be broken, not cut.

"Twelve baskets,"-large baskets, carried on the shoulders. This Miracle was intended to show that Christ, the

Bread of Life, was an inexhaustible source; also to teach the Apostles that, while dispensing the Gospel freely to others, themselves should receive an abundant blessing.

Jesus sends the Disciples to Capernaum: He walks upon the Water.

(c. xiv. 22-33.)

"And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves for the wind was contrary.

And in the fourth_watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God."

This incident is narrated by Matthew, Mark, and John. John says Christ sent away the disciples, and retired into the mountain, because the people wanted to make Him a king. He also states that the ship reached the shore directly Christ embarked.

Mark alone relates that Christ would have passed by them, and that the Apostles were so amazed at this miracle, that they forgot that of Feeding the 5000.

Matthew alone relates Peter's going to Christ, &c.

"Fourth watch," according to Roman division of the night. There were four watches of 3 hours each, the first commencing about 6 P.M.

"Spirit"

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apparition: the Jews strongly believed in these. If it be thou,"-rather, "Since it is thou."

Christ returns through the Region of Gennesaret (to Capernaum.)

(c. xiv. 34-36.)

"And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; and besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole."

PERIOD IV. THE THIRD YEAR OF CHRIST'S MINISTRY, INCLUDING HIS CRUCIFIXION. (A.D.29–30.)

Christ defends His Disciples against the Pharisees complaining of their not observing certain Ceremonies.

(AT CAPERNAUM.)

(c. xv. 1-20.)

“Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; and honour not his father or his mother, he shall be