13:1 There 1 were present at that season some that told him of
the Galilaeans, whose blood a Pilate had mingled with
their sacrifices.
(1) We must not rejoice at the just punishment of others, but
rather we should be instructed by it to repent.
(a) Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea almost ten years,
and about the fourth year of his government, which
might be about the fifteenth year of Tiberius' reign,
Christ finished the work of our redemption by his
death.
13:4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in b Siloam fell,
and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all
men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
(b) That is, in the place, or river: for Siloam was a small
river from which the conduits of the city came; see
(Joh 9:7 Isa 8:6); and therefore it was a tower or a
castle, built upon the conduit side, which fell down
suddenly and killed some.
13:62 He spake also this parable; A certain [man] had a fig
tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit
thereon, and found none.
(2) Great and long suffering is the patience of God, but yet
he eventually executes judgment.
13:7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold,
these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree,
and find none: cut it down; why c cumbereth it the
ground?
(c) Make the ground barren in that part which is otherwise
good for vines.
13:103 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the
sabbath.
(3) Christ came to deliver us from the hand of Satan.
13:11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a d spirit of
infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and
could in no wise lift up [herself].
(d) Troubled with a disease which Satan caused.
13:12 And when Jesus saw her, he called [her to him], and said
unto her, Woman, thou art e loosed from thine infirmity.
(e) For Satan had the woman bound, as if she had been in
chains, to the extent that for eighteen years time she
could not hold up her head.
13:144 And the f ruler of the synagogue answered with
indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath
day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which
men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed,
and not on the sabbath day.
(4) A graphic image of hypocrisy, and the reward of it.
(f) One of the rulers of the synagogue, for it appears that
there were many rulers of the synagogue, see (Mk 5:22)
(Ac 13:15).
13:195 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took,
and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great
tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of
it.
(5) God begins his kingdom with small beginnings so that
its growth, which is not looked for, may better set
forth his power.
13:226 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching,
and journeying toward Jerusalem.
(6) Against those who had rather err with many than go right
with a few, and because of this through their own
indifference they are shut out of the kingdom of God.
13:267 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in
thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
(7) It is vain to be in the Church if one is not of the Church;
and whether or not one is in the Church is shown by the
purity of life.
13:288 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye
shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the
prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you [yourselves]
thrust out.
(8) The casting off of the Jews and the calling of the Gentiles
is foretold.
13:29 And they shall come from the g east, and [from] the
west, and from the north, and [from] the south, and shall
sit down in the kingdom of God.
(g) From all the corners of the world, and the places
mentioned here are four of the main ones.
13:319 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees,
saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod
will kill thee.
(9) We must go forward in regards to our calling, through the
midst of terrors, whether they be real or imagined.
13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that h fox,
Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures i to day and
to morrow, and the third [day] I shall be k perfected.
(h) That deceitful and treacherous man.
(i) That is, a small time, and Theophylact says it is a
proverb: or else by "to day" we may understand the
present time, and by tomorrow the time to come,
meaning by this the entire time of his ministry and
office.
(k) That is, when the sacrifice for sin is finished.
13:3310 Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and
the [day] following: for it cannot be that a prophet
perish out of Jerusalem.
(10) Nowhere else are there more cruel enemies of the godly
than within the sanctuary and Church itself: but God sees
it and will in his time have an account for it from them.
13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and
stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I
have gathered thy children together, as a hen [doth
gather] her l brood under [her] wings, and ye would not!
(l) Literally, "the nest": now the brood of chickens is
the nest.
