2:1 And 1 it came to pass in those days, that there went out a
decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the a world should
be b taxed.
(1) Christ, the son of God, taking upon himself the form of a
servant, and making himself of no reputation, is poorly
born in a stable: and by the means of Augustus, the
mightiest prince in the world, (thinking nothing of it) has
his cradle prepared in Bethlehem, as the prophets
foretold.
(a) As far as the empire of the Romans stretched.
(b) That is, the inhabitants of every city should have
their names recorded, and their goods rated at a
certain value, that the emperor might understand how
rich every country, city, family, and house was.
2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of
Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the c city of David, which is
called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage
of David:)
(c) Which David was born and brought up in.
2:82 And there were in the same country shepherds d abiding
in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
(2) The angels themselves declare to poor shepherds (not at all
regarding the pride of the mighty) the Godhead and office
of the child lying in the crib.
(d) Living outside, and in the open air.
2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord e came upon them, and the
glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore
afraid.
(e) Came suddenly upon them, when they were not at all
thinking about such a matter.
2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel f a multitude of
the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
(f) Whole armies of angels, who compass the majesty of God
round about, just as soldiers, as it were.
2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, g good
will toward men.
(g) God's ready, good, infinite, and gracious favour
towards men.
2:213 And when eight days were accomplished for the
circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which
was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the
womb.
(3) Christ, the head of the Church, made subject to the law in
order to deliver us from the curse of the law (as the name
of Jesus well declares) being circumcised, ratifies and
seals in his own flesh the circumcision of the flesh.
2:224 And when the days of h her purification according to
the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to
Jerusalem, to present [him] to the Lord;
(4) Christ, upon whom all our sins were laid, being offered to
God according to the law purifies both Mary and us all in
himself.
(h) This is meant for the fulfilling of the law: for
otherwise the virgin was not defiled, nor unclean, by
the birth of this child.
2:255 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name
[was] Simeon; and the same man [was] just and devout,
waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the i Holy
Ghost was upon him.
(5) Simeon openly in the temple foretells the death of the
coming of Messiah, of the casting out of the greatest part
of Israel, and of the calling of the Gentiles.
(i) He was endued with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and
this is said using the figure of speech metonymy.
2:27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the k
parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the
custom of the law,
(k) Joseph and Mary: and he says "parents" because that is
what most of the people then thought.
2:29 Lord, now l lettest thou thy servant depart in peace,
according to thy m word:
(l) Let me depart out of this life, to be joined to my
Father.
(m) As you promised me.
2:30 For n mine eyes have seen thy o salvation,
(n) That is, for I have seen with my very eyes: for he saw
before in mind, as it is said of Abraham, "He saw my
day and rejoiced."
(o) That in which your salvation is contained.
2:31 Which thou hast prepared p before the face of all people;
(p) As a sign set up in a high place for all men to look
upon.
2:34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother,
Behold, this [child] is q set for the r fall and rising
again of many in Israel; and for a s sign which shall be
spoken against;
(q) Is appointed and set by God for a mark.
(r) Fall of the reprobate who perishes because of their own
fault: and for the rising of the elect, unto whom God
will give faith to believe.
(s) That is, a mark, which all men will strive earnestly
to hit.
2:35 (Yea, a sword shall t pierce through thy own soul also,)
that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
(t) Will most keenly wound and grieve.
2:366 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of
Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and
had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
(6) Another witness besides Simeon, against whom no objection
may be brought, inviting all men to the receiving of the
Messiah.
2:40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, u filled
with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
(u) As Christ grew up in age, so the virtue of his Godhead
showed itself more and more.
2:417 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the
feast of the passover.
(7) The scribes and Pharisees are aroused to hear the
wisdom of Christ in his time by an extraordinary deed.
2:488 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother
said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us?
behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
(8) All duties which we owe to men, even though they are not to
be neglected, so are they (according to the position in
life which God has set us) not to be preferred before the
glory of God.
2:519 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and
was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these
sayings in her heart.
(9) Christ, very man, is made like us in every way except sin.
