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Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. 20 And straightway he called them and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

See notes, Matt. iv. 18-22.

21 And they went into Capernaum, and straightway on the sabbath-day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.

See also Luke iv. 31-87. For the situation of Capernaum, see Matt. iv. 13. 'Straightway.' Immediately. On the following sabbath. The synagogue.' See note, Matt. iv. 23. 'And taught. In the synagogue, the presiding elder, after reading the scriptures, invited some one to address the people, Acts xiii. 15.

22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

'He taught them as one that had authority,' &c. See note, Matt. vii. 29.

23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

'Let us alone.' Though but one impure spirit is mentioned as possessing this man, yet that spirit speaks also in the name of others, who were leagued together in the work of evil. 'What have we to do with thee? This seems to mean, 'Have we injured thee? See 1 Kings xvii. 18. By this the spirit meant to say, that if Jesus cast him out, it would be an improper interference. But this was untrue. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, and he had a right, therefore, to liberate the captive, and to punish him who had possessed him. 'Art thou come to destroy us? Implying that this could not be the intention of the benevolent Messiah; or as in Matt. viii. 29, that the time of their destruction had not come. 'I know thee,' &c. Evil spirits had learned from his miracles that he was the Messiah, and had power over them. 'The Holy One of God.' 'The Messiah.' See Dan. ix. 24. He is called the Holy One of God, because he was eminently pure, the only begotten Son of Godequal with the Father, was anointed, or set apart to the work of the Messiah, the Mediator between God and man.

25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him

And Jesus rebukea him.' It was not the man that he rebuked, but the spirit, for he instantly commanded the same being to come out of the man. In all this Jesus did not once address the man. His conversation was with the evil spirit; proving conclusively, that it was not a mere disease or derangement, but that he conversed with a being, who also conversed, reasoned, cavilled, resisted, and knew him. 'Hold thy peace.' This was a very signal proof of the power of Jesus; to be able by a word to silence an evil angel, and against his will to compel him to leave a man whom he desired to torment.

26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

Still malignant, submitting because he was obliged, not because he chose-he exerted his last power, inflicted all the pain he could, and then came out. This is the nature of an evil disposition. Though compelled to obey, yet, in seeming to obey, it does all the ill it can, and makes even the appearance of obedience, the occasion for increased crime and mischief.

27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. 28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee 'And they were all amazed,' &c. The power of casting out devils was new to them. It was done by a word. He did it in his own name, and by his own authority. This proved that he was superior to all the unclean spirits.

29 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

See note, Matt. viii. 14, 15.

32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

See Matt. viii. 16, 17. At even, when the sun did set.' That is, after the setting of the sun. The Jewish sabbath ended at sunset. Before that, it would have been unlawful for them to have carried the sick to be healed.

33 And all the city was gathered together at the door.

'All the city. A great part of the city. A great multitude from the city.

34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

They knew that he was the Messiah. If they had spoken, they would have made that known to the people. Jesus was not desirous, at that time, that it should be publicly announced, and therefore imposed silence on the evil spirits.

35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Luke says, iv. 42, it was day. The passage in Mark means in the original, very early, or while there was yet much appearance of night. The place in Luke means, at daybreak, at the beginning of day. Luke and Mark, therefore, refer to the same time, before it was fully light, or just at day-break. 'And departed into a solitary place and there prayed.' If Jesus prayed, how much more important is it for us! If he did it in the morning, how much more important is it for us, before the world gets possession of our thoughts-before Satan fills us with unholy feelings; when we rise fresh from beds of repose, and while the world around us is still. He that wishes to enjoy religion will seek a place of secret prayer in the morning. If that is omitted, all will go wrong. Our piety will wither. The world will fill our thoughts. Temptations will be strong. How different too was the conduct of the Saviour from those who spend the precious hours of the morning in sleep. He knew the value of the morning hours-he rose while the world was still, and joined with the universal creation in offering praise to the every where present God.

36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.

'Simon.' Simon Peter. 'They that were with him.' The other apostles.

37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

All men seek for thee.' That is, many men, or multitudes. The inquiry after him was general.

38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

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Next towns.' Towns in the neighbourhood of Capernaum. He proposed to carry the gospel to them, rather than that multitudes should leave their homes to attend on his ministry. Towns.' The word here rendered 'towns' denotes large places without walls. 'For therefore came I forth.' That is, came forth from God, or was sent by God. Luke says, iv. 43, for therefore am I sent.' Compare John xvi. 28. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world.' The meaning of this verse is, Since multitudes press to hear the word, let us go into the neighbouring towns also, for I was sent by God not to preach at Capernaum only, but throughout Judea.

39 And he preached in their synagogues, throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils:

And he preached in their synagogues.' See Matt. iv. 23. 'All Galilee." See Matt. ii, 22, And cast out devils.' See

Matt. iv. 24.

40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. 43 And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; 44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

And there came a leper,' &c. See notes on Matt. viii. 2-4. 'Kneeling down to him." He kneeled, and inclined his face to the ground, in token of deep humiliation, and earnest entreaty. Compare Luke v. 12. If thou wilt.' There was an acknow ledgment of the almighty power of Jesus, and an appeal to his benevolence. Make me clean.' Canst heal me of this loathsome and offensive disease, render me legally clean, and restore me to the privileges of the congregation. 'And Jesus-touched him.' It was by the law considered as unclean to touch a leprous man. See Num. v. 2. The fact that Jesus touched him was evidence that the requisite power had been already put forth to heal him; that Jesus regarded him as already clean. I will.' Here was a most manifest proof of his own proper, divine power. None but God can work a miracle. Jesus does it by his own will-by an exertion of his own power. He was, therefore

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divine. See thou say nothing to any man.' The law of Moses required that the man who was healed of the leprosy should be pronounced clean by the priest, before he could be admitted again to the privileges of the congregation, Lev. xiv. Christ required him to be obedient to the law; to go at once to the priest, and not to make delay by stopping to converse about his being healed. It was of importance that the priest should pronounce it to be a genuine cure, that there might be no cavils among the Jews, against its being a real miracle. 'Offer-those things,' &c. Two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop. And after eight days, two he-lambs, without blemish, and one ewelamb, and fine flour, and oil, Lev. xiv. 4, 10. For a testimony unto them. Not to the priest, but to the people, that they may have evidence that it is a real cure.

45 But he went out and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad tne matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

'Began to publish it much.' He was so deeply affected with it, that he followed the dictates of his own feelings, rather than the command of the Saviour. Jesus could no more enter openly into the city. The word 'could' only denotes that there was inconvenience in his doing it then; that he judged it best not then to enter into the city. His being in the city drew such crowds of people as tended to excite the opposition of civil rulers. 'The city.' The city, or large town, where the leper was cured. The same reason for not entering that city applied also to others, so that he remained in the deserts, where the multitudes could come to him without any difficulty or opposition.

CHAPTER II.

1 AND again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

Into Capernaum.' See note, Matt. iv. 13. 'After some days.' Probably he remained long enough in the desert to heal the sick that were brought to him, and to give instructions to the multitudes that attended his preaching. And it was noised,' &c. He entered the city, doubtless, privately; but his being there was soon known, and so great had his popularity become that multitudes pressed to hear him.

2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

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