Matt. x. receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, He shall in no wise lose his reward. Matt. xi. 1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities." Mark vi. 12, 13. 12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent. 13 And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. Luke ix. 6. " And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where. § 63. HEROD HOLDS JESUS TO BE JOHN THE BAPTIST, WHOM HE HAD JUST BEFORE BEHEADED.-Galilee? Peraa. Comp. 2 Kings 4. 8-17. d See in § 44. Markvi.14-16, 21-29. 14 And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him. 15 Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. 16 But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded he is risen from the dead. e While the twelve are absent preaching in the name of Christ, Herod causes John the Baptist to be beheaded in the castle of Machærus, at the southern extremity of Peræa, near the Dead Sea; Jos. Antiq. 18. 5. 2. In consequence of the preaching of the apostles, Herod hears the fame of Jesus; is conscience-smitten; and says that He is John risen from the dead. The disciples of John come and tell Jesus; and the twelve also return with the same intelligence; upon which Jesus withdraws from Galilee to the north-eastern coast of the lake, not far from the Luke ix. 7-9. 7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead; and of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. 9 And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him. northern Bethsaida or Julias, which was in the tetrarchy of Philip; Jos. Antiq. 18. 2. 1: see Map. All these events seem to have taken place near together. Matthew and Mark narrate the death of the Baptist in explanation of Herod's declaration. The account of his imprisonment is transferred to § 24. According to John 6. 4, the passover was now at hand, namely, the third during our Lord's ministry. John therefore had lain in prison nearly a year and six months; and was beheaded about three years after entering upon his public ministry. See in § 25. f Ver. 3-5 in § 24. g 6 But when Herod's birthday was kept," the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. 7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. 9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. 10 And he sent and beheaded John in the prison. "And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel : and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came, 21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; 22 and when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. 23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. 24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? and she said, The head of John the Baptist. 25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. 26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 and brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother. 29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb. and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.' § 64. THE TWELVE Return aND JESUS RETIRES WITH THEM ACROSS THE LAKE. FIVE THOUSAND ARE FED.-Capernaum. North-east coast of the Sea of Galilee. Mark vi. 30-44. 30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. 31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. Luke ix. 10—17. 10 And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all they had done.- Matt. xiv. 1321. 13 When Jesus heard of it, he de Mark vi. Luke ix. John vi. 1-14. 1 After these things Jesus went over the • Birthday, rather birthday festivities, which lasted more than one day., Thus there was time enough to send even to a distant place for the head of the Baptist. h Comp. Gen. 40. 20. i See in § 64. j Sec § 62. and Mark vi. place by ship privately. 33 And the people saw them departing, many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. 34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. 35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: 36 send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread for they have nothing to eat. 37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them Departed thence, &c.: probably with a view to prevent the rising of the people on his behalf, and also to have quiet communications with his disciples after their return from their first preaching excursion. Luke ix. aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. "And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing. 12 And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place. 13 But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they sea John vi. of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, be cause they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. "And the passover,' a feast of the Jews, was nigh. When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he 5 saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that This was the third passover during our Lord's ministry; but he did not this time go up to Jerusalem to keep the feast: the reason is assigned in John 7. 1. Matt. xiv. part; give ye them to eat. 17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves and two fishes. 18 He said, Bring them hither to me. 19 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. 20 And they did all eat, and were filled and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. Mark vi. to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? 38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. 39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. 40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. 4i And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. 42 And they did all eat, and were filled. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. Luke ix. said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. -14 And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties ina company. 15 And they did so, and made them all sit down. 16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17 And they did eat, and were all filled; and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets. Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. m 65. JESUS WALKS UPON THE WATER.--Night on the Sea of Galilee. Gennesareth. Matt. xiv. 22-23. 22 And straightway Jesus constrained m his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: Matt.xiv.23-36. 23And when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Mark vi. 45-46. 45 And straightway he constrained TM his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida," while he sent away the people. 46And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. come, John vi. 15-20. 15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed Mark vi. 47-50. And again into a mountain himwhen even was self alone. 16 And when even the ship was in the midst was now come, his disciples of the sea, and he alone went down unto the sea, on the land. 48 And 17 and entered into a ship, he saw them toiling in and went over the sea torowing; for the wind was ward Capernaum. And it contrary unto them: and was now dark, and Jesus about the fourth watch of was not come to them.18 And the night he cometh unto the sea arose by reason of them, walking upon the a great wind that blew. sea, and would have pass- 19 So when they had rowed ed by them. 49 But when about five and twenty or they saw him walking thirty furlongs, they see upon the sea, they sup- Jesus walking on the sea, posed it had been a spirit, and drawing nigh unto next day the multitudes followed in boats to Capernaum seeking for Jesus, and find him there, John 6. 24, 25, 59. It follows that Capernaum was on or near the plain of Gennesareth; most probably at its north-eastern extremity. See Bibl. Res. in Palest. III. 238. m Constrained: implying that the disciples | were unwilling to go on the lake without their Master, perhaps because they had some apprehension of the danger which overtook them. " From the region of the northern Bethsaida or Julias, the disciples embark for Bethsaida of Galilee, Mark 6. 45; or for Capernaum according to John 6. 17. They land on the plain of Gennesareth, Matt. 14. 34; Mark 6. 53. The • Fourth watch of the night, i. e. about dawn, from three to six in the morning. Our Lord had spent the night in retirement and prayer. |