fathers, to eat the fruit thereof, and the good thereof; behold we are servants in it. And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us, because of our sins. Also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle at their pleasure, and we are in great distress. Ne. ix. 36, 37. After this man (Theudas) rose up Judas of Galilee, in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him. Ac. v. 37. For this cause also (conscience' sake) pay ye tribute also; for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Ro. xiii. 6, 7. Cesar.] It came to pass in those days (about the birth of Christ), that there went out a decree (from Cesar Augustus), that all the world should be taxed. Lu. ii. 1. If thou let this "man" (“Christ") go (said the Jews to Pilate), thou art not Cesar's friend; whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Cesar. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment-seat, in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha. And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour. And he saith unto the Jews, Behold your king. But they cried out, Away with him; away with him; crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your king? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Cesar. John xix. 12-15.

v. 22.

When

18 Perceived their wickedness.] Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned (respecting his power of forgiving sins) within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Mar. ii. 8. When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Lu. Jesus perceiving the thought of "their" ("the disciples") heart (which of them should be greatest), took a child and set him by him. Lu. ix. 47. He perceived their (the chief priests) craftiness (in asking, Is it lawful to give tribute to Cesar?), and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? Lu. xx. 23. He (Jesus) knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man, for he knew what was in man. John ii. 25. I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts. Re. ii. 23.

Why tempt ye me?] See chap. xvi. 1-4; xix. 3. Behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall VOL. II.

I do to inherit eternal life? Lu. x. 25. This they said (respecting the woman taken in adultery), tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. John viii. 6. How is it (said Peter to Ananias and Sapphira) that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? Ac. v. 9.

19 A penny.] See chap. xviii. 28; xx. 2. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny, &c. Re. vi. 6.

20 Superscription.] Whose image and superscription hath "it" (“the penny")? They answered and said, Cesar's. Lu. xx. 24.

21 Render therefore, &c.] What thinkest thou, Simon (said Jesus to Peter), of whom do the kings of the earth take custom, or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth thou shalt find a piece of money, that take and give unto them for me and thee. Mat. xvii. 25, 26, 27. My son, fear thou the Lord, and the king, and meddle not with them that are given to change. Pr. xxiv. 21. We found this fellow (said the Jews to Pilate) perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cesar, saying, that he himself is Christ, a King. Lu. xxiii. 2. Render therefore to all their dues : tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. Ro. xiii. 7.

And unto God the things that are God's.] See verse 37. chap. iv. 10. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so (that they be cast into a burning fiery furnace), our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Da. iii. 16, 17, 18. Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed (which decreed, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of the king, he shall be cast into the den of lions), he went into his house, and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day,

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and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Then these men (who conspired against him) assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. And when he (Nebuchadnezzar, who signed the decree) came to the den (into which Daniel had been cast), he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God whom thou servest continually able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me, and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den; and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. Da. vi. 10, 11. 20-23. A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master. If I then be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name; and ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the Lord is contemptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? Mal. i. 6, 7, 8. Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me but ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings ye are cursed with a curse; for ye have robbed me, even the whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the store-house, that there may be meat in mine house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Mal. iii. 8, 9, 10. Peter and John answered (the Jewish council) and said, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. Ac. iv. 19. We ought to obey God rather than men (said Peter to the high priest). Ac. v. 29. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake; whether it be to the king, as supreme, or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the

servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 1 Pe. ii. 13-17.

22 They marvelled, &c.] See verses 33. 46. Be ye wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Mat. x. 16. Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. Pr. xxvi. 4. 5. Render unto Cesar (said Jesus) the things which be Cesar's, and unto God the things which be God's. And they could not take hold of his words before the people. And they marvelled at his answers, and held their peace. Lu. xx. 25, 26. I will give you a mouth, and wisdom (said Christ to his apos tles), which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. Lu. xxi. lă And they (of the synagogue) were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which "he" ("Stephen") spake. Ac. vi. 10. Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. Col. iv. 6.

23 Same day.] Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection, &c. Mar. xii. 18. Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection. Lu. xx. 27.

The Sadducees.] See chap. iii. 7; xvi. 6. Then (when the apostles worked many miracles, to the great increase of the faith) the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and were filled with indignation. Ac. v. 17.

Which say that there is no resurrection.] Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you, that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 1 Co. xv. 12, 13, 14. Shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymena as and Philetus; who concerning the truth have erred, saying, that the resurrection is past already, and overthrow the faith of some. 2 Ti. ii. 16-18.

24 Master.] See verses 16. 36. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Mat. vii. 21. Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Lit. V. 46.

Moses said, If a man die, &c.] Then (after the Lord slew Onan) said Judah to Tamar his

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daughter-in-law, Remain a widow at thy father's house till Shelah my son be grown, (for he said, lest peradventure he die also as his brethren did.) And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house. Ge. xxxviii. 11. If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger; her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her. And it shall be, that the first-born which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead, that his name be not put out of Is2 rael. And if the man like not to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel; he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother. Then the elders of his city shall call him and speak unto him; and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her; then shall his brother's wife come unto him, in the presence of the › elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house. And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of shim that hath his shoe loosed. De. xxv. 510. Naomi said (to Orpah and Ruth), Turn again, my daughters, why will ye go with me? Are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands. Ru. i. 11. Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Mar. xii. 19. Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man's brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Lu. xx. 28.

25 There were with us seven brethren.] Now there were seven brethren; and the first took a wife, and dying, left no seed. And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed; and the third likewise. And the seven had her, and left no seed; last of all the woman died also. In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife. Mar. xii. 20-23. There were therefore

seven brethren. And the first took a wife, and died without children. And the second took her to wife, and he died childless. And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife. Lu. xx. 29-33. It is appointed unto men once to die; but after this the judgment. He. ix. 27.

29 Not knowing the Scriptures.] I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God; whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall be hold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. Job xix. 25, 26, 27. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, nei ther wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life; in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Ps. xvi. 9, 10, 11. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness. Ps. xvii. 15.

Like sheep they are laid in the grave: death shall feed on them, and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave; for he shall receive me. Ps. xlix. 14, 15. Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee: my flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. Ps. lxxiii. 25, 26. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it. Is. xxv. 8. Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. Is. xxvi. 19. The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from

the evil to come. He shall enter into peace; they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. Is. lvii. 1, 2. Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars for ever and ever. Da. xii. 2, 3. I will ransom them from the power of the grave: I will redeem them from death. O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes. Ho. xiii. 14. These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures; and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Lu. xxiv. 44-47. As yet they knew not the Scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. John xx. 9. Whatsoever things were written aforetime, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Ro. xv. 4.

Nor the power of God.] Is any thing too hard for the Lord? Ge. xviii. 14. Ah, Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretchedout arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee. Je. xxxii. 17. With God nothing is impossible. Lu. i. 37. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? Ac. xxvi. 8. For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Phi. iii. 21.

30 In the resurrection.] Do ye not therefore err (said Jesus), because ye know not the Scriptures, neither the power of God; for when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels which are in heaven. Mar. xii. 24, 25. The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage; but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; neither can they die any more, for they are equal unto the angels, and are the

children of God, being the children of the resurrection. Lu. xx. 34, 35, 36. Marvel not at this; for the hour is coming in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his (the Son of man's) voice; and shall come forth, they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. John v. 28, 29. This I say, brethren, the time is short. It remaineth that both they that have wives, be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and they that use this world, as not abusing it; for the fashion of this world passeth away. 1 Co. vii. 29, 30, 31. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. Therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know, that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John iii. 1, 2.

As the angels of God, &c.] See chap. xiii. 43; xviii. 10. Bless the Lord ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Ps. ciii. 20. Thus saith the Lord of hosts (to Joshua the high priest by the angel of the Lord), If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts; and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by. Zec. iii. 7. Beloved, now are we the sons of God; and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John iii. 2. And "they" ("the four beasts and four and twenty elders") sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unte our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld and heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the beasts and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. Re. v. 9, 10, 11. And I fell at his (the angel's) feet to worship him: and he said unto me, See that do it not; I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Re. xix. 10.

31 Have ye not read that, &c.] Go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice; for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Mat. ix. 13. See chap. xii. 3. 7; xxi. 16. 42.

32 I am the God of Abraham, &c.] I am the God of thy father (said the Lord to Moses, as he kept the flock of Jethro his fatherin-law), the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God. Er. iii. 6. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel; The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you. This is my name for ever; and this is my memorial unto all generations. Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt. Ex. iii. 15, 16. When Moses saw it (the flame of fire in the bush), he wondered at the sight (said Stephen), and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold. Ac. vii. 31, 32. God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he hath prepared for them (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and ancient believers) a city. He. xi. 16.

God is not the God of the dead.] And as touching the dead, that they rise, have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err. Mar. xii. 26, 27. Now, that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob: for he is not a God of the dead, but of the living, for all live unto him. Lu. xx. 37, 38.

33 They were astonished.] See verse 22. When Jesus had ended these sayings (his sermon on the mount), the people were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the Scribes. Mat. vii. 28, 29. When the sabbath-day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue;

and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Mar. vi. 2. Render to Cesar (said Jesus) the things that are Cesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him. Mar. xii. 17. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. Lu. ii. 47. And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. Lu. iv. 22. Then certain of the Scribes answering, said, Master, thou hast well said. And after that they durst not ask him any question at all. Lu. xx. 39, 40. Never man spake like this man (said the officers to the high priests). John vii. 46.

34 When the Pharisees had heard.] One of the Scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? Mar. xii. 28.

They were gathered together.] See chap. xii. 14; xxvi. 3-5. The isles saw it (God's mercy to his Church), and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came; they helped every one his neighbour, and every one said to his brother, Be of good courage. So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith; and he that smootheth with the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It is ready for the sodering. And he fastened it with nails, that it should not be moved. Is. xli. 5, 6, 7. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him, and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not John xi, 47–50. Now when the high priest, and the captain of the temple, and the chief priests, heard these things (respecting the release of the apostles from the prison), they doubted of them whereunto this would grow. Then came one and told them saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people; then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence (for they feared the people, lest they