in the verse before us means " cousins," some of whom believed on our Lord, though others did not. (John vii. 5.)
Tj is an interesting fact, that two at least of our Lord's apostlea were His kinsmen according to the flesh, viz., James and Jude, the sons of Alpheus. To them w^e may probably add Simon, on the strength of Mark vi. 3, and perhaps Matthew also, on the strength of Mark ii. 14 and Matthew ix. 9.
[And his disciples.'] This expression, being used after the words " His brethren," may raise a doubt whether any of our Lord's relatives as yet believed on Him, except the Virgin Mary. It is possible that they only followed Him now out of curiosity, in consequence of the miracle he had just wrought.
13. — [The Jews^ passover...at hand.] This expression is another proof that St. John wrote his Gospel for Gentile believers rather than for Jews.
Our Lord's regular attendance on the feasts and ordinances of the law of Moses, deserves notice. So lorig as the dispensation of the Old Testament lasted, He gave it all due honour, how- ever unworthy the hands which administered it. The unvvor- thiness of ministers wiU not justify us in neglecting God's ordi- nances.
The exact number of Passovers which our Lord kept, and con- sequently the exact length of His ministry from His baptism to His crucifixion, are points on which there is much difference of opinion. For myself I can see no better view than the old one, that our Lord's ministiy lasted three years. It evidently began shortly before a Passovei-, and ended with a Passover. But whether it included only three Passovers, and in that case lasted between two and three years, — or four Passovers, and in that case lasted between three and four years, — I think we have no materials for deciding positively. If I must venture an opinion, I think it most likely that our Lord only kept three Passovers. — But it is an open question, and one happily not of deep moment. — Three Passovers are distinctly named by John, viz., the one before us, the one in the sixth chapter, (John vi. 3.,) and the one at which our Lord was crucified. If the ''feast" mentioned in the fifth chapter (John v. 1,) was the Passover, our Lord kept four Passovers. But this last point cannot be settled.
Sir Isaac Newton thought that our Lord kept no less than five Passovers. Some few writers have maintained that He kept only two. Those who wish to see the subject discussed will ^nd it in Doddridge's notes on this place.
[Jesus went up to Jerusalem.] Let it be noted, that th's jour- ney, and all the circumstances which attended this visit to Jeru-