[2213] For a full discussion of the question see vol. ii. App. XV. pp. 765, 766; for the Feast of Wood-offering,' The Temple and its Services, & c.,' pp.295, 296.
[2214] Wetstein.
[2215] The reader will have no difficulty in finding not a few points in St. John v. utterly irreconcilable with the theory of a second century Ephesian Gospel. It would take too much space to particularise them.
[2216] So Gess, Godet, and others.
[2217] Even Strauss admits, that the discourse contains nothing which might not have been spoken by Christ. His objection to its authenticity, on the ground of the analogies to it in certain portions of the Fourth Gospel and of the Epistles of St. John, is a curious instance of critical argumentation (Leben Jesu, i. p. 646).
[2218] Neh. iii. 1, 32; xii. 39.
[2219] Comp. specially Riehm's Handwörterb. ad voc.
[2220] Said when people sneezed, like Prosit!'
[2221] Indeed, belief in holy wells' seems to have been very common in ancient times. From the cuneiform inscriptions it appears to have been even entertained by the ancient Babylonians.
[2222] St. John v. 7.
[2223] I must here refer to the critical discussion in Canon Westcott's Commentary on St. John. I only wish I could without unfairness transport to these pages the results of his masterly criticism of this chapter.
[2224] See the Appendix on Angels.'
[2225] Another term for sick' in the N. T. is ostos (St. Matt. xiv. 14; St. Mark vi. 5, 13; xvi. 18; (comp. Ecclus. vii. 35). This corresponds to the Hebrew {hebrew}, Mal. i. 8. In 1 Cor. xi. 30 the two words are used together, ostos and sthens.
[2226] St. John v. 17-47.
[2227] Such a logical inversion seems necessary in passing from the objective to the subjective.
[2228] ver. 44.
[2229] vv. 45-47.
[2230] ver. 39.
[2231] vv. 40-43.
[2232] ver. 37.
[2233] vv. 30-38.
[2234] vv. 19-32.
[2235] St. John xx. 30.
[2236] St. John xx. 31.
[2237] ver. 7.
[2238] ver. 14.
[2239] Comp. St. John ix. 3.
[2240] This characteristic is specially marked by Canon Westcott.
[2241] ver. 13.
[2242] The meaning of the expression is retired' or withdrawn' Himself.
[2243] In connection with this see ver. 24, where the expression is believeth Him,' not on Him' as in the A.V., which occasionally obliterates the difference between the two, which is so important, the one implying credit, the other its outcoming trust (comp. St. John vi. 29, 30; viii. 30, 31; 1 John v. 10).
[2244] The whole subject of the Sabbath-Law will be specially discussed in a later chapter. See also Appendix XVII. on The Law of the Sabbath' according to the Mishnah and Talmud.
[2245] See Westcott ad loc.
[2246] ver. 17. __________________________________________________________________
CHAPTER XIII. BY THE SEA OF GALILEE - THE FINAL CALL OF THE FIRST DISCIPLES, AND THE MIRACULOUS DRAUGHT OF FISHES
(St. Matt. iv. 18-22; St. Mark i. 16-20; St. Luke v. 1-11.)
We are once again out of the stifling spiritual atmosphere of the great City, and by the glorious Lake of Galilee. They were other men, these honest, simple, earnest, impulsive Galileans, than that self-seeking, sophistical, heartless assemblage of Rabbis, whose first active persecution Jesus had just encountered, and for the time overawed by the majesty of His bearing. His return to Capernaum could not have remained unknown. Close by, on either side of the city, the country was studded with villages and towns, a busy, thriving, happy multitude. During that bright summer He had walked along that Lake, and by its shore and in the various Synagogues preached His Gospel. And they had been astonished at His doctrine, for His word was with power.' For the first time they had heard what they felt to be the Word of God,' and they had learned to love its sound. What wonder that, immediately on His return, the people pressed upon Him to hear' it.