Kept (Sverzjpev). Only here and Acts xv. 29. The prepost- tion Sid, through, indicates close, faithful, persistent keeping, through all the circumstances which might have weakened the impression of the events. Compare Gen. AEXVUL LI
52. Stature (jv«/a). Which Rev. rightly retains. The word may be rendered age, which would be superfluous here.
280. WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (Cu. IDI.
OLA UE Peels 1-18. Compare Matt. iii. 1-12; Mark i. 1-8. 1. Pontius Pilate. Wyc., Pilat of Pounce. Tetrarch. See on Matt. xiv. 1. 2. Came (éyévero). Lit., arose, or came to pass.
John. The Synoptists introduce him under different titles. Here, the son of Zacharias ; Matthew, the Baptist ; Mark, the Baptizer.
3. The country about Jordan. Which both Matthew and Mark call the wilderness. See on Matt. iii. 1.
Baptism of repentance. ‘Wyc., penaunce.
For (eis). Better as Rev., wnto, denoting the destination of the rite.
Remission (aeow). See on Jas. v.15. The word occurs in Luke more frequently than in all the other New Testament writers combined. Used in medical language of the relaxation of disease. Both Luke and John use the kindred verb abinut, in the same sense. Lukeiv. 89; John iy. 52.
4. Isaiah. In this prophetic citation Mark adds to Isaiah Malachi iii. 1, which does not appear in either Matthew or Luke. Luke adds vy. 4, 5 of Isa. xl., which do not appear in the others.
Paths (rpiBous). From rp/Be, to rub or wear. Hence beaten tracks.
Ca. TIL] LUKE. 281
5. Valley (¢dpayé). Strictly, of a chasm or ravine in a mountain-side.
Shall be filled—brought low. In allusion to the practice of Eastern monarchs. On occasions of their progress, heralds were sent out to call on the people to clear and improve the old roads or to make new ones. ‘When Ibrahim Pacha pro- posed to visit certain places in Lebanon, the emirs and sheiks sent forth a general proclamation, somewhat in the style of. Isaiah’s exhortation, to all the inhabitants to assemble along the proposed route and prepare the way before him. The same was done in 1845, on a grand scale, when the Sultan visited Brusa. The stones were gathered out, the crooked places straightened, and rough ones made level and smooth. I had the benefit of these labors a few days after his majesty’s visit. The exhortation ‘to gather out the stones’ (Isa. Ixii. 10) is peculiarly appropriate. These farmers do the exact reverse— gather up the stones from their fields and cast them into the highway; and it is this barbarous custom which, in many places, renders the paths uncomfortable and even dangerous” (Thomson, “ Land and Book”).
7. He said (édeyev) to the multitudes that came forth (éxrropevopuévos). The use of the tenses is graphic. He said, the imperfect, and came forth, the present participle; both de- noting action in progress, or customary action; so that the sense is, he kept saying, or he used to say to those who were coming out, to the crowds of people which kept pouring out successively. Compare éfemropevero, went out, also imperfect, Matt. iii. 5. Luke gives the substance of the Baptist’s preaching summarily.
Generation (yevynuata). Lit., births. Rev., better, off- spring. It has been observed that John’s figurative language is altogether the language of the desert. Notice the succession of images: Brood of vipers; fruits (of repentance); the axe at the root of the tree ; the slawe-boy loosing or bearing the sandals ; the baptism of fire; the winnowing-fan, the threshing-floor, the garner, and the burning of the chaff.
282 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (Ox. III.
Warned (ieédevEev). From tio, under, and deixvups, to shew. Hence, literally, to shew secretly. The word implies a private or confidential hint or reminder. Compare ch. xii. 5; Acts tx lG'; xx. 35.
8. Fruits («apzovs). Matthew has the singular number, KapTov, fruit.
Repentance (ris wetavolas). Note the article: the repent- ance which you profess in coming to my baptism. Rev., in margin, “ your repentance.” See on Matt. iii. 2.