x. 38. — dai/jtovifyp'svovs, pouetsed with devils) The sick and the possessed are frequently mentioned together. — See Acts v. 16.
25. "O%koi, multitudes) The plural is used on account of the various places from which they came. — Aex.aTo'Xswc, from Deca- polis)1 situated on both sides of the Jordan. Samaria is not mentioned in this enumeration. — <ripav, beyond) i.e., a*o r^c, v-'spav — from the country beyond.
1. 'l3wi>, seeing) sc. afar off. — opo$, mountain) and moreover the higher part of the mountain. There He prayed and selected His apostles ; see Mark iii. 13—19 ; Luke vi. 12—16. After wards he came half way down the mountain ; and, as He was coming down with His disciples, He met the people coming up, and sat down there to teach ; see note on Luke vi. 17.2 A mountain, as heing a lofty part of the earth, and thereby nearer to heaven, is best suited for the most holy actions. — K?<>6fi\bo\ AOrw, came unto Him3) The close admittance and docility of recent disciples.
2. 'Avo/^as, x.r.X., having opened, etc.) A beginning studiously made is great part of a great matter. In commencing narra tions of great and deliberate affairs, Scripture uses the phrases,
miracles of mercy, the effect of which was to improve the condition of those on whom they were performed. — (I. B.)
1 The region called Decapolis comprehended the ten cities of Scythopolis : Hippos, Gadara, Dios, Pella, Philadelphia, Gerasa, Canatha, Capitolias, and Abila.— W. Hughes.— (I. B.)
2 The night, which is mentioned in Luke vi. 12, succeeded to [followed immediately after] miracles, as appears from Mark iii. 10, and preceded miracles, according to Luke vi. 18. What is said in the beginning of Matt. v. is suited to the even-tide, which put a close to both classes of miracles, viz., Seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain : the day following will thus claim to itself the rest of His proceedings, viz., When He was set (seated), i.e., after the cures recorded in Luke, which he had per formed standing, — His disciples came unto Him. — Harm., p. 242.
8 Not only the twelve.— B. G. V.