5. noXXfl/ yap, K.T.lf.., for many, etc.) In the beginning will come false Christs ; in the middle, false prophets, ver. 1 1 ; in the end, both (22, 24). A twofold climax.1 — sir! rp ovo/tari Moy, in My name) They will not only say that they have been sent by Me, but that they are He who I am. — /Jyoms, lyw tlpi o Xpiffrog, say ing, I am Christ) Joachim Camerarius says, " Theophylact has recorded that a certain Samaritan, Dositheus by name, gave out that he was the prophet foretold by Moses ; that Simon the Samaritan also (mentioned in the apostolic history of St Luke) called himself the Great Power of God, i.e. y A.VVK/J.I; Ms/aXjj : the prediction seems also applicable to Theudas,2 and " the certain Egyptian,"3 and another pretender mentioned by Josephus (who records those matters in the eighteenth book of his Antiquities, and the second of his Conquest of Judea), all claiming the character of prophet, though being in reality seditious impostors. And, in later times, Manes even dared to call himself Christ, and, in imitation of Him, appoint twelve apostles.
6. M£>.AJ5<rs7-s bs axo-jtiv, but ye shall be about to hear) A com pound future. The writings of the Evangelists having been published before the fulfilment of this prediction, were greatly confirmed when it took place. About to hear : Christians rather hear of than wage wars. — TO/J/AOUJ, wars) sc. close at hand. — axoag To>J//,wi>, rumours of wars) sc. at a distance. — ^ 6pnt?0ds, be ye not troubled) A case of metonymy of the antecedent ; i.e. do not immediately take to flight. The verb Spo'so^ai (to be troubled) is peculiarly appropriate in this place, for 6p6o$ 4 is from 8peu,5 which signifies aw dopvpu (3oZ> 5) Xa>.£, i.e. to cry, or speak with tumult. — di? yap <rravra ymaQai, for all these tilings must come to pass) This is the ground of the believer's tranquility. — OI/TW, not yet) The godly are always prone to think that evils have reached their utmost limit : therefore they are warned. — rl re/.oj, the end) mentioned in ver. 2, 14, is not yet ; nor is it yet time to fly ;
1 i.e. The presence of the two classes together will be a greater evil than that of either of them alone. — (I. B.)
2 See Acts v. 36.— (I. B.)
3 Acts xxi 38.— (I. B.)
4 A noise as of many voice?, .... a murmuring of discontented people, .... a report. Lat., Rumor. — Liddell and Scott. — (I- B.)
5 Whence comes S/pjjcof, a dirge. — ED.