evils. There is sometimes need of zeal, always of gentle ness.
25. M^org) w interrogative : with this expectation, if at any time, etc. — 5<2 avroTg 6 ®dc, God may give to them) For it does not belong to human power. A motive for patience. [He who attempts to use violence, so much the less accomplishes aught: nor, yet, should he give way to sluggishness. — V. g.] — /tsrdvciav, repentance) This is antecedent to knowledge or acknowledgment. — sis, to or for) So tig in the following verse.
26. Kai) and so. — di/ai^-vj/wrf/v) This depends on if at any time : if they may awake, and shake off sleep. — ex rr\c, — irayidos, from the snare) There are here two evils, captivity and sleep ; and there are two good things, awaking and deliverance. An abbreviated expression. — efyypw'&voi) Luke v. 10 ; taken captive willingly. — wf avrou, by him1) by the servant of the Lord. Where God goes before, ver. 25, the work of His servant (ver. 24) is suc cessful. God rouses : His servant draws them out of the snare. — sig rb) Construed with, if at any time they may awake. 'Ex marks the terminus from which they set out, els that to which they are to go. The former terminus is, oppose themselves, ver. 25, and the snare of the devil, ver. 26 : the latter is the acknowledgment of the truth and the will of God. — Ixs/vou, of Him2) God. — Q'eXri/j,a, will) which is entirely free, and gives freedom ; 1 Pet. iv. 2. The opposite is, from the snare. Paul himself was awakened to conversion, so that he might " know the will of God ;" Acts xxii. 14.
1 Not, by the devil, as in the Engl. Vers. They are taken so as to be saved alive, as e£aypnfAe»oi literally means. So our Lord uses the same word, and of the same thing, to Peter, Luke v. 10.— ED.
2 'EW;/ov being evidently distinct from XVTOV ; the latter referring to the servant of God, the former to God. Not as Engl. Vers., both referring to the devil. — ED.