place where the Lord lay. Upon this they descended, and saw another angel in the hithermost corner of the sepulchre. The angels desired them to carry the news of their Lord's resurrection to his disciples, and particularly to Peter. They departed, therefore, and made all the haste they could into the city. In the mean time, Mary Magdalene having told the apostles that the sepulchre was open, and the body taken away, they sent Peter and John to see what the matter was. The two apostles, together with Mary Magdalene, set out for the sepulchre about the time that the women who had seen the vision were running into the city; but taking a different road in the fields, or a different street in the city, they did not meet them. When the company of women came, they related their story to the apostles, then inquired for Peter, having a message to him; but being told that he was gone away with John to the sepulchre, they set out a second time, along with some of the brethren who were dispatched to examine the truth of their information; expecting to find Peter either at the sepulchre or on the road. But as they were going out, he and John, having left Mary Magdalene at the sepulchre, came into the city, it seems, by a different street, for the women missed them. Nor did these apostles meet the disciples who were going out to examine the truth of the womens report. The disciples making all the haste they could, soon left the women with whom they had set out, and arrived at the garden about the time that Mary Magdalene was coming away; for after Peter and John were gone, she stood beside the sepulchre weeping, and happening to look in, she saw first the angels, then Jesus himself, and was departing to tell the news just as the disciples arrived at the garden; but she did not meet them, happening to be in a different walk from that by which they were coming up. The disciples went straightway to the sepulchre, saw the angels, and then departed. And being now but a little way behind Mary Magdalene, who was tired with the fatigue she had undergone, they travelled by a nearer road through the fields, or by a different street of the city, with such expedition, that they had told their story in the hearing of the two disciples that went to Emmaus, before she arrived. While these things were doing, Jesus met the company of women in their way to the sepulchre, and ordered them to go and inform his disciples how that they had seen him. Upon this they left off pursuing Peter, and returned to the apostles lodging, where they found Mary Magdalene telling her new story, which they confirmed by relating what had happened to themselves. Or we may suppose that Mary Magdalene fell in with them immediately after Jesus had left them, and that they all came to the apostles in a body. Peter hearing the women affirm that they had seen, not only a vision of angels, but Jesus himself, went to the sepulchre a second time, but but did not enter; he only looked in, and saw the clothes lying as before. In his way home, however, he seems to have had the happiness of meeting with Jesus. The coming of the watch into the city, and their appearing before the council, is fixed by Matthew to the womens interview with our Lord. They had fled from the garden when Jesus arose, and being in a panic, had taken shelter in the first house they could find. But in the morning they began to gather courage, and at the time mentioned went and told what they had seen to the chief priests, who were called together by the high-priest in order to receive their report. Soon after this, the disciples who travelled to Emmaus were overtaken by Jesus on the road. After he was gone they returned to Jerusalem, and told their brethren what had happened. While they were speaking, behold Jesus himself came in; and to convince all present of the truth of his resurrection, shewed them his hands and his feet, and called for meat which he eat in their presence. If the reader desires a more compendious view of the several journies to the sepulchre, and of the relation which they bear to one another, he may take it as follows: 1. The two Marys go out to see the sepulchre on Sunday evening, but are turned back by an earthquake and storm. 2. The Lord's day morning all the women arrive at the sepulchre in one company. Mary Magdalene runs into the city to tell the apostles that the body was taken away. 3. A while after Mary is gone, the women at the sepulchre see a vision of angels, then run to the city. 4. As the women enter the city, Mary Magdalene with Peter and John are coming out of the apostles lodging to go to the sepulchre; but taking a different street they miss the women. 5. Peter and John, having searched the sepulchre, depart; but Mary stays behind. 6. As Peter and John are entering the city, the company of women leave the apostles lodging, and go with the brethren who are sent to the sepulchre to examine the truth of their report. They wished to see Peter, that they might give him the good news, and deliver the angel's message to him. But they miss him and his companion John, who are coming in by a different street. 7. The brethren running faster than the women, leave them behind. They follow as quickly as they can, till Jesus meets them. The brethren arrive at the garden, just as Mary Magdalene is leaving the sepulchre, after having seen the Lord; but they do not meet with her, because they go in by a different walk, 8. Mary Magdalene running towards the city, comes up to the company of women just as Jesus leaves them. Instead of pursuing their journey, the one to the sepulchre, the other to the city, they all stand still and tell each other what had happened to them, then go in a body towards the city. 9. While Mary Magdalene and the women stand talking together, or while they are returning towards the city, the brethren who had come out with the women having gone forward to the sepulchre, see the angels there. They instantly depart, run across the fields in great haste, arrive at the apostles lodging, and tell what they had seen in the hearing of the two disciples who set out for Emmaus, before Mary Magdalene and the women came up. 10. After the two disciples are gone away for Emmaus, Mary Magdalene and the company of women arrive in a body from their several interviews with Jesus. 11. On hearing the reports of the women, Peter runs to the sepulchre a second time, and as he returns he also sees the Lord. 12. In the evening the disciples arrive from Emmaus, and while they are telling their story, Jesus himself appears. § CLVII. § CLVII. Jesus appears to the apostles, Thomas being with them. Mark xvi. 14. John xx. 26,-31. "EIGHT days after his resurrection our Lord shewed himself again to the eleven, while Thomas was with them. Mark xvi. 14. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven, as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief, and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. It was Thomas whom Jesus now upbraided, as is evident from the more full account which John has given us of this affair. For, condescending to bear with the stubbornness of his unbelieving apostles, he desired Thomas in particular to put his finger into the print of the nails, and to thrust his hand into his side, that he might convince himself by the only proofs which he had declared should convince. John xx. 27. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. Thus Jesus demonstrated, not only that he was risen, but that he was possessed of Divine knowledge, being conscious of the thoughts and actions of men. Accordingly Thomas, exceedingly struck with the proof, cried out in great amazement, ‘O zugios per, nas o Deos μ8, My Lord and my God. Though the nominative often occurs for the vocative, it is the former case that is used here, the words o being understood. To this the context agrees, for we are told that these words were addressed to Jesus. 28. Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Wherefore they cannot be taken merely as an exclamation of surprise, which is the Socinian gloss; but their meaning is, Thou art really he whom I lately followed as my Lord, and I acknowledge thee to be possessed of infinite knowledge, and worship thee as my God. 29. Jesus said unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed: Thou hast believed my resurrection, because thou hast had it confirmed to thee by the united testimony of all thy senses; they are persons of a better disposition, who, without the evidence of sense, are so candid as to yield to the proofs which the Divine wisdom has thought sufficient for convincing the world. From this it would appear, that Thomas's speech on the evening of the resurrection day, was a kind of boasting in the strength of his own understanding, and a praising of himself on that account. He would not believe that his Master was risen on such trivial evidence as the reports of women; nothing would convince him but the evidence of his own senses. John xx. 30. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not writ ten in this book. 31. But these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye VOL. II. 4 H might might have life though his name. He appeared on several other occasions to his disciples after his resurrection, and by many infallible proofs, which are not written in this book, convinced them that he was alive after his passion. The appearances mentioned by the evangelists are nine in number. The apostle Paul speaks of one to James, and one to himself, which they have omitted. Accordingly this passage leads us to think, that Jesus shewed himself much oftener than there is any account of upon record." § CLVIII. Jesus shews himself to his disciples at the sea of Tiberias. John xxi. 1,-25. "OUR Lord having, first by the angels, and then in person, ordered his disciples to go home to Galilee, with a promise that they should see him there, it is reasonable to think that they would depart as soon as possible. Wherefore, when they were come to their respective homes, they followed their occupations. as usual; and particularly the apostles, who pursued their old trade of fishing on the lake. Here, as they were plying their nets one morning early, ver. 4. Jesus shewed himself to them. John xxi. 1. After these things, Jesus sheaved himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise sherved he himself. 2. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas, called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. 3. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. 4. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore; but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus, for it was somewhat dark, and they were at a distance from him. He called to them, and asked if they had caught any thing? They answered, they had got nothing. He desired them to let down their nets on the right side of the boat. The disciples, imagining that he might be acquainted with the places proper for fishing, did as he directed them, and caught a multitude of fishes. 5. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? they answered him, No. He asked this question, that he might have an opportunity to give them the following direction. 6. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast, therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Such marvellous success, after having toiled all the preceding night to no purpose, could not fail to make them form various conjectures about the stranger who had given them the happy advice. Some could not tell who he was; others said he was the Lord. Simon Peter, who was of this latter opinion, enter taining no doube of it, girt on his fisher's coat, and cast himself into the sea, not to swim, but to walk ashore; for to have clothed himself had been a very improper preparation for swimming. He knew that the lake was shallow thereabouts, and would not wait till the boat dragged the net full of fishes ashore. Where-fore he leaped out hastily, and walked as fast as he could to the. land, which was only about sixty paces off. All the inconve nience he sustained by this was but the wetting of his sandals, provided he had them on; for the ancients wore neither breeches, nor stockings. John xxi. 7. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved, saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fishers coat unto him, (for he was naked), (see Jewish Antiq. p. 145.) and did cast himself into the sea. 8. And the other disciples came in a little ship (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred "cubits) dragging the net with fishes. When the disciples came ashore, they found a fire burning, on which there was a fish broiling. At hand also was some bread. But neither being sufficient for the company, or perhaps to shew them the reality of the miracle, by making them attend to the number and largeness of the fish which they had caught, and to the nets not being broken, Jesus bade them bring some of their own, then invited them to dine, that is, to eat with him. For the Greek word agisnoati, as Keuchenius has shewed, signifies sometimes to take meat in the morn ing, which is the meaning of it here, see verse 4. By this time they were all so fully convinced that it was the Lord, that none of them durst ask who he was. 9. As soon as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 10. Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 11. Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. 12. Je sus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. 13. Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likerwise. It is not said indeed that Jesus now ate with them; but his invitation to them, verse 12. implies it. Besides, Peter testifies, Acts x. 41. that his apostles did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead; meaning to tell Cornelius, that that was one of the many infallible proofs by which he shewed himself alive after his passion. It is reasonable therefore to think, that he ate with his apostles on this occasion. Thus Jesus proved to his disciples anew the reality of his resurrection, not only by eating with them, but by working a miracle like that which, at the beginning of his ministry, had made such an impression upon them as disposed them to be his constant followers. 14. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disci ples, after that he was risen from the dead. The evangelist does not |