hebrews-11:37-39,-hebrews-12:1-2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hebrews 11:32-40

The apostle having given us a classis of many eminent believers, whose names are mentioned and the particular trials and actings of their faith recorded, now concludes his narrative with a more summary account of another set of believers, where the particular acts are not ascribed to particular persons by name, but left to be applied by those who are well acquainted with the sacred story; and, like a divine orator, he prefaces his part of the narrative with an elegant expostulation: What shall... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Hebrews 11:35-40

11:35-40 Women received back their own folk as if they had been raised from the dead. Others were crucified because they refused to accept release, for they were eager to obtain a better resurrection. Others went through scoffing and scourging, yes, and chains and imprisonment. They were stoned; they were sawn asunder; they underwent every kind of trial; they died by the murder of the sword. They went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, they were in want, they were oppressed, they were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:37

They were stoned ,.... As Naboth, by the order of Ahab, 1 Kings 21:13 , Zachariah in the court of the Lord's house; 2 Chronicles 24:21 and the character of Jerusalem is, that she stoned the prophets that were sent unto her, Matthew 23:37 . They were sawn asunder ; to which there seems to be an allusion in Matthew 24:51 . There is no instance of any good men being so used in Scripture: perhaps reference is had to some that suffered thus in the time of Antiochus. The Jews have a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:38

Of whom the world was not worthy ,.... These words are inserted in a parenthesis, to remove or prevent such objections as these; that they were restless and unquiet persons, that made disturbance in the world, and so unfit to live in it; and that they were deservedly punished for crimes they were guilty of; and to show the great worth and inestimable value of the people of God, which exceeds that of the whole world; and to intimate the removal of them out of the world, or from dwelling among... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:39

And these all having obtained a good report through faith ,.... This may either be limited to the sufferers in the preceding verses, who were martyred, or suffered martyrdom for the faith, as the words may be rendered; and who are called martyrs or witnesses, in Hebrews 12:1 and so the Ethiopic version renders the clause, "and all these were witnesses concerning the faith": or it may be extended to all the instances of faith throughout the chapter; and so the apostle reasserts what he had... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:37

They were stoned - As Zechariah, the son of Barachiah or Jehoida, was, between the altar and the temple; see the account, 2 Chronicles 24:21 ; and See the notes on Matthew 23:35 . And as Naboth the Jezreelite, who, on refusing to give up his father's inheritance to a covetous king, because it had respect to the promise of God, was falsely accused and stoned to death; 1 Kings 21:1-14 . They were sawn asunder - There is a tradition that the Prophet Isaiah was thus martyred. In... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:38

Of whom the world was not worthy - Yet they were obliged to wander by day in deserts and mountains, driven from the society of men, and often obliged to hide by night in dens and caves of the earth, to conceal themselves from the brutal rage of men. Perhaps he refers here principally to the case of Elijah, and the hundred prophets hidden in caves by Obadiah, and fed with bread and water. See 1 Kings 18:4 . David was often obliged thus to hide himself from Saul; 1 Samuel 24:3 , etc. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:39

Having obtained a good report (having been witnessed to; see Hebrews 11:2 ;) through faith - It was faith in God which supported all those eminent men who, in different parts of the world, and in different ages, were persecuted for righteousness sake. Received not the promise - They all heard of the promises made to Abraham of a heavenly rest, and of the promise of the Messiah, for this was a constant tradition; but they died without having seen this Anointed of the Lord. Christ was... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:38

Verse 38 38.Of whom the world was not worthy, etc. As the holy Prophets wandered as fugitives among wild beasts, they might have seemed unworthy of being sustained on the earth; for how was it that they could find no place among men? But the Apostle inverts this sentiment, and says that the world was not worthy of them; for wherever God’s servants come, they bring with them his blessing like the fragrance of a sweet odor. Thus the house of Potiphar was blessed for Joseph’s sake, (Genesis 39:5;)... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:39

Verse 39 39.And these all, etc. This is an argument from the less to the greater; for if they on whom the light of grace had not as yet so brightly shone displayed so great a constancy in enduring evils, what ought the full brightness of the Gospel to produce in us? A small spark of light led them to heaven; when the sun of righteousness shines over us, with what pretense can we excuse ourselves if we still cleave to the earth? This is the real meaning of the Apostle. (241) I know that... read more

Hebrews-11:37-39,-hebrews-12:1-2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Hebrews 11:32-40

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Hebrews 11:35-40

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:37

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:38

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Hebrews 11:39

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:37

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:38

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:39

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:38

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Hebrews 11:39

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