Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Luke 2:49
2:49 business? (e-27) Lit. 'To be in the things of my Father.' Elsewhere in New Testament the expression ('to be in the things') only occurs in 1 Timothy 4:15 . read more
2:49 business? (e-27) Lit. 'To be in the things of my Father.' Elsewhere in New Testament the expression ('to be in the things') only occurs in 1 Timothy 4:15 . read more
Birth and Childhood of Jesus1-5. The census of Quirinius. There are two historical difficulties in connexion with St. Luke’s mention of the census of Quirinius: (1) There is no direct evidence, except St. Luke’s statement, that Augustus (31 b.c.-14 a.d.) ever held a census of the whole Roman empire. (2) Quirinius was not governor of Syria at the time of our Lord’s birth (about 7 or 6 b.c.), but either Sentius Saturninus (9-6 b.c.), or Quinctilius Varus (6-4 b.c.).As to (1), the absence of... read more
(39) They returned into Galilee.—Filling up the narrative from St. Matthew, we have to insert after the Presentation, the visit of the Magi, the massacre of the Infants, and the flight into Egypt. It seems probable that St. Luke was not acquainted with St. Matthew’s narrative, nor St. Matthew with St. Luke’s. Each wrote from what he heard, or found in previous existing narratives, more or less incomplete, and hence cannot readily be brought into harmony with the other. Here the parents return... read more
(40) Waxed strong in spirit.—The better MSS. omit the last two words.Filled with wisdom.—The Greek participle implies the continuous process of “being filled,” and so conveys the thought expressed in Luke 2:52, of an increase of wisdom. The soul of Jesus was human, i.e., subject to the conditions and limitations of human knowledge, and learnt as others learn. The heresy of Apollinarius, who constructed a theory of the Incarnation on the assumption that the Divine Word (the Logos of St. John’s... read more
(41) His parents went to Jerusalem.—The law of Moses required the attendance of all males at the three feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles (Exodus 23:17; Deuteronomy 16:16). The dispersion of the Jews had, of course, relaxed the obligation for those who lived at a distance; but it was still more or less generally recognised by those who dwelt in Palestine, and the school of Hillel held the Passover to be binding upon women as well as men. The yearly journey to Jerusalem may therefore... read more
(42)When he was twelve years old.—The stages of Jewish childhood were marked as follows:—At three the boy was weaned, and wore for the first time the fringed or tasselled garment prescribed by Numbers 15:38-41, and Deuteronomy 22:12. His education began, at first under the mother’s care. At five he was to learn the Law, at first by extracts written on scrolls of the more important passages, the Shemk or Creed of Deuteronomy 2:4, the Hallel or Festival Psalms (Psalms 114-118, 136), and by... read more
(43) The child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem.—The words do not imply that He intentionally stayed behind. If we deal with the history on its human side, the probable course of things was this:—The Passover Feast lasted seven days; on each of those days, after the first, we may well believe the “child Jesus” was seeking wisdom to do His Father’s work at the hands of the appointed teachers who “sat in Moses’ chair.” This had become habitual. He went, as usual, when the Feast was over; but... read more
(44) Supposing him to have been in the company.—The company was probably a large one, consisting of those who had come up to keep the Passover from Nazareth and the neighbouring villages. It is not certain, but in the nature of things it is sufficiently probable, that the boys of such a company congregated together, and travelled apart from the others. read more
(46) Sitting in the midst of the doctors.—A chamber of the Temple was set apart as a kind of open free school. The “doctors” or teachers—famous “doctors of the Law” (Acts 5:34)—sat “in Moses’ seat;” the older students on a low bench; the younger on the ground, literally “at the feet” of their instructor. The relation between master and scholar was often one of affectionate reverence and sympathy, and was expressed by one of the famous scribes in a saying worth remembering, “I have learnt much... read more
Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - Luke 2:46
2:46 temple, (b-14) Hieron , as ch. 2.27. read more