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John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 2:50

And they understood not the saying, .... What he meant by his Father's house, or his Father's business, and the necessity of his being there, and about that: which he spake unto them ; at that time, and as above related. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:43

Had fulfilled the days - Eight days in the whole: one was the passover, and the other seven, the days of unleavened bread. See on Matthew 26:2 ; (note). read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:44

Supposing him to have been in the company - Some have supposed that the men and women marched in separate companies on these occasions, which is very likely; and that sometimes the children kept company with the men, sometimes with the women. This might have led to what otherwise seems to have been inexcusable carelessness in Joseph and Mary. Joseph, not seeing Jesus in the men's company, might suppose he was with his mother in the women's company; and Mary, not seeing him with her, might... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:45

Seeking him - Ζητουντες αυτον - or rather, seeking him diligently, αναζητουντες . This is the reading of BCDL, six others, Vulgate, and nine copies of the Itala. If they sought earnestly when they first found him missing, there is little doubt that their solicitude and diligence must be greatly increased during his three days' absence, therefore the word which I have adopted, on the above authority, is more likely to be the true reading than the ζητουντες of the common text, which... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:46

Sitting in the midst of the doctors - The rabbins, who were explaining the law and the ceremonies of the Jewish religion to their disciples. Asking them questions - Not as a scholar asks his teacher, to be informed; but as a teacher, who proposes questions to his scholars in order to take an occasion to instruct them. In the time of Josephus, the Jewish teachers were either very ignorant or very humble: for he tells us that, "when he was about fourteen years of age, the chief priests,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:47

Answers: - The word αποκρισις here seems not to mean answers only, but what Jesus said by way of question to the doctors, Luke 2:46 . So in Revelation 7:13 , one of the elders is said to have answered, saying - when he only asked a question. Bp. Pearce. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:48

Why hast thou thus dealt with us? - It certainly was not his fault, but theirs. Men are very apt to lay on others the blame of their own misconduct. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:49

How is it that ye sought me? - Is not this intended as a gentle reproof? Why had ye me to seek? Ye should not have left my company, when ye knew I am constantly employed in performing the will of the Most High. My Father's business? - Εν τοις του πατρος μου , My Father's concerns. Some think that these words should be translated, In my Father's house; which was a reason that they should have sought him in the temple only. As if he had said, Where should a child be found, but in his... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:44

Verse 44 44.And thinking that he was in the company Many passages of Scripture show plainly, that those who came from a distance, at the festivals, to worship in the temple, were accustomed to travel in companies. There is no reason, therefore, to wonder that, on the first day, Joseph and Mary were less anxious about the child; and their subsequent conduct shows that this was not owing to indolence or carelessness. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 2:46

Verse 46 46.Sitting in the midst of the doctors Rays of divine brightness must have evidently shone in this child: otherwise those haughty men would not have permitted him to sit along with them. Though it is probable that he occupied a lower seat, and not the rank of the doctors, yet such disdainful men would not have condescended to give him an audience in a public assembly, if some divine power had not constrained them. This was a sort of prelude to his public calling, the full time of which... read more

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