our Lord goes on to foretel some which were more immediately to precede it. Luke xxi. 10. Then said he unto them, * Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11. † And great Luke 10. Nation shall rise against nation, &c.] See Grotius in loc. who gives a particular account of the wars of the Jews among themselves, and of the Romans with the Syrians, Samaritans, and other neighbouring nations, before Jerusalem was destroyed. Josephus throughout, has shewed us the fulfilment of this part of the prophecy. Luke 1. And great earthquakes, &c.] In the time of Claudius and Nero, there were great earthquakes at Crete, Smyrna, Miletus, Chios, Samos, Laodicea, Hierapolis, and Colosse, in all which places the Jews lived. See Grotius. Thus were there earthquakes in divers places. More over, there were judgments of this kind in Judea likewise; for Josephus tells us, Bell. iv. 7." There happened there an immense tempest, and vehement winds with rain, and frequent lightnings, and dreadful thunderings, and extreme roarings of the quaking earth, which demonstrated to all that the world was disturbed at the destruction of men." The famine in the reign of Claudius, which afflicted Judea in particular, is well known. It is mentioned, Acts xi. 28. It is taken notice of likewise by Suetonius Claud. c. 18. and by Dio. Josephus tells us many perished in it, Ant. xx. 2. See the following paragraph. That Judea was afflicted with pestilence likewise, we learn from Josephus, who tells us, Bell. v. 1. that one Niger being put to death by the seditious, imprecated pestilence upon them, which came to pass. Father, concerning the pestilence and famine, Josephus writes thus, Bell. vii. 17. "Being assembled together from all parts to the feast of unleavened bread, presently and on a sudden they were environed with war. And first of all a plague fell among them, by reason of the straitness of the place, and immediately after a famine worse than it." Besides, in the progress of the siege, the number of the dead, and the stench arising from their unburied carcases, must have infected the air, and occasioned pestilence. For Josephus tells us, Dell. vi. fine, that there were no less than six hundred thousand dead bodies carried out of the city, and suffered to lie unburied. Of the fearful sights and great signs from heaven, Josephus has given us a particular account, Bell. vii. 12, There was a comet in the form of a fiery sword, which for a year together did hang over the city. Before the first revolt and war, the people being gathered together to the fesst of unleavened bread, on the 8th of April, at the ninth hour of the night, there was as much light about the altar and temple, as if it had been bright day. This remained half an hour. At the same festival, the inner gate of the temple, on the east side, being of massy brass, which required at least twenty men to shut it, was seen at midnight to open of its own accord. Not long after the feast days, on the 21st of May, there was seen a vision beyond all belief: and perhaps what I am going to relate might seem a fable, if some were not now alive who beheld it, and if the subsequent calamity had not been worthy of such a presage. For before the sun-set, were seen in the air chariots and armies in battle-array, passing along in the clouds, and investing the city. And upon the feast of Pentecost at night, the priests going into the inner-temple to attend their wonted service, said they first felt the place to move and tremble, after that they heard a voice which said, Let us depart bence. But that which was most wonderful of all, one Jesus, the son of Ananus, of the common people. four years before the war began, when the city flourished in peace and riches, coming to the celebration of the feast of tabernacles at Jerusalem, suddenly began to cry out thus: A voice from the east, a voice from the west, a voice from the four winds, a voice against Jerusalem and the tem VOL. II. 3 G ple. great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences, and fearful sights, and great signs shall there be from heaven. The earthquakes, and pestilences, and famines mentioned by Jesus, as signs of the approach of the destruction of Jerusalem, were not natural and ordinary instances of these evils, but they were to be the greatest of their kind. For which reason, when they came to pass, the apostles, observing their conformity to their Master's prediction, might easily collect that the destruction of the city was fast approaching, and might take measures for their own safety. Matt. xxiv. 8. All these are the beginnings of sorrows; agxn odiva. Od properly signifies the pain of childbearing, which at the beginning is but light, in comparison of what it becomes afterwards. Therefore, our Lord's meaning was, that the evils which he mentioned were but small, in comparison of those which were yet to fall upon the nation. Matt. xxiv. 9. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you. Luke expresses this part of the prophecy more exactly, xxi. 12. But before all these things: Before the appearing of the ple, a voice against men and women newly married, a voice against all this people. And thus crying day and night, he went about all the streets of the city." Josephus adds, that "he was scourged by some of the nobility, but without speaking a word for himself, he persevered crying as before; that he was carried before Albinus the Roman general, who caus ed him to be beaten till his bones appeared, but that he neither intreated nor wept; but, as well as he could, framing a weeping voice, he cried at every stroke, Wo, wo to Jerusalem" that he went thus crying chiefly upon holy days, for the space of seven years and five months, till in the time of the siege, beholding what he had foretold, he ceased. And that then once again going about the city, on the wall, he cried with a lond voice, Wo, wo to the city, temple, and people; and lastly he said, Wo also to myself. Which words were no sooner uttered, than a stone thrown out of an engine smote him, and so he yielded up the ghost, lamenting them all," Luke 12. But before all these things they shall lay their hands on you and persecute you, &c.] How fully the particulars foretold in this verse were accomplished, we learn even from the Roman historians, Tacitus and Suetonius, who have given an account of the persecution raised against the Christians by Nero. But the history of the Acts will throw the greatest light on this passage. For there we are told, that immediately after our Lord's ascension, Peter and John were called before the Jewish senate, iv. 6, 7. and beaten, v. 40,: That Stephen was brought before the same court, vi. 12. and put to death, vii. 58.: That Saul made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women, commit ted them to prison. viii. 3. and punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, persecuted them unto strange cities, xxvi. 11.: That James was brought before. Herod, and by him put to death, xii. 2.: That the same prince laid Peter in prison, intending to kill him likewise, xii. 4.: That Paul, formerly himself a persecutor, but now converted, was in his turn frequently persecuted; that he and Silas were imprisoned and beaten in the synagogue of Philippi, xvi. 23. That he was brought before the great synagogue or senate of the Jews in Jerusalem, xxii. 30.; before king Agrippa and his the false Christs, before the rumours of wars, the earthquakes, famines, and pestilences that were to be in divers places, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, (Mark, councils, and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten) and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. Mark xiii. 9. But take heed to yourselves : Walk circumspectly, and arm yourselves both with patience and fortitude, that you may be able to perform your duty through the whole course of those persecutions, Luke xxi. 13. And it shall turn to you for a testimony (Mark, against them. The persecutions which you suffer shall become a glorious proof both of your innocence and of their guilt in rejecting the gospel. (See on Matt. x. 18. § 40.) Mark xiii. 10. And the gospel must first be published among all nations. (See on Matt. xxiv. 14. p. 645.) 11. But when they shall lead you, and, deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye; for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. (See on Matt. x. 19, 20. § 40.) Luke xxi. 14. Settle it therefore in your hearts: Seeing the Holy Ghost will assist you in your defences, let it be a fixed point with you, not to meditate before what ye shall answer. 15. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay, nor resist: I will suggest to you such sentiments, and enable you to deliver them with such eloquence, that your defences shall be unanswerable; and your adversaries shall be struck with them, especially when they find by your manner, that you have spoken without premeditation. Of the fulfilment of this promise we have evident examples in the defences made by the protomartyr Stephen, and by the apostle Paul, especially before king Agrippa and the Roman governors. But there is no need to insist upon particu. lars. The prevalency of the gospel, wherever it was preached, demonstrates beyond all doubt, that the defences made by the preachers thereof were unanswerable. Luke xxi. 16. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents and brethren, and kinsfelk, and friends, (Mark, Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son) and some of you shall they couse to be put to death. (Mark, And children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.) 17. And ye shall be hated of all men (Matt. nations) for my name's sake: Crimes and cruelties shall be committed by the unbelieving Jews and the apostate Christians, the very idea of which raises horror in the most barbarous nations. For that the prophecy speaks of unbelievers and apostates, is evident from what wife, before the Roman governors Gallio, Felix, and Festus; and last of all, before the emperor Nero in Rome, and his præfect Helius Cæsaria PUBL what follows in Matt. xxiv. 10. And then shall many be offended, i. e.. made to stumble and apostatize, and shall betray one another; namely, after they have apostatized. As this article of the prophecy has an especial relation to Christ's disciples, we cannot expect any account of its accomplishment in Josephus. Moreover, 1. considering how short the history is, which the only Christian writer now remaining has given us of the church, in the period preceding the destruction of Jerusalem, it is not to be wondered as if he has mentioned none of the instances of the treachery here foretold. Tacitus has assured us, that in Nero's persecution the Christians betrayed one another. And with respect to the Jews, their known zeal and cruelty render it abundantly credible, that in the persecution of the Christians, the bigots to the law of Moses, overlooking the ties of nature, would be instrumental in → putting even their own relations to death, who followed the standard of Christ. To conclude, that Christ's disciples were hated of all men in the first ages, is well known. Their oppo. sition to idolatry was the cause of the ill-will which the heathens bare towards them. Their preaching that the law of Moses was abrogated enraged the Jews. And in this temper did both Jews and heathens continue during the first three centuries, till Constantine declaring himself of the Christian persuasion, put an end to the cruelties that had been so long exercised upon the disciples of Jesus. Matt. xxiv. 11. And many false prophets shall arist, and deceive many. The false prophets here mentioned are different from those mentioned in the preceding part of the prophecy, (Matt. 5. Luke 8. p. 640.) as coming in the name of Christ; for they did not pretend to be Messiah, as the others did, but only to be commissioned by God to prophesy deliverance to the people. Matt. xxiv. 12. And because + iniquity ́shall ́abound, the love of many shall wax cold. The perfidy and wickedness of the Jews and apostates, and the horrible cruelties which they shall Matt. 11. Many false prophets shall arise.] See on Matt. xxiv. 24. concerning the false prophets who arose among the Jews; and Grotius on this verse concerning the false prophets who arose among the Christians, and with their doctrine deceived many. * Matt. 12. Iniquity shall abound.] Every part of Josephus's history of 3 the war, is full of the horrible wickedness committed by the Jews;, but in his relation of the siege, he mentions such acts of barbarity and cruelty as are shocking to human nature, insomuch that he is obliged to own they 5 were the wickedest nation under heaven. I shall only produce one pas sage, in which, speaking of the manners of the Jews before this war broke ont, he describes them thus: Bell. vii. 28. "For that time among the Jews abounded with all manner of iniquity, so that none was left undone. Yen, though one endeavoured to invent some new villany, yet could he invent none that was not then practised." But the particular iniquity which our Lord seems now to have had in view, was the barbarity wherewith they persecuted his disciples, and which caused the love of many of them to wax cold; that is, caused them to apostatize. See on Luke xxi. 16. p. 643. !shall exercise towards my disciples, will discourage many who have already taken on them the Christian name, or who are about to do so. Whilst Jesus foretold the apostasy of many, he - at the same time declared, that such of his disciples as continued stedfast in the profession of his religion, should not be involved in the ruin which was coming upon the nation, and in particular should not perish in the siege. Matt. xxiv. 13. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved: He who is neither made to apostatize by the persecutions I have described, 'nor led astray by the seduction of false Christians, shall escape out of the destruction that is about to fall on this land. Luke expresses it thus, xxi. 18. But there shall not an hair of your head perish: a proverbial expression denoting absolute safety. Thus Jesus encouraged all to stedfastness in the midst of the fiery trial that was to try them. How his promise was accomplished, we shall see when we come to explain Luke xxi. 20. Matt. xxiv. 14. And this gospel of the kingdom * shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations: (See Mark xiii. 10.) The persecutions raised against the Christians in Judea, and the tribulations befalling the land, shall scatter my disciples, by which means the gospel shall be preached in all the world, and then shall the Matt. 14. Shall be preached in all the world.] The fulfilment of this part of the prophecy we learn chiefly from the writings of the New Testament, which inform us, that the gospel was preached by Paul in Arabia, and through the vast tract from Jerusalem to Iconium in Lycaonia, and in Galatia, and through all Asia Minor, and in Greece, and round about to Illyricum, and in Crete, and Italy, probably also in Spain and Gaul. Besides, the gospel reached much farther than this apostle carried it; for we find him writing to Christians who had never seen his face. Also we have still remaining Peter's epistles to the converted Jews in Pontus, Asia, Cappadocia, and Bithynia. Probably the gospel was preached in these and many other countries, by the Jews who sojourned there, and who having come up to Jerusalem to the passover, were converted on the day of Pentecost. The Ethiopian eunuch, converted by Philip, would carry it likewise into his country. But whatever way it happened, the fact is certain, that in most of these countries, churches were planted within thirty years after Christ's death, or about ten years before the destruction of Jerusa lem. Hence we find the apostle telling the Romans, x. 18. that the sound of the preachers of the gospel" had gone forth into all the world, and their word to the end of the earth." Hence likewise, he tells the church in Rome, chap. i. that "their faith was spoken of throughout the whole world;" and the church at Colosse, i. 6, 23. that "the truth of the gospel was come not to them only, but to all the world, being preached to every creature." Hence, also when Mark wrote his gospel, the apostles had gone forth," and preached every where,” xvi. 20. The preaching of the gospel through the whole world by twelve illiterate fishermen, and the destruction of Jerusalem, were events extremely improbable, and therefore the prediction and accomplishment of them deserve to be particularly ta ken notice of; and the rather that they were both absolutely necessary for bringing about the conversion of the world to Christianity, and are mentioned in this prophecy as such. ↑ Ibidem. And then shall the end come.] The fulfilment of this part of the |