---
title: "John Wesley's Notes on the Whole Bible"
author: "John Wesley"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Commentaries"
section: 299 of 398
url: https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/299/
cite: "John Wesley, John Wesley's Notes on the Whole Bible, section 299. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/299/"
---

# John Wesley's Notes on the Whole Bible

*John Wesley*

Wesley's short, plain notes on the Old and New Testaments, verse by verse.

## 299. Luke · 13 of 13

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/299/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/john-wesley-notes-on-the-whole-bible/299/#p-N

[¶0] He questioned him - Probably concerning the miracles which were reported to have been wrought by him.

[¶1] Herod set him at nought - Probably judging him to be a fool, because he answered nothing. In a splendid robe - In royal apparel; intimating that he feared nothing from this king.

[¶2] He hath done nothing worthy of death - According to the judgment of Herod also.

[¶3] I will therefore chastise him - Here Pilate began to give ground, which only encouraged them to press on. Mt 27:15; Mr 15:6; Joh 18:39.

[¶4] He said to them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? - As Peter, a disciple of Christ, dishonoured him by denying him thrice, so Pilate, a heathen, honoured Christ, by thrice owning him to be innocent.

[¶5] Mt 27:31; Mr 15:21; Joh 19:16.

[¶6] Hos 10:8.

[¶7] If they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry? - Our Lord makes use of a proverbial expression, frequent among the Jews, who compare a good man to a green tree, and a bad man to a dead one: as if he had said, If an innocent person suffer thus, what will become of the wicked? Of those who are as ready for destruction as dry wood for the fire?

[¶8] Then said Jesus - Our Lord passed most of the time on the cross in silence: yet seven sentences which he spoke thereon are recorded by the four evangelists, though no one evangelist has recorded them all. Hence it appears that the four Gospels are, as it were, four parts, which, joined together, make one symphony. Sometimes one of these only, sometimes two or three, sometimes all sound together. Father - So he speaks both in the beginning and at the end of his sufferings on the cross: Forgive them - How striking is this passage! While they are actually nailing him to the cross, he seems to feel the injury they did to their own souls more than the wounds they gave him; and as it were to forget his own anguish out of a concern for their own salvation. And how eminently was his prayer heard! It procured forgiveness for all that were penitent, and a suspension of vengeance even for the impenitent.

[¶9] If thou be the Christ; Lu 23:37. If thou be the king - The priests deride the name of Messiah: the soldiers the name of king.

[¶10] Mt 27:37; Mr 15:26; Joh 19:19.

[¶11] And one of the malefactors reviled him - St. Matthew says, the robbers: St. Mark, they that were crucified with him, reviled him. Either therefore St. Matthew and Mark put the plural for the singular (as the best authors sometimes do) or both reviled him at the first, till one of them felt "the overwhelming power of saving grace."

[¶12] The other rebuked him - What a surprising degree was here of repentance, faith, and other graces! And what abundance of good works, in his public confession of his sin, reproof of his fellow criminal, his honourable testimony to Christ, and profession of faith in him, while he was in so disgraceful circumstances as were stumbling even to his disciples! This shows the power of Divine grace. But it encourages none to put off their repentance to the last hour; since, as far as appears, this was the first time this criminal had an opportunity of knowing any thing of Christ, and his conversion was designed to put a peculiar glory on our Saviour in his lowest state, while his enemies derided him, and his own disciples either denied or forsook him.

[¶13] Remember me when thou comest - From heaven, in thy kingdom - He acknowledges him a king, and such a king, as after he is dead, can profit the dead. The apostles themselves had not then so clear conceptions of the kingdom of Christ.

[¶14] In paradise - The place where the souls of the righteous remain from death till the resurrection. As if he had said, I will not only remember thee then, but this very day.

[¶15] There was darkness over all the earth - The noon - tide darkness, covering the sun, obscured all the upper hemisphere. And the lower was equally darkened, the moon being in opposition to the sun, and so receiving no light from it. Mt 27:45.

[¶16] Mr 15:38.

[¶17] Father, into thy hands - The Father receives the Spirit of Jesus: Jesus himself the spirits of the faithful.

[¶18] Certainly this was a righteous man - Which implies an approbation of all he had done and taught.

[¶19] All the people - Who had not been actors therein, returned smiting their breasts - In testimony of sorrow.

[¶20] Mt 27:57; Mr 15:43; Joh 19:38.

[¶21] Certain others with them - Who had not come from Galilee. Mt 28:1; Mr 16:1; Joh 20:1.

[¶22] Behold two - Angels in the form of men. Mary had seen them a little before. They had disappeared on these women's coming to the sepulchre, but now appeared again. St. Matthew and Mark mention only one of them, appearing like a young man.

[¶23] Remember how he spake to you, saying, The Son of man must be delivered - This is only a repetition of the words which our Lord had spoken to them before his passion But it is observable, he never styles himself the Son of man after his resurrection.

[¶24] Mr 16:12.

[¶25] To - day is the third day - The day he should have risen again, if at all.

[¶26] O foolish - Not understanding the designs and works of God: And slow of heart - Unready to believe what the prophets have so largely spoken.

[¶27] Ought not Christ - If he would redeem man, and fulfil the prophecies concerning him, to have suffered these things? - These very sufferings which occasion your doubts, are the proofs of his being the Messiah. And to enter into his glory - Which could be done no other way.

[¶28] He made as though he would go farther - Walking forward, as if he was going on; and he would have done it, had they not pressed him to stay.

[¶29] They constrained him - By their importunate entreaties.

[¶30] He took the bread, and blessed, and brake - Just in the same manner as when ho instituted his last supper.

[¶31] Their eyes were opened - That is, the supernatural cloud was removed: And he vanished - Went away insensibly.

[¶32] The same hour - Late as it was.

[¶33] The Lord hath appeared to Simon - Before he was seen of the twelve apostles, 1Cor 15:5. He had, in his wonderful condescension and grace, taken an opportunity on the former part of that day (though where, or in what manner, is not recorded) to show himself to Peter, that he might early relieve his distresses and fears, on account of having so shamefully denied his Master.

[¶34] In the breaking of bread - The Lord's Supper.

[¶35] Jesus stood in the midst of them - It was just as easy to his Divine power to open a door undiscernibly, as it was to come in at a door opened by some other hand. Mr 16:14,19; Joh 20:19.

[¶36] He showed them his hands and his feet - That they might either see or feel the prints of the nails.

[¶37] While they believed not for joy - They did in some sense believe: otherwise they would not have rejoiced. But their excess of joy prevented a clear, rational belief.

[¶38] He took it and ate before them - Not that he had any need of food; but to give them still farther evidence.

[¶39] And he said - On the day of his ascension. In the law, and the prophets, and the psalms - The prophecies as well as types, relating to the Messiah, are contained either in the books of Moses (usually called the law) in the Psalms, or in the writings of the prophets; little being said directly concerning him in the historical books.

[¶40] Then opened he their understanding, to understand the Scriptures - He had explained them before to the two as they went to Emmaus. But still they Understood them not, till he took off the veil from their hearts, by the illumination of his Spirit.

[¶41] Beginning at Jerusalem - This was appointed most graciously and wisely: graciously, as it encouraged the, greatest sinners to repent, when they saw that even the murderers of Christ were not excepted from mercy: and wisely, as hereby Christianity was more abundantly attested; the facts being published first on the very spot where they happened.

[¶42] Behold I send the promise - Emphatically so called; the Holy Ghost.

[¶43] He led them out as far as Bethany - Not the town, but the district: to the mount of Olives, Acts 1:12, which stood within the boundaries of Bethany.

[¶44] And while he was blessing them, he was parted from them - It was much more proper that our Lord should ascend into heaven, than that he should rise from the dead, in the sight of the apostles. For his resurrection was proved when they saw him alive after his passion: but they could not see him in heaven while they continued on earth.