GENEVA BIBLE 1599
The Bible of the Pilgrims who founded America and also the Bible of the Reformation.
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1 And (1) it came to pass that when Jesus had made an end of (a) commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in (b) their cities.
(1) Christ sheweth by his works, that he is the promised Messiah.
(a) Of instructing them with precepts.
(b) The disciples' cities, that is to say, in Galilee, where many of them were born; Acts 2:7 .
2 ¶ (*) And when John heard in the prison the works of Christ, he (♣) sent two of his disciples, and said unto him,
(*) Luke 7:18 .
(♣) Not because John was ignorant of Christ; but that he might teach his disciples that his office was to lead them to Christ.
3 Art thou he that should come, or shall we look for another?
4 And Jesus answering, said unto them, Go, and shew John, what things ye have heard and seen.
5 The blind receive sight, and the halt do walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, (*) and the (♣) poor receive the Gospel.
(*) Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18 .
(♣) Or, the Gospel is preached to the poor.
6 And blessed is he that shall not (*) be offended in me.
(*) That take no occasion by Christ to be hindered from the Gospel.
7 (2) And as they departed, Jesus began to speak unto the multitude of John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A (*) reed shaken with the wind?
(2) What agreement, and what difference is between the ministry of the Prophets, the preaching of John, and the full light of the Gospel, which Christ hath brought.
(*) A man inconstant.
8 But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold they that wear soft clothing, are in King’s houses.
9 But what went ye out to see? A Prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and (*) more than a Prophet.
(*) For the Prophets declared Christ long before he came, but John as it were pointed him with his finger.
10 For this is he of whom it is written, (*) Behold, I send my messenger before thy face which shall prepare thy way before thee.
(*) Malachi 3:1; Luke 7:28 .
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them which are (*) begotten of women, arose there not a greater than John Baptist, notwithstanding, he that is the (♣) least in the (c) kingdom of heaven, is greater than he.
(*) Which were begotten and born by the means of man, and after the common course of nature; for Christ was conceived by the holy Ghost.
(♣) The least of them that shall preach the Gospel in the new estate of Christ’s Church, shall have more clear knowledge them John, and their message shall be more excellent.
(c) In the new state of the Church where the true glory of God shineth; the persons are not compared together, but the kinds of doctrines, the preaching of John with the law and the Prophets, and again, the most clear preaching of the Gospel with John’s.
12 And from (*) the time of John Baptist hitherto, the kingdom of heaven (♣) suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
(*) Luke 16:16 .
(♣) Men’s’ zeal are inflamed with desire to receive God’s mercies offered, and are most ready to hear the word.
13 For all the Prophets and the Law (d) (*) prophesied unto John.
(d) They prophesied of things to come, which are now present and clearly and plainly seen.
(*) They prophesied things to come, which now we see present and more clear.
14 And if ye will receive (♣) it, this is (*) Elijah, which was to come.
(♣) Meaning his testimony concerning John.
(*) Malachi 4:5 .
15 ¶ He that hath ears to hear let him hear.
16 (*) (3) But whereunto shall I liken this generation? (e) It is like unto little children which sit in the markets, and call unto their fellows,
(*) Luke 7:31 .
(3) There are none more stout and stubborn enemies of the
Gospel, than they to whom it ought to be most acceptable.
(e) He blameth the frowardness of this age, by a proverb, in
that they could be moved neither with rough, nor gentle
dealing.
17 And say, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced, we have (*) mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
(*) Or, sung mourningly.
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a glutton and a drinker of wine, a friend unto Publicans and sinners, (4) but (f) (*) wisdom is justified of her children.
(4) That which the most part refuse, the elect and chosen
embrace.
(f) Wise men do acknowledge the wisdom of the Gospel, when
they receive it.
(*) They that are wise indeed, acknowledge the wisdom of God in him whom the Pharisees contemn, read Luke 7:29 .
20 ¶ (5) (*) Then began he to upbraid the cities, wherein most of his great works were done, because they repented not.
(5) The proud reject the Gospel offered unto them, to their great hurt and smart which turneth to the salvation of the simple.
(*) Luke 10:13 .
21 Woe be to thee Chorazin! Woe be to thee Bethsaida! For if the great works which were done in you, had been done in (*) Tyre and Sidon, they had repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
(*) Cities of great merchandise full of dissolution and wantonness.
22 (*) But I say to you, It shall be easier for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
(*) Or, therefore.
23 And thou Capernaum, which art lifted up unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell; for if the great works, which have been done in thee, had been done among them of Sodom, they had remained to this day.
24 But I say unto you, that it shall be easier for them of the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
25 (*) At that time Jesus answered, and said, I give thee thanks, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and men of understanding, and hast (g) opened them unto babes.
(*) Luke 10:21 .
(g) Through the ministry of Christ, who only sheweth the truth of all things pertaining to God.
26 It is (h) so, O Father, because thy (i) good (*) pleasure was such.
(h) This word sheweth, that he contenteth himself in his
Father's council.
(i) God's will is the only rule of righteousness.
(*) Faith cometh not of man’s will or power, but by the secret illumination of God, which is the declaration of his eternal counsel.
27 (*) (6) All things are given unto me of my Father; and (♣) no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
(*) John 3:35 .
(6) There is no true knowledge of God, nor quietness of mind, but only in Christ alone.
(♣) John 6:46 .
28 Come unto me, all ye that (*) are weary and laden, and I will ease you.
(*) Which felt the weight and grief of your sins and miseries.
29 Take my (♣) yoke on you, and learn of me that I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find (*) rest unto your souls.
(♣) To be governed by my Spirit, and to mortify your affections.
(*) Jeremiah 6:16 .
30 (*) For my yoke is (k) easy, and my burden light.
(*) 1 John 5:3 .
(k) May easily be born. For his commandments are not grievous, for all that is born of God overcometh the world; 1 John 5:4 .
1 Corinthians 14:8
And also if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to battle?
"Let not Geneva be forgotten or despised. Religious liberty owes it most respect." John Adams, the second president of the United States