Matthew 20:23 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

And be baptized with the baptism— That is, "shall partake of my afflictions." This metaphorical sense of the word baptism, is derived from the figurativeexpressionsoftheOldTestament,inwhichafflictionsarerepresentedunder the notion of great waters passing over, and being ready to overwhelm a person. In this view of the matter James and John were baptised with Christ's baptism; for James was put to death by Herod, Acts 12:2 being the first of all the Apostles who suffered martyrdom for Christ; and though the account which some gave of John's being cast into a cauldron of boiling oil at Rome has been called in question by many, it is not to be doubted that he had his share in the persecutions, from which none of Christ's Apostles were exempted. He was imprisoned and scourged by order of the council at Jerusalem, Acts 5:18; Acts 5:40 and banished to the isle of Patmos for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ, Revelation 1:9. The last clause of this verse, is not mine to give, &c. should be translated, is not mine to give, unless to them for whom it is prepared, &c; 'Αλλα being put here for ει μη, as it is Mark 9:8 see also Matthew 17:8. Our Saviour meant that it was not in his power, consistently with his perfections, to give the chief places to any, but to those who were most eminent in their graces, particularly for their faith and fortitude; such only having a right to the chief places in the kingdom of heaven, according to the unalterable laws of the divine administration. "I can give the chief places of my kingdom to none, but to those, who, according to the immutable laws of my Father, are capable of enjoying them:" And in this view of the text, how poor a support does it afford to the Arian or Socinian cause!