For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
Ver. 27. For indeed he was sick] Which should not have been, if St Paul could have cured him, as he did others. This shows that the apostles cured the sick, and did miracles, not by their own power, or at their own pleasure, &c.
But God had mercy on him.] A great mercy it is to recover health, and highly to be prized. After sickness, offer to God the ransom of thy life, as they did,Exodus 32:31,33. Bless Jehovah thy physician, so he is called, Exodus 15:26. Thus did David, Psalms 103:3. Thus Hezekiah,Isaiah 36:9. Thus the very heathens, whose custom was after a fit of sickness to consecrate something to their gods.
But on me also] For it is a very sore affliction to lose a dear friend, which is as a man's own soul, Deuteronomy 13:6, and is there set after brother, son, daughter, wife of a man's bosom, as dearer than all of them.
Lest I should have sorrow] God's care is that we suffer in measure, Isaiah 27:8; and according as we can, 1 Corinthians 10:13. See Trapp on " 1Co 10:13 "