Luke 8 - Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Mary Magdalene — Or Mary of Magdala, a town in Galilee: probably the person mentioned in the last chapter.

Matthew 13:1; Mark 4:1.

Who — keep it — Not like the highway side: And bring forth fruit — Not like the thorny ground: With perseverance — Not like the stony.

No man having lighted a candle — As if ho had said, And let your good fruit appear openly. Matthew 5:15; Mark 4:21; Luke 11:33.

For nothing is hid — Strive not to conceal it at all; for you can conceal nothing long. Matthew 10:26; Mark 4:22; Luke 12:2.

The word commonly translated seemeth, wherever it occurs, does not weaken, but greatly strengthens the sense. Matthew 13:12; Mark 4:25; Luke 19:26.

Matthew 12:46; Mark 3:31.

Matthew 8:23; Mark 4:35.

Matthew 8:28; Mark 5:1.

For many times it had caught him — Therefore our compassionate Lord made the more haste to cast him out.

The abyss — That is, the bottomless pit.

To enter into the swine — Not that they were any easier in the swine than out of them. Had it been so, they would not so soon have dislodged themselves, by destroying the herd.

Matthew 9:1; Mark 5:18.

Mark 5:21.

She is not dead but sleepeth — Her soul is not separated finally from the body; and this short separation is rather to be called sleep than death.