2, 3. As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee— (Mal 3:1; Isa 40:3).

     3. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight—The second of these quotations is given by Matthew and Luke in the same connection, but they reserve the former quotation till they have occasion to return to the Baptist, after his imprisonment (Mt 11:10; Lu 7:27). (Instead of the words, "as it is written in the Prophets," there is weighty evidence in favor of the following reading: "As it is written in Isaiah the prophet." This reading is adopted by all the latest critical editors. If it be the true one, it is to be explained thus—that of the two quotations, the one from Malachi is but a later development of the great primary one in Isaiah, from which the whole prophetical matter here quoted takes its name. But the received text is quoted by IRENÆUS, before the end of the second century, and the evidence in its favor is greater in amount, if not in weight. The chief objection to it is, that if this was the true reading, it is difficult to see how the other one could have got in at all; whereas, if it be not the true reading, it is very easy to see how it found its way into the text, as it removes the startling difficulty of a prophecy beginning with the words of Malachi being ascribed to Isaiah.) For the exposition, see on Mt 3:1-6; Mt 3:11.

     Mr 1:9-11. BAPTISM OF CHRIST AND DESCENT OF THE SPIRIT UPON HIM IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER. ( = Mt 3:13-17; Lu 3:21, 22).

     See on Mt 3:13-17.

     Mr 1:12, 13. TEMPTATION OF CHRIST. ( = Mt 4:1-11; Lu 4:1-13).

     See on Mt 4:1-11.

     Mr 1:14-20. CHRIST BEGINS HIS GALILEAN MINISTRY—CALLING OF SIMON AND ANDREW, JAMES AND JOHN.

     See on Mt 4:12-22.

     Mr 1:21-39. HEALING OF A DEMONIAC IN THE SYNAGOGUE OF CAPERNAUM AND THEREAFTER OF SIMON'S MOTHER-IN-LAW AND MANY OTHERS—JESUS, NEXT DAY, IS FOUND IN A SOLITARY PLACE AT MORNING PRAYERS, AND IS ENTREATED TO RETURN, BUT DECLINES, AND GOES FORTH ON HIS FIRST MISSIONARY CIRCUIT. ( = Lu 4:31-44; Mt 8:14-17; 4:23-25).