Norton Knatchbull

Annotations upon some difficult Texts, in all the Books of the New Testament. Cambridge, 1693. 1 vol. 12mo.. 

(On Matthew 16:27-28)
"This place can scarce mystically be understood, by no means literally, but of the coming of the Son of man to the destruction of Jerusalem, who then may truly be said to come in his kingdom, when he came to triumph over his enemies the Jews, by taking a severe and just vengeance of them. Of his resurrection, which is also called his kingdom, it reasonably cannot. For what wonder were it, if some of the standers by should live to see him coming in his resurrection, which came to pass in so short a time ? But if any of them should live to see the destruction of Jerusalem, which happened so many years after his passion, that might deserve the notice. And that some of the slanders by, when our Saviour spoke those words, did remain alive to that very day, is true and known. And in this sense it is true, Verily, I say unto you, this generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled, chap. xxiv. 34. Neither before this time of his coming did the disciples go over all the cities of Israel, chap. x. 23. And in this sense did John remain alive till Christ came, whereof see more, John xxi. 22." (Annot. in loc.)

(On Acts 1:24)
"I cannot, for all that, think the evangelist had any such meaning in these words ; I rather, with Chrysostom, look upon the prudence of the man, how he speaks not contumeliously, nor insults, Ac. Which plainly argues, that he thought not that it was the meaning of St. Luke, in these words, to adjudge Judas into hell; for what could he have said of Judas more contumelious, than that he was gone to his own place, meaning hell? Neither was it the business of a historian or evangelist to interpose his own opinion, but rather to leave Judas to the judgment of God, it being enough for him to have related matter of fact, as he had promised and professed to do in the beginning of his gospel : — Even as they had delivered things unto us, who were eye-witnesses from the beginning, &c. But who will you say was an eye-witness of Judas' going to, or being in hell ?" (Annot. in loc.)

(Acts 13:40)
"Without question, this denunciation of the prophet was here directed to the Jews, whom he here calls despisers, that they should behold, and with astonishment admire, the work of the Lord, which he was to do in their days ; so, as for very amazement and consternation, they should seek to hide themselves, and wish the very hills would come down and cover them from the dreadful wrath which was to come. And lest this fate should now come again upon the Jews, the apostle bids them, in this place, beware — in the foregoing verse foresignifying the fearful destruction of Jerusalem, then near at hand." (Annot. in loc.)

(On Acts 13:48)
"That, therefore, this place may bring no weight to the establishing of so controverted a sense, of which there will never be an end of disputing till Elias come, why may not these words be better distinguished and translated thus — and as many as were met together believed in eternal life. The Jews held themselves unworthy of eternal life, by putting the word of God from them, ver. 46. But the Gentiles, when they heard it, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord, and as many as were met together believed in eternal life." (Annot. in loc.)

(On 1 Thessalonians 2:16)
"The wrath of God is come upon them in the end. They have killed Jesus and their own prophets, and they have persecuted us, neither care they for God, but are contrary to all, forbidding us to preach unto you, that ye might be saved ; but the vengeance of God is come upon them in the end. Their measure was full, and the destruction of Jerusalem was at hand." (Annot. in loc.)