John Gill

For these are the days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.

“For these be the days of vengeance,.... Of God's vengeance on the Jewish nation, for their rejection and crucifixion of the Messiah; that all things which are written may be fulfilled; as in Moses and the prophets; see Deu 28:20.”

How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people.

“But woe unto them that are with-child,.... See Gill on Mat 24:19. For there shall be great distress in the land; of Judea.”

They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations.

“And they shall fall by the edge of the sword,.... Or "mouth of the sword", an Hebraism; see the Septuagint in Jdg 1:”

There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of…

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon,.... They shall be darkened, and suffer very strange and surprising eclipses: and in the stars; they shall fall from heaven, as in Mat 24:29 and so the Ethiopic version reads here: all which…”

Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

“Men's hearts failing them for fear,.... Of what these signs in the heaven, earth, and sea portend: and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; on the land of Judea: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken; See Gill on…”

When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.

“When they now shoot forth,.... Their buds, branches, and leaves; the Vulgate Latin adds, "of themselves": ye see and know of your own selves; without any hint, or direction from others, the case is so plain and obvious; the Syriac and Arabic versions read, "of…”

So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

“So likewise when ye see these things come to pass,.... The signs before mentioned, in Luk 21:8. Know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand: a more visible and glorious display of the kingdom of the Messiah, in the destruction of his…”

Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.

“Verily I say unto you, this generation,.... See Gill on Mat 24:34. See Gill on Mat 24:35. All the Oriental versions read here as there, "all these things"; before related.”

For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth.

“For as a snare shall it come,.... In which a bird is suddenly taken, and cannot get out again; the Persic version renders it, "as lightning and the splendour of the sun"; which break out at once, and enlighten the whole earth; so the destruction…”

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread, called the Passover, was approaching,

“Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh,.... Which lasted seven days; during which the Jews eat their bread without leaven, in commemoration of the haste in which they went out of Egypt; being such, that they had not time to leaven their dough, but…”

and the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to put Jesus to death; for they feared the people.

“And the chief priests and Scribes,.... Matthew adds, "and the elders of the people"; which made up the great sanhedrim and council of the nation; these met together, not in their usual place the temple, but at the palace of Caiaphas, the high priest; see…”

They were delighted and agreed to give him money.

“And they were glad,.... For nothing could be more opportune and agreeable to them, than that one of his disciples should meet them at this juncture, and offer to put him into their hands in the most private manner; and covenanted to give him money.”

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb was to be sacrificed.

“Then came the day of unleavened bread,.... The first of them, the fourteenth day of the month Nisan: when the passover must be killed; that is, the passover lamb, as the Persic version renders it; and which, according to the law in Exo 12:6 was…”

Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare for us to eat the Passover.”

“And he sent Peter and John,.... That is, Jesus sent them, as the Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions express it; these were two favourite disciples of Christ, and were now sent by him from Bethany to Jerusalem: saying, go and prepare us the passover, that…”

“Where do You want us to prepare it?” they asked.

“And they said unto him, where wilt thou that we prepare? Meaning, not in what village, town, or city, for it was a fixed and determined thing, that the passover should be eaten at Jerusalem, and nowhere else; see Deu 16:2, but in what house…”

And he will show you a large upper room, already furnished. Make preparations there.”

“And he shall show you a large upper room furnished,.... With all things necessary, to eat and drink out of, at the passover; there make ready. The Ethiopic version adds, "for us", as in Mar 14:15.”

When the hour had come, Jesus reclined at the table with His apostles.

“And when the hour was come,.... When it was evening, the last of the two evenings, when it was dark, at least after six o'clock; See Gill on Mat 26:20.”

In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.

“Likewise also the cup after supper,.... Both after the passover, and the Lord's supper; that is, he took the cup after they had eaten the bread, and gave thanks over it, and gave it to his disciples, bidding them drink of it, as in Mat…”

Then they began to question among themselves which of them was going to do this.

“And they began to inquire among themselves,.... Two days before, at the supper in Bethany, when the same thing was hinted to them, they looked at one another, Joh 13:22 as persons in the utmost surprise and consternation, not being able, for a while, either…”

A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them would be considered the greatest.

“And there was also a strife among them,.... The Persic version reads, "at a certain time there was a contention among the apostles"; and some think, that this refers to the time when the mother of Zebedee's two sons asked the favour of Christ, to…”

So Jesus declared, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them call themselves benefactors.

“And he said unto them,.... The disciples; that is, Jesus said to them, as the Syriac and Persic versions express: the kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; by which our Lord would dissuade his disciples from seeking to introduce a superiority over one…”

You are the ones who have stood by Me in My trials.

“Ye are they which have continued with me,.... From the beginning of his ministry, to that very time, they abode by him, and never departed from him, when others withdrew and walked no more with him: in my temptations: not in the wilderness by Satan…”

For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about Me is reaching its fulfillment.”

“For I say unto you, that this that is written,.... In Isa 53:12 must yet be accomplished; it having not been as yet; at least not so perfectly fulfilled: and he was reckoned among the transgressors.”

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him.

“And he came out,.... That is, "Christ", as the Persic version; or the "Lord Jesus", as the Ethiopic version expresses; he came out of the guestchamber, or upper room, and out of the house where he had been keeping the passover with his disciples; and…”

When He came to the place, He told them, “Pray that you will not enter into temptation.”

“And when he was at the place,.... In the garden, at Gethsemane, which was at the foot of the Mount of Olives; he said unto them; to the disciples, as the Persic version reads; pray that ye enter not into temptation.”