Harmonised Table of Contents of the four Gospels.

Professor Griesbach, who believed that St. Mark constructed his Gospel from those of Matthew and Luke, has drawn up a Harmony of these three evangelists, in which he shows that, 24 verses excepted, the whole of St. Mark's Gospel is contained in those of St. Matthew and St. Luke. His whole scheme in detail may be seen in his Synopsis Evang. Matt. Marci & Lucæ, 8vo. Hal. 1776. From his Commentationes Theologice, Dr. Marsh gives the following table, which brings the whole into the narrowest compass. Let it be observed that the middle column contains the whole of St. Mark's Gospel: those to the right and left contain the portions of St. Matthew's Gospel and St. Luke's, which correspond to the stated portions of the Gospel according to St. Mark.

MATTHEW.

iii. 1-4. 22

xii. 15, 16.

22, 23. 24-32.

46-50.

xiii. 1-23.

24-30.
31, 32.

34, 35.

53-58.

xiv. 1, 2.
3-12.

xiii. 13-21.
22-xvi. 12.

xvi. 13-xviii. 9.
xix. 1-12.
13-xxiii. 1.

χχίν. 1-36.

xxvi. 1-xxviii. 8.

xxviii. 18-20.

MARK.

i. 1-20.
21-39.
40. iii. 6.
iii. 7-12.
13-19.

20, 21.
22-30.

31-35.

iv. 12-20.

21-25.

26-29.

30-32.

33, 34.
35-41.

v. 1-43.
vi. 1-6.

7-13.

14-16. 17-29. 30, 31. 32-44. 45-viii. 21. viii. 22-26. 27-ix. 50. x. 1-12. 13-xii. 37. xii. 38-44. xiii. 1-32. 33-37.

xiv. 1-xvi. 8.

xvi. 9. 10-13. 14. 15-18. 19. 20.

See Dr. Marsh's Origin of the three first Gospels, p. 180.

LUKE.

iv. 31-44. v. 12-vi. 11.

vi. 12-16.

viii. 16-18.

22-25.
26-56.

ix. 1-6.
7-9.

10. 11-17.

19-51.

xviii. 15-xx. 44.
xx. 45-xxi. 4.
xxi. 5, seq.

χχίν. 10-35.
36-43.

50, 51.

TABLE III.

The following forty-two sections, extracted from Eichorn by Dr. Marsh, contain such transactions as are common to the three former evangelists: St. Mark and St. Luke having precisely

Harmonised Table of Contents of the four Gospels.

the same arrangement. From section nineteen to the end, St. Matthew's arrangement is the same with that of Mark and Luke; but he has arranged the subjects contained in the eighteen first sections in a different manner.

1. John the Baptist, Mark i. 2-8. Luke iii. 1-18. Matt. iii. 1-12.

2. Baptism of Christ, Mark i. 9-11. Luke iii. 21, 22. Matt. iii. 13-17.

3. Temptation of Christ, Mark i. 12, 13. Luke iv. 1-13. Matt. iv. 1-11.

4. Christ's return to Galilee, and arrival at Capernaum, Mark i. 14. Luke iv. 14. Matt. iv. 12, 13.

5. Cure of Peter's mother-in-law, Mark i. 29-34. Luke iv. 38-41. Matt. viii. 14-17.

6. Cure of a leper, Mark i. 40-45. Luke v. 12-16. Matt. viii. 2-4.

7. Cure of a person afflicted with the palsy, Mark ii. 1-12. Luke v. 17-26. Matt. ix. 1-8.

8. Call of St. Matthew, Mark ii. 13-22. Luke v. 27-39. Matt. ix. 9-17.

9. Christ goes with his disciples through the corn-fields, Mark ii. 23-28. Luke vi. 1-5. Matt. xii. 1-8.

10. Cure of a withered hand, Mark iii. 1-6. Luke vi. 6-11. Matt. xii. 9-15.

11. Preparation for the sermon on the mount, Mark iii. 7-19. Luke vi. 12-19. Matt. iv. 23-25.

12. Confutation of the opinion that Christ casts out devils by the assistance of Beelzebub, Mark iii. 20-30. Matt. xii.

22-45. (perhaps formerly Luke also.)

13. Arrival of the mother and brethren of Christ, Mark iii. 31-35. Luke viii. 19-21. Matt. xii. 46-50. 14. Parable of the sower, Mark iv. 1-34. Luke viii, 4-18. Matt. xiii. 1-34.

15. Christ crosses the sea, and undergoes a storm, Mark iv. 35-41. Luke viii. 22-25. Matt. viii. 18-27. 16. Transactions in the country of the Gadarenes, Mark v. 1-20. Luke viii. 26-39. Matt. viii. 28-34.

17. The daughter of Jairus restored to life, Mark v. 21-43. Luke viii. 40-56. Matt. ix. 18-26.

18. Christ sends out the twelve apostles, Mark vi. 7-13. Luke ix. 1-6. Matt. x. 1-42.

19. The fame of Christ reaches the court of Herod, Matt. xiv. 1-12. Mark vi. 14-29. Luke ix. 7-9. 20. Five thousand men fed, Matt. xiv. 13-21. Mark vi. 30-44. Luke ix. 10-17.

21. Acknowledgment of the apostles that Christ is the Messiah, Matt. xvi. 13-28. Mark viii. 27-ix. 1. Luke ix. 18-27. 22. Transfiguration of Christ on the mount, Matt. xvii. 1-10. Mark ix. 2-9. Luke ix. 28-36.

23. Christ cures a demoniac whom his apostles were unable to cure, Matt. xvii. 14-21. Mark ix. 14-29. Luke ix. 37-43.

24. Christ foretells his death, Matt. xvii. 22, 23. Mark ix. 30-32. Luke ix. 43-45.

25. Dispute among the disciples about precedence, Matt. xviii. 1-5. Mark ix. 33-37. Luke ix. 46-48.

26. Christ blesses children who are brought to him, and answers the question by what means salvation is to be obtained ?

Matt. xix. 13-30. Mark x. 13-31. Luke xviii. 15-30.

27. Christ again foretells his death, Matt. xx. 17-19. Mark x. 32-34. Luke xviii. 31-34.

28. Blind men at Jericho restored to sight, Matt. xx. 29-34. Mark x. 46-52. Luke xviii. 35-43.

29. Christ's public entry into Jerusalem, Matt. xxi. 1-11. Mark xi. 1-10. Luke xix. 29-44.

30. Christ expels the buyers and sellers from the temple, Matt. xxi. 12-14. Mark xi. 15-17. Luke xix. 45, 46.

31. Christ called to account by the chief priests and elders for teaching publicly in the temple; he answers them, and then

delivers a parable, Matt. xxi. 23-27.33-46. Mark xi. 27. xii. 12. Luke xx. 1-19.

32. On the tribute to Cæsar, and marriage with a brother's widow, Matt. xxii. 15-33. Mark xii. 13-34. Luke xx. 20-40.

§ 33. Christ's discourse with the Pharisees relative to the Messiah being called Lord, by David, Matt. xxii. 41-46. Mark xii.

35-37. Luke xx. 41-44.

34. The Pharisees censured by Christ, Matt. xxiii. 1, &c. Mark xii. 38-40. Luke xx. 45-47.

35. Christ foretells the destruction of Jerusalem, Matt. xxiv. 1-36. Mark xiii. 1-36. Luko xxi. 5-36, 36. Prelude to the account of Christ's passion, Matt. xxvi. 1-5. Mark xiv. 1, 2. Luke xxii. 1, 2.

37. Bribery of Judas, and the celebration of the passover, Matt. xxvi. 14-29. Mark xiv. 10-25. Luke xxii. 3-23.

38. Christ goes to the mount of Olives, Matt. xxvi. 30-46. Mark xiv. 26-42. Luke xxii. 39-46.

39. He is seized by a guard from the chief priests, Matt xxvi. 47-58. Mark xiv. 43-54. Luke xxii. 47-55.

40. Peter's denial of Christ, &c. Matt. xxvii. 69-xxvii. 19. Mark xiv. 66-xv. 10. Luke xxii. 56-xxiii. 17.

41. The crucifixion and death of Christ, Matt. xxvii. 20-66. Mark xv. 11-47. Luke xxiji. 18-56.

42. The resurrection Matt. xxviii. 1, &c. Mark xvi. 1, &c. Luke xxiv. 1, &c.

See Dr. Marsh's Origin of the three first Gospels, p. 193.

TABLE IV.

The following table represents the passages in our Lord's sermon on the mount, contained in Matt. v. vi. and vii. which are found in word or substance in the Gospel according to Luke, in the parallel passages here noted in a collateral column.

PREFACE

TO THE

ACTS OF THE APOSTLES.

THE book of the ACTS OF THE APOSTLES forms the fifth, and last, of the historical books of the New Testament. And on this account, it has been generally placed at the end of the four Gospels; though in several MSS. and versions, it is found at the end of St. Paul's epistles, as many circumstances in them, are referred to by the narrative contained in this book; which is carried down almost to the apostle's death.

This book has had a variety of names; Πραξεις των Αποστολων, the Res geste, Acts or Transactions of the Apostles, is the title it bears in the Codex Beza. Πραξεις των Αγίων Αποστόλαν, The Acts of the holy Apostles, is its title in the Codex Alexandrinus, and several others; as well as in several of the ancient versions, and in the Greek and Latin fathers. One or other form of the above title, is followed by almost all the editors of the Greek Testament, and translators and commentators in general. By some it has been reckoned a fifth Gospel: and by Ecumenius it is termed, The Gospel of the Holy Spirit; and by St. Chrysostom, Το Βιβλιον, Αποδειξις αναστασεως, The Book, the demonstration of the Resurrection. These two last characters are peculiarly descriptive of its contents. All the promises which Christ gave of the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit, are shown here to have been fulfilled in the most eminent manner: and by the effusion of the Holy Spirit, the resurrection of our blessed Lord has been fully demonstrated. The calling of the Gentiles, is another grand point, which is here revealed and illustrated. This miracle of miracles, as one terms it, which had been so frequently foretold by the prophets and by Christ himself, is here exhibited; and by this grand act of the power and goodness of God, the Christian church has been founded; and thus the tabernacle and kingdom of God have been immutably established among men. It is truly a fifth Gospel, as it contains the glad tidings of peace and salvation to the whole Gentile world.

All antiquity is unanimous in ascribing this book to St. Luke as the author; and from the commencement of it, we see plainly that it can be attributed to no other; and it seems plain that St. Luke intended it as a continuation of his Gospel, being dedicated to Theophilus, to whom he had dedicated the former; and to which, in the introduction to this, he expressly refers: indeed he has taken up the narrative in this book, precisely in the place where he had dropped it in the other; The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which he was taken up, &c. and from this we may form a safe conjecture that the two books were written at no greater a distance from each other, than the time of the last occurrence recorded in this book. Some have supposed that this book was written from Alexandria; but this does not appear to be probable. The conjecture of Michaelis is much more likely, viz. that it was written from Rome; at which place St. Luke mentions his arrival in company with St. Paul, shortly before the close of the book. See Acts xxvii. 16.

Though the time in which the books of the Acts was written, is not recorded, yet the same writer observes, that as it is continued to the end of the second year of St. Paul's imprisonment, it could not have been written before the year 63; and had it been written after that year, it is reasonable to conclude that it would have related some farther particulars relative to St. Paul; or would at least have mentioned the event of bis imprisonment, in which the reader is so much interested. This argument seems conclusive, in reference to the date of this book.

St. Luke's long attendance upon St. Paul, and his having been himself an eye witness to many of the facts which he has recorded, independently of his divine inspiration, render him a most respectable and credible historian. His medical knowledge, for he is allowed to have been a physician, enabled him, as Professor Michaelis has properly observed, both to form a proper judgment of the miraculous cures which were performed by St. Paul, and to give an account and authentic detail of them. It is worthy also of observation, that St. Luke himself does not appear to have possessed the gift of miraculous healing. Though there can be no doubt, that he was with St. Paul when shipwrecked at Malta, yet he was not concerned in healing the father of Publius the governor; nor of the other sick persons mentioned Acts xxviii. 8, 9. These were all healed by the prayers of St. Paul, and the imposition of his hands; and consequently miraculously; nor do we find any evidence that St. Luke was ever employed in this way. This is another proof of the wisdom of God; had the physician been employed to work miracles of healing, the excellence of the power would have been attributed to the skill of the man, and not to the power of his Maker.

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