In giving this list, I trust my motives may not be misapprehended. My simple desire is to show that I have not written on St. Luke's Gospel in ignorance of other men's labours, and that when I disagree with them, it is not because I do not know what they have to say. The names of those writers whom I have consulted are as follows: : 1. Fathers,-Ambrose, Theophylact, Euthymius, Augustine's Sermons on the New Testament, and the Catena of Corderius. 2. Foreign Protestant Commentators,-Calvin, Brentius, Bucer, Bullinger, Beza, Pellican, Gualter, Chemnitius, Flavius, Illyricus, Piscator, Cocceius, De Dieu, Calovius, Aretius, Schottgen, Bengel, Heinsius, Olshausen, Stier. 3. Foreign Roman Catholic Commentators,-Jansenius, Barradius, Maldonatus, Cornelius à Lapide, Quesnel, Stella, Clarius, Novarinus. 4. English Commentators,-Trapp, Mayer, Cartwright, Lightfoot, Baxter, Ness, Leigh, Hammond, Poole's Synopsis and Annotations, Henry, Whitby, Burkitt, Gill, Pearce, Scott, A. Clarke, Barnes, Davidson, Alford, Wordsworth, Ford, Watson, Burgon, Major. It would be easy to say something on the comparative value of many of these writers. At some future time I may attempt to do so. It is almost needless to say that many of them hold most erroneous opinions on many points, and that I do not recommend the use of all the commentaries that I have named. At present I will content myself with saying, that in reading Commentaries I have often been surprised to find light where I expected darkness, and darkness where I expected light. I have also discovered that some of the best commentaries on Scripture are comparatively little known. I now send forth this volume with an earnest prayer, that the Holy Ghost may bless it, and that God may be pleased to use it for His own glory and the benefit of many souls. My chief desire in this, and all my writings, is to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ and make Him beautiful and glorious in the eyes of men, and to promote the increase of repentance, faith, and holiness upon earth. If this shall be the result of this volume, the labour that it has cost me will be more than repaid. I have a strong conviction that we want more reverent, deep-searching study of the Scripture in the present day. Most of Christians see nothing beyond the surface of the Bible when they read it.—We want a more clear knowledge of Christ, as a living Person, a living Priest, a living Physician, a living Friend, a living Advocate at the right hand of God, and a living Saviour soon about to come again. Most of Christians know little of Christianity but its skeleton of doctrines.-I desire never to forget these two things. If I can do anything to make Christ and the Bible more honourable in these latter days, I shall be truly thankful and content. August, 1858. J. C. RYLE. TABLE OF CONTENTS OF EXPOSITIONS. 13-17. The angel's announcement of John the Bap- tist's birth, and description of his ministry. 18-25. Unbelief of Zacharias and consequent punish- 26-33. The angel's announcement to the Virgin Mary 7 17 21 25-35. Simeon, his history, praise, and prophecy 83 1-13. Christ's temptation in the wilderness 33-44. A devil cast out in the synagogue of Caper- 1-11. Christ's readiness to every good work,— 12-16. A man full of leprosy healed,-Christ's dili- gence about private prayer 17-26. A man sick of the palsy, let down through 27-32. The calling of Levi and Matthew, and the 33-39. Christ the bridegroom,-new wine and new 12-19. Christ's prayer before ordaining the twelve apostles,-names and position of the apostles 169 20-26. Those whom Christ calls blessed,-those of 27-38. The nature and extent of Christian charity,— 182 1-10. The centurion's servant at Capernaum healed 199 # 24-30. Christ's high testimony to John the Baptist. 220 16-21. Spiritual privileges to be diligently used,- |