12. His name, Asxas, Luke, rendered in one place", in the common translation, Lukas, is supposed to have been a contraction of the Roman name, Lucilius, or of Lucanus, in like manner as Demas is contracted from Demetrius, and Epaphras from Epaphroditus. Names thus contracted from the master's name were commonly given to slaves, but not peculiarly to such. That a considerable portion of Luke's time had been spent in Rome, or at least in Italy, has been argued from some Latinisms discovered in his style; such as ", dos epyasian, da δος εργασίαν,

μας

15

operam, endeavour ; and καλως ποιείτε τοις μισ8σιν vuas, Benefacite his qui oderunt vos, with the dative case, Do good to them who hate you; whereas, in the parallel place in Matthew ", the verb is construed more in the Greek manner with the accusative, καλως ποιειτε τις μισώντας μας. But I see no reason why, in the Evangelist Luke, by birth a Syrian, this should be accounted a Latinism rather than a Syriasm, as in Syriac the prefixed (which is necessary in the expression of this precept) is always considered as corresponding to the dative in Greek and Latin. That he has also a greater variety in his words and phrases than any of the other Evangelists, will be quickly discovered by an attentive reader of the original. I mention one evidence of this, from a circumstance I have had particular occasion to attend to, which is this: Each of the Evangelists has

λεγω

a considerable number of words which are used by none of the rest; but in Luke's Gospel, the number of such peculiarities, or words used in none of the other Gospels, is greater than that of the peculiar words found in all the three other Gospels put together. Again, some expressions which are fre. quent in the other Gospels, in Luke occur but rarely. The Hebrew word Amen, as an affirmative adverb joined with 2ɛy vv, and used for ushering in solemnly the instructions given by our Lord, is employed by Luke much seldomer than by any of the other Evangelists. Instead of it he sometimes says αληθως, sometimes ναι, and once επ' αληθειας λε yov, phrases never used by the rest. On the other hand, he oftner than they, employs the neuter article to, in reference not to a noun, but to a sentence, or part of a sentence. Of this there are at least seven instances in his but two in the rest, one in Matthew 19, and one in Mark 20. As to these two, they are not parallel places to any of the passages wherein this mode of construction has been adopted by Luke. It may be observed, in passing, that the terms peculiar to Luke are for the most part long and compound words. The first word of his Gospel, εneidneρ, is of the number. So much for what regards his words and idioms.

Gospel 18.

I recollect

13. As to the other qualities of his style, we may remark, that there is more of composition in the sentences than is found in the other three. Of this the very first sentence is an example, which occupies no fewer than four verses. In the passages, however, wherein those incidents are related, or those instructions given, which had been anticipated by Matthew or by Mark, there is sometimes, not always, a perfect coincidence with these Evangelists in the expression, as well as in the sense; sometimes, however, the coincidence in translations is more complete than in the original. I have observed that there are degrees, even in the simplicity of the sacred writers; for though all the Evangelists are eminent for this qua. lity, there are some characteristic differences between one and another, which will not escape the notice of a reader of discernment. Matthew and John have more simplicity than Mark; and Luke has, perhaps, the least of all. What has been observed of the greater variety of his style, and of his more frequent use of complex sentences, may serve as evidence of this. And even as to the third species of simplicity formerly mentioned ", simplicity of design, he seems to approach nearer the manner of other historians, in giving what may be called his own verdict, in the narrative part of his work. I remember at least one instance of this. In speaking of the Pharisees,

21

he calls them pλapyvpoi 22, lovers of money. The disφιλαργυροι tinction with regard to Judas, which it was proper

21 Diss. III. § 18, &c.

22 Ch. xvi. 14.

in

them all to observe, as there were two of the name among the apostles, is expressed by Luke with more animation”, ος και εγενετο προδοτης, who proved a traitor, than by Matthew 24, who says Ὁ και παρα885 avtov; or by Mark 25, whose expression is, os xaι пaρedwжev avtov; both which phrases, strictly interpreted, imply no more than who delivered him up. The attempt made by the Pharisees, to extort from our Lord what might prove matter of accusation against him, is expressed by Luke in language more animated than any of the rest, ηρξαντο δεινώς ενεχειν, και αποςοματίζειν αυτον περι πλειονων ", began vehemently to press him with questions on many points. On another occasion, speaking of the same people, he says, Αυτοι δε επλήσθησαν ανοιας ", But they were filled with madness. In the moral instructions given by our Lord, and recorded by this Evangelist, especially in the parables, none can be happier in uniting an affecting sweetness of manner with genuine simplicity. Of this union better instances cannot be imagined, than those of the humane Samaritan, and of the penitent prodigal.

26

§ 14. To conclude, though we have no reason to consider Luke as, upon the whole, more observant of the order of time than the other Evangelists, he has been at more pains than any of them, to ascertain the dates of some of the most memorable events on

25 Ch. iii. 9.

23 Cho vi. 16.

24 Ch. x. 4.

26 Ch. xi. 53.

xĩ Ch. vi. 11

which, in a great measure, depend the dates of all the rest. In some places, however, without regard to order, he gives a number of detached precepts and instructive lessons, one after another, which probably have not been spoken on the same occasion, but are introduced as they occurred to the writer's memory, that nothing of moment might be omitted. In regard to the latter part of the life, and to the death of this Evangelist, antiquity has not furnished us with any accounts which can be relied on.