Matthew 1:20

1:20 When he had contemplated this, an ¹  angel of the Lord ²  appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 2:16

2:16 When Herod ³  saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he became enraged. He sent men ⁴  to kill all the children in Bethlehem ⁵  and throughout the surrounding region from the age of two and under, according to the time he had learned from the wise men.

Matthew 22:16

22:16 They sent to him their disciples along with the Herodians, ⁶  saying, “Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. ⁷  You do not court anyone’s favor because you show no partiality. ⁸ 

Matthew 27:24

Jesus is Condemned and Mocked

27:24 When ⁹  Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but that instead a riot was starting, he took some water, washed his hands before the crowd and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. You take care of it yourselves!” ¹⁰ 

[1:20]  ¹ tn Grk “behold, an angel.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).

[1:20]  ² tn Or “the angel of the Lord.” Linguistically, “angel of the Lord” is the same in both testaments (and thus, he is either “an angel of the Lord” or “the angel of the Lord” in both testaments). For arguments and implications, see ExSyn 252; M. J. Davidson, “Angels,” DJG, 9; W. G. MacDonald argues for “an angel” in both testaments: “Christology and ‘The Angel of the Lord’,” Current Issues in Biblical and Patristic Interpretation, 324-35.

[2:16]  ³ sn See the note on King Herod in 2:1. Note the fulfillment of the prophecy given by the angel in 2:13.

[2:16]  ⁴ tn Or “soldiers.”

[2:16]  ⁵ map For location see Map5 B1; Map7 E2; Map8 E2; Map10 B4.

[22:16]  ⁵ sn The Herodians are mentioned in the NT only once in Matt (22:16 = Mark 12:13) and twice in Mark (3:6; 12:13; some mss also read “Herodians” instead of “Herod” in Mark 8:15). It is generally assumed that as a group the Herodians were Jewish supporters of the Herodian dynasty (or of Herod Antipas in particular). In every instance they are linked with the Pharisees. This probably reflects agreement regarding political objectives (nationalism as opposed to submission to the yoke of Roman oppression) rather than philosophy or religious beliefs.

[22:16]  ⁶ sn Teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Very few comments are as deceitful as this one; they did not really believe this at all. The question of the Pharisees and Herodians was specifically designed to trap Jesus.

[22:16]  ⁷ tn Grk “And it is not a concern to you about anyone because you do not see the face of men.”

[27:24]  ⁷ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[27:24]  ⁸ sn You take care of it yourselves! Compare the response of the chief priests and elders to Judas in 27:4. The expression is identical except that in 27:4 it is singular and here it is plural.