33. "There is in these denominations no inconsistency. By birth she was of Syrophenicia, so the country about Tyre and Sidon was denominated, by descent of Canaan, as most of the Tyrians and Sidonians originally were; and by religion a Greek, according to the Jewish manner of distinguishing between themselves and idolaters. Ever since the Macedonian conquests, Greek became a common name for idolater, or at least one uncircumcised, and was held equivalent to Gentile. Of this we have many examples in Paul's epistles, and in the Acts. Jews and Greeks, Ἑλληνες, are the same with Jews and Gentiles" CAMPBELL'S Transl. of the Gospels in loc. notes.
34. The question has been often agitated, whether the possessions of the New Testament are to be ascribed to demoniacal influence, or whether they are so represented in conformity to the popular prejudices of the age, being in reality nothing more than diseases. Surely a distinct existence must be attributed to these, as evil spirits, when we consider their number, the actions particularly ascribed to them, the conversation which they held respecting themselves, the Son of God, and their own destiny, the desires and passions they are represented as manifesting, and various other circumstances of their history. Is it credible, that a mere disease should be said to have addressed Christ in such language as the following: "What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?" Comp. Matt. viii. 29, and the succeeding verses.
37. Doddridge on the Care of the Soul.
38. The whole narrative is contained in the eleventh chapter of John, and this reference in the fifth verse.
39. Three hundred Roman pence, or denarii, amount to about nine pounds seven shillings and sixpence sterling. 40. Bishop Hall.
41. The farthing was a quadrant, or fourth part of a Roman assis, a coin of similar value with the τεταρτχμοριον of the Greeks, or the fourth part of an obolus (the least Athenian coin,) that is, two brass pieces. These were the same with the prutas of the Jews, two of which make a quardrant.