{Brought him out of the village} (ex(886e)egken auton ex(9320)t(8873)
k(936d)(8873)). It had been a village, but Philip had enlarged it and
made it a town or city (polis), though still called a village
(verses 23,26 ). As in the case of the deaf and dumb demoniac
given also alone by Mark ( Mr 7:31-37 ), so here Jesus observes
the utmost secrecy in performing the miracle for reasons not
given by Mark. It was the season of retirement and Jesus is
making the fourth withdrawal from Galilee. That fact may explain
it. The various touches here are of interest also. Jesus led him
out by the hand, put spittle on his eyes (using the poetical and
_Koin(825f) papyri word ommata instead of the usual opthalmous),
and laid his hands upon him, perhaps all this to help the man's
faith.
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