“Jesus autem tenens manum ejus elevavit eum, et surrexit.”
“And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.”
“After shrieking and convulsing him violently, the spirit came out. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He is dead.””
“Having cried out, and convulsed greatly, it came out of him. The boy became like one dead; so much that most of them said, “He is dead.””
“And having cried out, and torn him much, he came out: and the boy became as one dead; insomuch that the more part said, He is dead.”
Him whom the devil had made like to the dead, the goodness of Christ, by his charitable touch, restored to life. Thus proving at once both his divinity and humanity; the former by his wonderful cure of healing, and the latter by performing this cure by a touch of the hand. (Ven. Bede) — The devil could not inflict a real death on the child, on account of the dissent of the Author of life. (St. Chrysostom)
Verses 14-29 The father of the suffering youth reflected on the want of power in the disciples; but Christ will have him reckon the disappointment to the want of faith. Very much is promised to our believing. If thou canst believe, it is possible that thy hard heart may be softened, thy spiritual diseases may be cured; and, weak as thou art, thou mayest be able to hold out to the end. Those that complain of unbelief, must look up to Christ for grace to help them against it, and his grace will be sufficient for them. Whom Christ cures, he cures effectually. But Satan is unwilling to be driven from those that have been long his slaves, and, when he cannot deceive or destroy the sinner, he will cause him all the terror that he can. The disciples must not think to do their work always with the same ease; some services call for more than ordinary pains.