23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,



Ver. 23. Being, as was supposed] But falsely: for Joseph was no more than his Pater politicus, as Postellus calleth him, his foster-father, reputed father.



Which was the son of Eli] That is, his son-in-law. For Eli was Mary’s natural father; and it is Mary’s genealogy that is here described; but put upon Joseph, because the Hebrews reckon not their genealogies by women, but by men only. {So Rth_1:11-13}