Verse 12. And to the angel of the church in Pergamos. See Barnes on |Re 1:20|.

These things saith he which hath the sharp sword etc. See Barnes on |Re 1:16|.

Compare Heb 4:12; Ec 12:11; Isa 49:2.

Professor Stuart suggests that when the Saviour, as represented in the vision, |uttered words, as they proceeded from his mouth, the halitus which accompanied them assumed, in the view of John, the form of an igneous two-edged sword.| It is more probable, however, that the words which proceeded from his mouth did not assume anything like a form or substance, but John means to represent them as if they were a sharp sword. His words cut and penetrate deep, and it was easy to picture him as having a sword proceeding from his mouth; that is, his words were as piercing as a sharp sword. As he was about to reprove the church at Pergamos, there was a propriety in referring to this power of the Saviour. Reproof cuts deep; and this is the idea represented here.

{a} |saith he| Re 1:16