For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
24. So that even the elect (if it were possible) will be led into error. This was added for the purpose of exciting alarm, that believers may be more careful to be on their guard; for when such unbounded freedom of action is allowed to false prophets, and when they are permitted to exert such powers of deceiving, those who are careless and inattentive would...
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets,.... Such as the above mentioned: these false Christs had their false prophets, who endeavoured to persuade the people to believe them to be the Messiah, as Barcochab had Akiba, who applied many prophecies to him.
Verse 24. False Christs. Persons claiming to be the Messiah. False prophets. Persons claiming to be the prophet spoken of by Moses, or persons pretending to declare the way of deliverance from the Romans, and calling the people to follow them. See . Shall shew great signs and wonders. That is, shall pretend to work miracles.