Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Peter 3:19

19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison .

By which Spirit mentioned in the end of the former Verse, i. e. by, or in his Divine Nature, the same by which he was quickned.

Christ. This notes the Person that went and preached, as the former doth the Nature in which, and so shews that what is here spoken of the Person of Christ, is to be understood of him according to his Divine Nature.

Or, came, viz. from Heaven, by an Anthropopathy, by which Figure God is often in Scripture said to go forth, Isa. 26.21. to come down, Micha 1.3. and go down, Gen. 18.21. Exod. 3.8. which two latter places are best understood of the second Person. This therefore here notes in Christ not a change of place, but a special Operation, and Testification of his Presence.

Viz. By Noah inspired by him, that he might be a Preacher of Righteousness to warn a wicked Generation of approaching Judgment, and exhort them to Repentance.

Souls of Men departed, which are frequently called Spirits, Eccles. 12.7. Acts 7.59. Heb. 12.23.

i. e. In Hell, so it is taken, Prov. 27.20. compare with Matth. 5.25. Luke 12.58. where Prison is mentioned as a Type, or Representation of Hell; and the Syriack renders the word by Sh[illegible: 1 letter]ol, which signifies sometimes the Grave, and sometimes Hell. See the like Expression, 2 Pet. 2.4, 5. and Iude 6.

Marginal references: Chap. 4.6.