9:51 steadfastly. He had received encouragement in this purpose through the vision on the mount, so now He sets course rigidly, with no hesitation or uncertainty, to “accomplish His decease at Jerusalem.”

9:53 did not receive him. The Samaritans were a mixed people descended from the Jews left in the land after many were carried into captivity by the Assyrians and the peoples that replaced the Israelites (II Kings 17:6,24,33). The religion of these people attempted to combine the Mosaic covenant with their own pagan gods. Also, the Samaritans were opposed to the rebuilding of the temple and city after the Babylonian captivity, and this opposition resulted in continual hostility between the Jews and Samaritans.

9:54 from heaven. This was an unthinking emotional outburst by the “sons of thunder,” who certainly had no authority or ability to call down fire from heaven, as Elijah had done in the land of Samaria nine hundred years before.