προσαγαγόντες αὐτοὺς τοῖς στρατηγοῖς, having brought them to the magistrates. These στρατηγοί were the duumviri, the two prætors specially appointed to preside over the administration of justice, in cases where there was no appeal to Rome, in the municipia and coloniæ of the Romans. The title στρατηγοί seems to indicate somewhat of a military authority, which could administer summary punishment.

ἐκταράσσουσιν, do exceedingly trouble. Only used here in N.T. In the LXX. it is twice found of terror arising from visions (Wis 17:3; Wis 18:17 φαντασίαι μὲν ὀνείρων δεινῶς ἐξετάραξαν αὐτούς). Also in Psalms 17:5; Psalms 87:7, of the trouble caused by floods of ungodliness, and by the terrors of the Lord. The kind of trouble spoken of in the text is seen from Acts 17:6. ‘These that have turned the world upside down’ is the description of the preachers.

Ἰουδαῖοι ὑπάρχοντες, being Jews. On the ways in which Roman aversion was aroused and exhibited towards the Jews, for their religious exclusiveness, see Mayor Juvenal XIV. 96–106 notes, with the authorities there given. Jew-baiting is no modern invention.

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Old Testament