Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Acts 19:16

ἀμφοτέρων for αὐτῶν with אABD. Vulg. ‘amborum.’

16. ἐφαλόμενος, leaping upon, with the power, more than natural, so often displayed by madmen.

κατακυριεύσας�, having gained the mastery over both of them. Here the reading ἀμφοτέρων preserves for us the information that on the occasion here spoken of only two of the family were present. This reading would never have been substituted for the simpler αὐτῶν. But how prone scribes would be to put the simple for the less obvious is easy to see. It is no objection to the recall of this old well-supported reading, that other words in the verse, referring to these brethren are plural and not dual. Plural verbs and adjectives are not unfrequently used with dual subjects. Cf. Matthew 4:18, εἶδεν δύο�· ἦσαν γὰρ ἁλιεῖς. There is no instance of a dual noun in the N.T.

ἴσχυσεν κατ' αὐτῶν, he prevailed against them. He put them to flight, tearing their clothes to shreds, and leaving marks of his violence upon their bodies, ἰσχύω is used of a victory won by Alexander in 1Ma 10:49.

Continues after advertising

BibliaPlus

Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Acts 19:16

Old Testament

New Testament