Acts 21:1-6
Acts 21:1-6. PAUL’S VOYAGE FROM MILETUS, AND HIS STAY IN TYRE... [ Continue Reading ]
Acts 21:1-6. PAUL’S VOYAGE FROM MILETUS, AND HIS STAY IN TYRE... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΝΑΧΘΗ͂ΝΑΙ ἩΜΑ͂Σ�' ΑΥ̓ΤΩ͂Ν, _when we were gotten from them and had set sail_. The vessel in which they sailed from Troas to Patara seems to have been under the Apostle’s control, so that they could stay wherever and as long as they pleased. The verb ἀποσπασθέντας expresses the great wrench of the s... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΛΟΙ͂ΟΝ ΔΙΑΠΕΡΩ͂Ν ΕἸΣ ΦΟΙΝΊΚΗΝ, _a ship sailing over_ [lit. _crossing_] _unto Phœnicia_. Phœnicia was the country on the Levant, north of Palestine. It contained the important maritime cities of Tyre and Sidon.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΤΉΛΘΟΜΕΝ for κατήχθημεν with אABE. _Vulg_. ‘venimus.’ 3. ἈΝΑΦΆΝΑΝΤΕΣ ΔῈ ΤῊΝ ΚΎΠΡΟΝ, _and when we had come in sight of Cyprus_. On Cyprus, see notes on Acts 13:4. The more usual construction would be ἀναφανείσης τῆς Κύπρου, but cf. with this alteration of construction Galatians 2:7, πεπίστευμαι τὸ... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΙΒΑΊΝΕΙΝ for ἀναβαίνειν with אABC. 4. ἈΝΕΥΡΌΝΤΕΣ ΔῈ ΤΟῪΣ ΜΑΘΗΤΆΣ, _and having found the disciples_. This means the members of the Christian Church of Tyre, not some disciples who by chance happened to be at Tyre. That there was already a Christian congregation there is probable from the account o... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΡΟΣΕΥΞΆΜΕΝΟΙ� with אABCE. 5. ὍΤΕ ΔῈ ἘΓΈΝΕΤΟ ἩΜΑ͂Σ ἘΞΑΡΤΊΣΑΙ ΤᾺΣ ἩΜΈΡΑΣ, _and when we had accomplished those days_. Literally, ‘when it came to pass that we had &c.’ For the construction in the Greek cf. above Acts 21:1. ΤᾺΣ ἩΜΈΡΑΣ means, of course, the seven days previously mentioned. The verb ἐξ... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ἘΝΈΒΗΜΕΝ ΕἸΣ ΤῸ ΠΛΟΙ͂ΟΝ, ἘΚΕΙ͂ΝΟΙ ΔῈ ὙΠΈΣΤΡΕΨΑΝ ΕἸΣ ΤᾺ ἼΔΙΑ, _and we went on board the ship, but they returned home again_. There is nothing in the Greek to tell us whether the ship was the same in which they had come to Tyre, or not.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῸΝ ΠΛΟΥ͂Ν ΔΙΑΝΎΣΑΝΤΕΣ, _when we had finished the voyage_. The distance was but short, and would be accomplished in a day. ΚΑΤΗΝΤΉΣΑΜΕΝ ΕἸΣ ΠΤΟΛΕΜΑΪ́ΔΑ, _we came to Ptolemais_. Ptolemais is the name which was given during Macedonian and Roman rule to the city anciently called Accho (Judges 1:31),... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL’S JOURNEY TO CÆSAREA, AND HIS STAY THERE... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟἹ ΠΕΡῚ ΤῸΝ ΠΑΥ͂ΛΟΝ omitted with אABCE. Not represented in _Vulg_. ἬΛΘΟΜΕΝ for ἦλθον with אACE. _Vulg_. ‘venimus.’ 8. ΤΗ͂Ι ΔῈ ἘΠΑΎΡΙΟΝ ἘΞΕΛΘΌΝΤΕΣ ἬΛΘΟΜΕΝ ΕἸΣ ΚΑΙΣΆΡΕΙΑΝ, _and on the morrow having departed we came to Cæsarea_. This part of the journey was made by land, though it could have been mad... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΟΎΤΩΙ ΔῈ ἯΣΑΝ ΘΥΓΑΤΈΡΕΣ ΤΈΣΣΑΡΕΣ ΠΑΡΘΈΝΟΙ Κ.Τ.Λ., _now this man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy_. The family of the Evangelist were walking in their father’s steps. These daughters, instead of resting at home, took upon them the hard duty of publishing the message of the Gospel. The... [ Continue Reading ]
ἩΜΩ͂Ν omitted with אBCH. 10. ἘΠΙΜΕΝΌΝΤΩΝ ΔῈ ἩΜΈΡΑΣ ΠΛΕΊΟΥΣ, _and as we tarried there many days_. In this phrase πλείους loses its comparative sense, and means only ‘several,’ ‘some,’ ‘many.’ It is frequent in the LXX. Cf. Numbers 20:15, καὶ παρῳκήσαμεν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ ἡμέρας πλείονς. Joshua 11:18, καὶ ἡμ... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΉΣΑΣ ἙΑΥΤΟΥ͂ ΤΟῪΣ ΠΌΔΑΣ ΚΑῚ ΤᾺΣ ΧΕΙ͂ΡΑΣ with אBCDHLP. _Vulg_. ‘alligans sibi pedes et manus.’ 11. ΚΑῚ ἘΛΘῺΝ … ΔΉΣΑΣ ἙΑΝΤΟΥ͂ ΤΟῪΣ ΠΌΔΑΣ ΚΑῚ ΤᾺΣ ΧΕΙ͂ΡΑΣ, _and coming … he bound his own feet and hands_. The adoption by Agabus of this figurative action makes it almost certain that the man was a Jew. Si... [ Continue Reading ]
ἩΜΕΙ͂Σ ΤΕ ΚΑῚ ΟἹ ἘΝΤΌΠΙΟΙ, _we and they of that place_. We (i.e. St Luke and the rest who were fellow-travellers with St Paul) and the Christian congregation of Cæsarea. The act of Agabus was in all probability done with some publicity; perhaps in some meeting where St Paul had laid aside his girdle... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΌΤΕ before ἈΠΕΚΡΊΘΗ with אABC. _Vulg_. ‘tunc respondit.’ 13. ΤΊ ΠΟΙΕΙ͂ΤΕ ΚΛΑΊΟΝΤΕΣ ΚΑῚ ΣΥΝΘΡΎΠΤΟΝΤΈΣ ΜΟΝ ΤῊΝ ΚΑΡΔΊΑΝ; _what do yet weeping and breaking my heart?_ i.e. what are you seeking to effect thereby? ΣΥΝΘΡΎΠΤΕΙΝ is a very rare word; its sense is to weaken the purpose of any one. The Apost... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΟΥ͂ ΚΥΡΊΟΥ ΤῸ ΘΈΛΗΜΑ with אABCE. _Vulg_. ‘Domini voluntas.’ 14. ΤΟΥ͂ ΚΥΡΊΟΝ ΤῸ ΘΈΛΗΜΑ ΓΙΝΈΣΘΩ, _the will of the Lord be done_. They gathered; from the Apostle’s language that he had a higher leading than theirs in what he was doing, and feeling that Christ’s guidance was better than any other, the... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΙΣΚΕΝΑΣΆΜΕΝΟΙ, _having made ready our baggage_. The verb is used now and then in the LXX. of making ready the lamps &c. in the house of the Lord. In classical Greek it is common enough, but only occurs here in N.T.... [ Continue Reading ]
15, 16. THE JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΥΝΗ͂ΛΘΟΝ ΔῈ ΚΑῚ ΤΩ͂Ν ΜΑΘΗΤΩ͂Ν, _and there went with us also some of the disciples_. The genitive without government in this fashion is rare, and the more usual thing is to find ἐκ, or some other preposition to govern it, as in John 16:17, εἶπον οὖν ἐκ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, Some then of His disciples s... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΣΜΈΝΩΣ�, _the brethren received us gladly_. The brethren, whose joy is here spoken of, would be those Christians who first learnt of the arrival of Paul at Mnason’s house. It is not the public reception which is here intended, for however welcome Paul may have been to individuals, the heads of the... [ Continue Reading ]
ARRIVAL AT JERUSALEM. PAUL’S RECEPTION BY THE CHURCH AND BY THE PEOPLE... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΗ͂Ι ΔῈ ἘΠΙΟΎΣΗΙ ΕἸΣΉΙΕΙ Ὁ ΠΑΥ͂ΛΟΣ ΣῪΝ ἩΜΙ͂Ν ΠΡΌΣ ἸΆΚΩΒΟΝ, _and the day following Paul went in with us unto James_. This was the Church’s reception of the returned missionaries. Notice of their arrival would soon be given, and the authorities who were at the time resident in Jerusalem were gathered... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ�, _and having saluted them_. ἀσπάζομαι is used of the greetings both at parting and arrival. For the latter, cf. 1Ma 11:6, ἠσπάσαντο�. For parting see above, Acts 21:1. Oriental greetings are of a much more formal character than is common in Western countries. ἘΞΗΓΕΙ͂ΤΟ ΚΑΘ' ἝΝ ἝΚΑΣΤΟΝ ὮΝ, _he... [ Continue Reading ]
ΘΕΌΝ for κύριον with אABCEL. _Vulg_. ‘Deum.’ ἘΝ ΤΟΙ͂Σ ἸΟΥΔΑΊΟΙΣ with אBCE. _Vulg_. ‘in Judæis.’ 20. ἘΔΌΞΑΖΟΝ ΤῸΝ ΘΕΌΝ, _they glorified God_. They took up the strain of thanksgiving which had run through all the Apostle’s story. Nothing could show more clearly than such a result how little of himse... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΤΗΧΉΘΗΣΑΝ ΔῈ ΠΕΡῚ ΣΟΥ͂, _and they have been informed concerning thee_. κατηχέω is a very significant verb. It is the root of our English ‘catechize.’ It implies, therefore, that the process of educating public opinion in Jerusalem about St Paul had been a diligent business. The Pharisaic party had... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΊ ΟΥ̓͂Ν ἘΣΤΙΝ; _what is it therefore?_ i.e. How stands the matter? A question used as introductory to the consideration of what is best to be done. ΠΆΝΤΩΣ ΔΕΙ͂ ΣΥΝΕΛΘΕΙ͂Ν ΠΛΗ͂ΘΟΣ, _a multitude must needs come together_. These words are accepted by Lachmann and Tischendorf, but omitted by Tregelles... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΟΥ͂ΤΟ ΟὟΝ ΠΟΊΗΣΟΝ, _do therefore this_. They advise St Paul to take a part in the ceremonies of a Nazirite vow. He could not go through the whole course of the observance, for these men had already for sometime had the vow upon them, but it was permitted among the Jews, to anyone who wished, to joi... [ Continue Reading ]
ΓΝΏΣΟΝΤΑΙ for γνῶσι with אABCDE. _Vulg_. ‘scient.’ 24. ΤΟΎΤΟΥΣ ΠΑΡΑΛΑΒῺΝ ἉΓΝΊΣΘΗΤΙ ΣῪΝ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΙ͂Σ, _them take and purify thyself with them_, i.e. make thyself one of their company, and observe all the ordinances which they observe with regard to purification, and avoiding what is unclean. ΚΑῚ ΔΑΠΆΝΗ... [ Continue Reading ]
25. μηδὲν τοιοῦτον τηρεῖν αὐτούς, εἰ μὴ omitted with אAB. Not represented in _Vulg_. 25. ΠΕΡῚ ΔῈ ΤΩ͂Ν ΠΕΠΙΣΤΕΥΚΌΤΩΝ ἘΘΝΩ͂Ν, _but as touching the Gentiles which believe_. The elders, while urging on Paul the course they have described in consideration of Jewish prejudices, are yet careful to disting... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΌΤΕ Ὁ ΠΑΥ͂ΛΟΣ ΠΑΡΑΛΑΒῺΝ ΤΟῪΣ ἌΝΔΡΑΣ, _then Paul having taken the men_. This consent of Paul to the advice of James and the elders has been taken by some for a contradiction of the words and character of the Apostle as represented in his own writings. But he has testified of himself (1 Corinthians 9... [ Continue Reading ]
ἜΜΕΛΛΟΝ … ΣΥΝΤΕΛΕΙ͂ΣΘΑΙ, _were almost completed_. Seven days appear to have been the period devoted to the more secluded residence in the Temple. For συντελεῖσθαι, of the completion of a portion of time (which is not very common), cf. Job 1:5, καὶ ὡς ἂν συνετελέσθησαν αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ πότου. ΟἹ�, _the... [ Continue Reading ]
ΒΟΗΘΕΙ͂ΤΕ, _Help_. The cry is as if an outrage had been committed, and they, the strangers visiting Jerusalem, were the persons who could afford the best testimony to what had been done. For had they not seen and heard Paul in Ephesus and elsewhere? ΟὟΤΌΣ ἘΣΤΙΝ Ὁ ἌΝΘΡΩΠΟΣ Ὁ ΚΑΤᾺ ΤΟΥ͂ ΛΑΟΥ͂ Κ.Τ.Λ.,... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΡΌΦΙΜΟΝ ΤῸΝ ἘΦΈΣΙΟΝ, _Trophimus the Ephesian_. Hence we see that Trophimus had come with the Apostle not only ‘as far as Asia’ (see note on Acts 20:4), but all the way to Jerusalem. His name bespeaks the man a Greek, and, from the anger of these Asiatic Jews, he was doubtless a convert to Christian... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ἘΓΈΝΕΤΟ ΣΥΝΔΡΟΜῊ ΤΟΥ͂ ΛΑΟΥ͂, _and the people ran together_. So κεὶ ἐγένετο συνδρομὴ ἐν πάσῃ τῇ παρεμβολῇ (Jdt 10:18) of the crowding around Judith as she came into the camp of Holophernes. What occurred is a proof that the words of James and the elders were true. The whole Jewish community had... [ Continue Reading ]
ΖΗΤΟΎΝΤΩΝ ΤΕ ΑΥ̓ΤῸΝ�, _and as they were seeking to kill him_. For the omission of the pronoun, which is not rare with the genitive absolute of the third person, see on Acts 21:10 above and cf. 1 Chronicles 17:24, μεγαλυνθήτω τὸ ὄνομά σου ἕως αἰῶνος λεγόντων Κύριε, κύριε παντοκράτωρ. For ζητεῖν in... [ Continue Reading ]
ΣΤΡΑΤΙΏΤΑΣ ΚΑῚ ἙΚΑΤΟΝΤΆΡΧΑΣ, _soldiers and centurions_. Clearly the χιλίαρχος had charge of a considerable troop, which might perhaps just at the feast be augmented in anticipation that the incourse of so many foreigners might lead to a disturbance. ΚΑΤΈΔΡΑΜΕΝ ἘΠ' ΑΥ̓ΤΟΎΣ, _ran down upon them_. The... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΕΛΆΒΕΤΟ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂, _laid hold on him_. The verb implies a formal arrest. The chief captain did not come with a view to relieve St Paul, but to find out what was the matter, and seeing the Apostle in the hands of the mob, himself arrested him, that he might not be killed without a hearing. ἉΛΎΣΕΣΙ Δ... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΕΦΏΝΟΥΝ for ἐβόων with אABDE. ΜῊ ΔΥΝΑΜΈΝΟΥ ΔῈ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂ with אABDE. 34. ἌΛΛΟΙ ΔῈ ἌΛΛΟ ΤΙ ἘΠΕΦΏΝΟΥΝ, _and some shouted one thing and some another_. ἐπιφωνέω is the verb which St Luke gives for the din of the multitude which shouted against Jesus (Luke 23:21), ‘Crucify Him’; also for the adulatory s... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠῚ ΤΟῪΣ�, _upon the stairs_. The noun is common in the LXX. (cf. 1 Kings 10:19-20, &c.) but not in classical Greek. It occurs Herod. II. 125. The stairs mentioned here are the flight of steps leading from the Temple area up to the tower where the soldiers were stationed. They were not covered in,... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΡΆΖΟΝΤΕΣ with אABE. _Vulg_. ‘clamans.’ 36. ΤῸ ΠΛΗ͂ΘΟΣ … ΚΡΆΖΟΝΤΕΣ, _the multitude … crying_. The plural masculine participle is used, because the notion of πλῆθος is plural. ΑἾΡΕ ΑΥ̓ΤΌΝ, _away with him_. The same cry which (Luke 23:18) was used by the Jews before Pilate in reference to Jesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜΈΛΛΩΝ ΤΕ ΕἸΣΆΓΕΣΘΑΙ, _and when he was about to be brought_. This must have been when a place on the stairs had been reached where Paul was safe out of reach of the mob, and needed no longer to be borne up by the soldiers. ΕἸ ἜΞΕΣΤΊΝ ΜΟΙ ΕΊΠΕΙ͂Ν ΤΙ ΠΡΌΣ ΣΕ; _may I speak to thee?_ Literally ‘may I s... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL ASKS LEAVE TO ADDRESS THE CROWD... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓Κ ἌΡΑ ΣῪ ΕἾ, _thou art not then_ (as I supposed thee to be). Probably St Paul had addressed him in Greek already. Ὁ ΑἸΓΎΠΤΙΟΣ, _the Egyptian_. The person to whom allusion is here made was a sufficiently formidable character, if we only reckon his followers at four thousand desperadoes. Josephus ... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΓῺ ἌΝΘΡΩΠΟΣ ΜΈΝ ἸΟΥΔΑΙ͂ΟΣ, ΤΑΡΣΕΎΣ ΤΗ͂Σ ΚΙΛΙΚΊΑΣ, _I am a Jew of Tarsus in Cilicia_. See Acts 6:9 and notes. ΟΥ̓Κ�, _a citizen of no mean city_. Tarsus was the metropolis of Cilicia, and a city remarkable for its culture, and the zeal of its inhabitants for philosophic studies. ἘΠΊΤΡΕΨΌΝ ΜΟΙ ΛΑΛΗ͂... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΙΤΡΈΨΑΝΤΟΣ ΔῈ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂, _and when he had given him leave_. As in the previous verse. ΚΑΤΈΣΕΙΣΕΝ ΤΗ͂Ι ΧΕΙΡΊ, _he beckoned with his hand_. Apparently the chief captain had also been so far impressed by the conversation of his prisoner, that he allowed at least one of his hands to be released from it... [ Continue Reading ]