Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Acts 26:3

σου after δέομαι omitted with אABE. Not represented in Vulg.

3. μάλιστα γνώστην ὄντα σε, especially because thou art expert. Some have joined μάλιστα with γνέστην, ‘because thou art especially expert.’ But there is nothing to shew that this was so. He knew, as other Jews knew, the character and meaning of Jewish customs, but nothing more.

γνώστης is used most frequently in the LXX. of those diviners and dealers with familiar spirits spoken of in the historical books. Cf. 1 Samuel 28:3; 1 Samuel 28:9; 2 Kings 21:6; 2 Kings 23:24. Also in Susanna, v. 42, we have ὁ θεὸς αἰώνιος ὁ τῶν κρυπτῶν γνώστης.

Here Chrysostom says: καίτοιγε εἰ συνῄδει ἑαυτῷ φοβηθῆναι ἐχρῆν παρὰ τῷ πάντα εἰδότι δικαζόμενον. ἀλλὰ καθαροῦ συνειδότος τοῦτό ἐστι, τὸ μὴ παραιτεῖσθαι δικαστὴν τὸν�, ἀλλὰ καὶ χαίρειν.

τῶν κατὰ Ἰουδαίους ἐθῶν, of customs which are among the Jews. For this adjectival use of κατὰ followed by a noun or pronoun, cf. οἱ καθ' ὑμᾶς ποιηταί (Acts 17:28).

μακροθύμως, patiently. Only here in N.T., and not found in LXX. though μακρόθυμος is very common there.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

Acts 26:3

Old Testament

New Testament