ἀξιοῦμεν δὲ παρὰ σοῦ�, but we desire to hear of thee. He was a Jew, one of their own nation, and was likely to be able to put his belief before them in its true light. They professed to be open to reason, but this may have been only because they knew not what else to do.

περὶ μὲν γὰρ τῆς αἱρέσεως ταύτης, for as concerning this sect. It is dear from this expression that they had learnt from St Paul’s speech, though St Luke does not record the words, that he was an adherent of Jesus of Nazareth, and held that in Him ‘the hope of Israel’ had been fulfilled.

γνωστὸν ἡμῖν ἐστίν, we know. Literally ‘it is known to us.’ Perhaps the speakers intended by this circumlocution to distinguish what they knew by report from a personal knowledge.

ὅτι πανταχοῦ�, that everywhere it is spoken against. They were doubtless aware of many of the attacks which had been made by their countrymen on the Christians both in the cities of Asia and Europe, and would have heard them spoken of as the men who were turning the world upside down. The result of the conference was that a day was fixed, on which the Apostle should set forth to them his opinions, so that, as they had no other means for deciding on their course of action, they might discover for themselves what would be the best course to take.

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Old Testament