_The Title_ is simply _Acts_ (Πραξεις) in Aleph, Origen,
Tertullian, Didymus, Hilary, Eusebius, Epiphanius. _The Acts of the
Apostles_ (Πραξεις αποστολων) is the reading of B D
(Aleph in subscription) Athanasius, Origen, Tertullian, Cyprian,
Eusebius, Cyril of Jerusalem, Theodoret, Hilary. _The Acts... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTIL THE DAY IN WHICH
(αχρ ης ημερας). Incorporation of the antecedent into the
relative clause and the change of case η (locative) to ης
(genitive).WAS RECEIVED UP
(ανελημπθη). First aorist passive indicative of
αναλαμβανω. Common verb to lift anything up (Acts 10:16) or
person as Paul (Acts 2... [ Continue Reading ]
TO WHOM ALSO
(οις κα). He chose them and then also manifested himself to these
very same men that they might have personal witness to give.SHEWED
HIMSELF ALIVE
(παρεστησεν εαυτον ζωντα). To the disciples the
first Sunday evening (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25), the
second Sunday eveni... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING ASSEMBLED TOGETHER WITH THEM
(συναλιζομενος). Present passive participle from
συναλιζω, an old verb in Herodotus, Xenophon, etc., from sun,
with, and αλιζω, from αλης, crowded. The margin of both the
Authorized and the Revised Versions has "eating with them" as if from
συν and αλς (salt). S... [ Continue Reading ]
BAPTIZED WITH WATER
(εβαπτισεν υδατ)AND WITH THE HOLY GHOST
(εν πνευματ βαπτισθησεσθε αγιω). The margin
has "in the Holy Ghost" (Spirit, it should be). The American Standard
Version renders "in" both with "water" and "Holy Spirit" as do
Goodspeed (American Translation) and Mrs. Montgomery (Cente... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY THEREFORE
(ο μεν ουν). Demonstrative use of ο with μεν ουν without
any corresponding δε just as in Acts 1:1 μεν occurs alone. The
combination μεν ουν is common in Acts (27 times). Cf. Luke 3:18.
The ουν is resumptive and refers to the introductory verses (Acts
1:1-5), which served to connect... [ Continue Reading ]
TIMES OR SEASONS
(χρονους η καιρους). "Periods" and "points" of time
sometimes and probably so here, but such a distinction is not always
maintained. See Acts 17:26 for καιρους in the same sense as
χρονους for long periods of time. But here some distinction
seems to be called for. It is curious h... [ Continue Reading ]
POWER
(δυναμιν). Not the "power" about which they were concerned
(political organization and equipments for empire on the order of
Rome). Their very question was ample proof of their need of this new
"power" (δυναμιν), to enable them (from δυναμα, to be
able), to grapple with the spread of the go... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THEY WERE LOOKING
(βλεποντων αυτων). Genitive absolute. The present
participle accents the fact that they were looking directly at
Jesus.HE WAS TAKEN UP
(eprth). First aorist passive indicative of επαιρω, old and
common verb meaning to lift up. In Luke 24:51 we have "he was borne
up" (ανεφ... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE LOOKING STEADFASTLY
(ατενιζοντες ησαν). Periphrastic imperfect active of
ατενιζω, a late intensive verb (intensive α and τεινω, to
stretch). Common in Acts and also in Luke 4:20; Luke 22:56 as well as
Acts 10:4, which see.AS HE WENT
(πορευομενου αυτου). Genitive absolute of present
middle... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO ALSO
(ο κα). Common use of κα pleonastic to show that the two events
were parallel. This is the simplest way from Homer on to narrate two
parallel events.WHY?
(τ). Jesus had told them of his coming Ascension (John 6:62; John
20:17) so that they should have been prepared.THIS JESUS
(ουτος... [ Continue Reading ]
OLIVET
(Ελαιωνος). Genitive singular. Vulgate _Olivetum_. Made like
αμπελων. Here only in the N.T., usually το ορος των
Ελαιων (the Mount of Olives), though some MSS. have Olivet in
Luke 19:29; Luke 21:37. Josephus (_Ant_. VII. 9, 2) has it also and
the papyri (Deissmann, _Light from the Ancient... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO THE UPPER CHAMBER
(εις το υπερωιον). The upstairs or upper room (υπερ
is upper or over, the adjective υπερωιος), the room upstairs
where the women staid in Homer, then a room up under the flat roof for
retirement or prayer (Acts 9:37; Acts 9:39), sometimes a large third
story room suitable fo... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH ONE ACCORD
(ομοθυμαδον). Old adverb in -δον from adjective
ομοθυμος and that from ομος, same, and θυμος, mind or
spirit, with the same mind or spirit. Common in ancient Greek and
papyri. In the N.T. eleven times in Acts and nowhere else save Romans
15:6. See Matthew 18:19.CONTINUED
(ησαν π... [ Continue Reading ]
BRETHREN
(αδελφων). Codex Bezae has "disciples."MULTITUDE OF PERSONS
(οχλος ονοματων). Literally, multitude of names. This
Hebraistic use of ονομα=person occurs in the LXX (Numbers 1:2;
Numbers 18:20; Numbers 3:40; Numbers 3:43; Numbers 26:53) and in
Revelation 3:4; Revelation 11:13.TOGETHER
... [ Continue Reading ]
BRETHREN
(ανδρες αδελφο). Literally, men, brethren or brother men.
More dignified and respectful than just "brethren." Demosthenes
sometimes said Ανδρες Αθηναιο. Cf. our "gentlemen and
fellow-citizens." Women are included in this address though
ανδρες refers only to men.IT WAS NEEDFUL
(εδε). Imp... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS NUMBERED
(κατηριθμενος ην). Periphrastic past perfect passive
indicative of καταριθμεω, old verb, but here only in the
N.T. (perfective use of κατα).RECEIVED HIS PORTION
(ελαχεν τον κληρον). Second aorist active indicative of
λαγχανω, old verb, to obtain by lot as in Luke 1:9; John 19:24,
es... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THIS MAN
(Hουτος μεν ουν). Note μεν ουν again without a
corresponding δε as in Acts 1:6. Verses Acts 1:18; Acts 1:19 are a
long parenthesis of Luke by way of explanation of the fate of Judas.
In verse Acts 1:20 Peter resumes and quotes the scripture to which he
referred in verse Acts 1:16.OBT... [ Continue Reading ]
LANGUAGE
(διαλεκτω). Not a dialect of the Greek, but a different
language, the Aramaic. So also in Acts 2:6; Acts 21:40.
Διαλεκτος is from διαλεγομα, to converse, to speak
between two (δια).AKELDAMA
(Hακελδαμαχ). This Aramaic word Peter explains as "the field
of blood." Two traditions are prese... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT IS WRITTEN
(γεγραπτα γαρ). Luke here returns to the address of Peter
interrupted by verses Acts 1:18; Acts 1:19. Perfect passive
indicative, the usual idiom in quoting scripture, stands written. Acts
1:69 is often quoted as Messianic in Matthew and John.HIS HABITATION
(η επαυλις αυτου).... [ Continue Reading ]
MUST
(δε). Present necessity corresponding to the old necessity (εδε)
about Judas (verse Acts 1:16). This sentence in verses Acts 1:21; Acts
1:22 begins with δε.THAT
(ω). Locative case of the relative attracted to the case of the
antecedent.WENT IN AND WENT OUT
(εισηλθεν κα εξηλθεν). Constati... [ Continue Reading ]
BEGINNING
(αρξαμενος). Aorist middle participle of αρχω, agreeing
(nominative) with ο κυριος Ιησους (the Lord Jesus). The
ministry of Jesus began with the ministry of John. Strictly speaking
αρξαμενος should be the accusative and agree with
μαρτυρα (witness) in verse Acts 1:22, but the constructi... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY PUT FORWARD TWO
(εστησαν δυο). First aorist active indicative (transitive)
of ιστημ (not intransitive second aorist, though same form in the
third person plural). Somebody nominated two names, Justus and
Matthias.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOW US THE ONE WHOM THOU HAST CHOSEN
(αναδειξον ον εξελεξω). First aorist active
imperative of αναδεικνυμ, to show up, make plain. First
aorist middle indicative second person singular of εκλεγω, to
pick out, choose, select. In this prayer they assume that God has made
a choice. They only wish t... [ Continue Reading ]
APOSTLESHIP
(αποστολης). Jesus had called the twelve apostles. An old
word for sending away, then for a release, then the office and dignity
of an apostle (Acts 1:25; Romans 1:5; 1 Corinthians 9:2; Galatians
2:8).TO HIS OWN PLACE
(εις τον τοπον τον ιδιον). A bold and picturesque
description of... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WAS NUMBERED
(συνκατεψηφισθη). To the Jews the lot did not suggest
gambling, but "the O.T. method of learning the will of Jehovah"
(Furneaux). The two nominations made a decision necessary and they
appealed to God in this way. This double compound
συνκαταψηφιζω occurs here alone in the N.T. and... [ Continue Reading ]