ABOUT THAT TIME (κατ' εκεινον τον καιρον). Same phrase in Romans 9:9. That is, the early part of A.D. 44 since that is the date of Herod's death. As already suggested, Barnabas and Saul came down from Antioch to Jerusalem after the persecution by Herod at the end of 44 or the beginning of 45.HERO... [ Continue Reading ]
JAMES THE BROTHER OF JOHN (Ιακωβον τον αδελφον Ιωανου). He had been called by Jesus a son of thunder along with his brother John. Jesus had predicted a bloody death for both of them (Mark 10:38; Matthew 20:23). James is the first of the apostles to die and John probably the last. He is not James... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT IT PLEASED THE JEWS (οτ αρεστον εστιν τοις Ιουδαιοις). Indirect assertion with the present tense εστιν retained. Αρεστον is the verbal adjective from αρεσκω followed by the dative as in John 8:29.PROCEEDED TO SEIZE (προσεθετο συλλαβειν). A patent Hebraism in Luke 20:11 already, and nowhere... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE HAD TAKEN HIM (πιασας). See on Acts 3:7 for same form.HE PUT HIM IN PRISON (εθετο εις φυλακην). Second aorist middle indicative of τιθημ, common verb. This is the third imprisonment of Peter (Acts 4:3; Acts 5:18).TO FOUR QUATERNIONS OF SOLDIERS (τεσσαρσιν τετραδιοις στρατιωτων). Four s... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE (μεν ουν). Because of the preceding situation.WAS KEPT (ετηρειτο). Imperfect passive, continuously guarded, waiting for the feast to be over.BUT PRAYER WAS MADE EARNESTLY (προσευχη δε ην εκτενως γινομενη). Probably δε here is not adversative (but), merely parallel (and) as Page argu... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS ABOUT TO BRING HIM FORTH (Âημελλεν προσαγαγειν or προαγαγειν). The MSS. vary, but not αναγαγειν of verse Acts 12:4.THE SAME NIGHT (τη νυκτ εκεινη). Locative case,ON THAT (VERY) NIGHT .WAS SLEEPING (ην κοιμωμενος). Periphrastic middle imperfect.BOUND WITH TWO CHAINS (δεδεμενος αλυσεσιν... [ Continue Reading ]
STOOD BY HIM (επεστη). Ingressive second aorist active indicative of εφιστημ, intransitive. This very form occurs in Luke 2:9 of the sudden appearance of the angel of the Lord to the shepherds. Page notes that this second aorist of εφιστημ occurs seven times in the Gospel of Luke, eight times in... [ Continue Reading ]
GIRD THYSELF (ζωσα). Direct middle first aorist (ingressive) imperative (Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 806f.) from ζωννυμ (ζωννυω). Old verb, but in the N.T. only here and John 21:18 (twice to Peter) where the active voice and the reflexive pronoun occur in the first example. The girdle was worn roun... [ Continue Reading ]
WIST NOT (ουκ ηιδε). Past perfect of οιδα used as imperfect, did not know.FOLLOWED (ηκολουθε). Imperfect active, kept on following as the angel had directed (verse Acts 12:8). That it was true (οτ αληθες εστιν). Indirect assertion and so present tense retained. Note "true" (αληθες) in the sense... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY WERE PAST (διελθοντες). Second aorist active participle of διερχομα, transitive with δια in composition.THE FIRST AND THE SECOND WARD (πρωτην φυλακην κα δευτεραν). It is not clear to what this language refers. Some take it to mean single soldiers, using φυλακην in the sense of a guard... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS COME TO HIMSELF (εν εαυτω γενομενος). Second aorist middle participle of γινομα with εν and the locative case, "becoming at himself." In Luke 15:17 we have εις εαυτον ελθων (coming to himself, as if he had been on a trip away from himself).NOW I KNOW OF A TRUTH (νυν οιδα αληθως). There was... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE HAD CONSIDERED (συνιδων). Second aorist active participle of συνειδον (for the defective verb συνοραω), to see together, to grasp as a whole, old verb, but in the N.T. only here and Acts 14:6, save the perfect indicative συνοιδα (1 Corinthians 4:4) and participle (Acts 5:2). It is the wor... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE KNOCKED AT THE DOOR OF THE GATE (κρουσαντος αυτου την θυραν του πυλωνος). Genitive absolute with aorist active participle of κρουω, common verb to knock or knock at. So from the outside (Luke 13:25). Πυλων here is the gateway or passageway from the door (θυρα) that leads to the house. In... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN SHE KNEW (επιγνουσα). Second aorist (ingressive) active participle of επιγινωσκω, to know fully or in addition (επ), to recognize. She knew Peter and his voice from his frequent visits there.FOR JOY (απο της χαρας). From her joy (ablative case), life-like picture of the maid who left Peter... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU ART MAD (μαινη). Present middle indicative second person singular. Old verb, only in the middle voice. Festus used the same word to Paul (Acts 26:24). The maid was undoubtedly excited, but it was a curious rebuff from those who had been praying all night for Peter's release. In their defence... [ Continue Reading ]
CONTINUED KNOCKING (επεμενεν κρουων). Imperfect active and present participle. Now all heard the knocking.WHEN THEY HAD OPENED (ανοιξαντες). First aorist active participle of ανοιγω or -νυμ. The whole group rushed out to the courtyard this time to make sure.THEY WERE AMAZED (εξεστησαν). The f... [ Continue Reading ]
There were probably loud exclamations of astonishment and joy.BECKONING WITH THE HAND (κατασεισας τη χειρ). First aorist active participle of κατασειω, old verb to signal or shake down with the hand (instrumental case χειρ). In the N.T. only in Acts 12:17; Acts 13:16; Acts 19:33; Acts 21:40. The s... [ Continue Reading ]
AS SOON AS IT WAS DAY (Γενομενης ημερας). Genitive absolute, day having come.NO SMALL STIR (ταραχος ουκ ολιγος). Litotes (ουκ ολιγος), occurs eight times in the Acts as in Acts 15:2, and nowhere else in the N.T. Ταραχος (stir) is an old word from ταρασσω, to agitate. In the N.T only here and Act... [ Continue Reading ]
HE EXAMINED (ανακρινας). First aorist active participle of ανακρινω, old verb to sift up and down, to question thoroughly, in a forensic sense (Luke 23:14; Acts 4:9; Acts 12:19; Acts 28:18).THAT THEY SHOULD BE PUT TO DEATH (απαχθηνα). First aorist passive infinitive (indirect command) of απαγω,... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS HIGHLY DISPLEASED (ην θυμομαχων). Periphrastic imperfect active of θυμομαχεω, late compound of θυμος (passionate heat) and μαχομα, to fight. Only here in the N.T., to fight desperately, to have a hot quarrel. Whether it was open war with the Phoenicians or just violent hostility we do not kno... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON A SET DAY (τακτη ημερα). Locative case and the verbal adjective of τασσω, to arrange, appoint, old word, here only in the N.T. Josephus (_Ant_. XVII. 6, 8; XIX. 8, 2) gives a full account of the occasion and the death of Herod Agrippa. It was the second day of the festival in honour of the E... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOUTED (επεφωνε). Imperfect active, kept on shouting, calling out to him. Old verb, but only four times in the N.T. and all by Luke. The heathen crowd (δημος) repeated their flattering adulation to gain Herod's favour.THE VOICE OF A GOD (θεου φωνη). In the pagan sense of emperor worship, not a... [ Continue Reading ]
SMOTE HIM (επαταξεν αυτον). Effective aorist active indicative of πατασσω, old verb, used already in verse Acts 12:7 of gentle smiting of the angel of the Lord, here of a severe stroke of affliction. Like Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:30) pride went before a fall. He was struck down in the very zenith... [ Continue Reading ]
GREW AND MULTIPLIED (ηυξανεν κα επληθυνετο). Imperfect active and passive. Cf. Acts 6:1. The reaction from the death of James and the imprisonment of Peter.... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM JERUSALEM (εξ Ιερουσαλημ). Probably correct text, though D has απο. Westcott and Hort follow Aleph B in reading εις (to) Jerusalem, an impossible reading contradicted by Acts 11:29; Acts 13:1. The ministration (διακονιαν) referred to is that in Acts 11:29 which may have taken place, in point... [ Continue Reading ]