IN THE CHURCH THAT WAS THERE (κατα την ουσαν εκκλησιαν). Possibly distributed throughout the church (note "in the church" Acts 11:26). Now a strong organization there. Luke here begins the second part of Acts with Antioch as the centre of operations, no longer Jerusalem. Paul is now the central f... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THEY MINISTERED TO THE LORD (λειτουργουντων αυτων το κυριω). Genitive absolute of λειτουργεω, old verb, used of the Attic orators who served the state at their own cost λεως or λαος, people, and εργον, work or service). Common in the LXX of the priests who served in the tabernacle (Exodus 28:3... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY HAD FASTED (νηστευσαντες). Either finishing the same fast in verse Acts 13:2 or another one (Hackett), but clearly a voluntary fast.LAID THEIR HANDS UPON THEM (επιθεντες τας χειρας αυτοις). Second aorist active participle of επιτιθημ. Not ordination to the ministry, but a solemn consec... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEY (αυτο μεν ουν). They themselves indeed therefore. No contrast is necessary, though there is a slight one in verses Acts 13:5; Acts 13:6. Luke again refers to the Holy Spirit as the source of their authority for this campaign rather than the church at Antioch.SENT FORTH (εκπεμφθεντες). O... [ Continue Reading ]
PROCLAIMED (κατηγγελλον). Imperfect active of καταγγελλω, inchoative, began to proclaim. This was Paul's rule of procedure, "to the Jew first" (Romans 1:16; Acts 13:46; Acts 17:2; Acts 18:4; Acts 18:19; Acts 19:8).THEY HAD ALSO (ειχον δε κα). Imperfect active, descriptive.AS THEIR ATTENDANT (υ... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO PAPHOS (αχρ Παφου). The new Paphos at the other end of the island, reached by a fine Roman road, some eight miles north of the old Paphos famous for the worship of Venus.A CERTAIN SORCERER, A FALSE PROPHET, A JEW (ανδρα τινα μαγον ψευδοπροφητην Ιουδαιον). Literally, "a certain man" (ανδρα τ... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THE PROCONSUL SERGIUS PAULUS (συν τω ανθυπατω Σεργιω Παυλω). Luke used to be sharply criticized for applying this term to Sergius Paulus on the ground that Cyprus was a province under the appointment of the emperor with the title of propraetor and not under the control of the senate with the... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHSTOOD THEM (ανθιστατο αυτοις). Imperfect middle of ανθιστημ, to stand against (face to face). Dative case (αυτοις). He persisted in his opposition and was unwilling to lose his great prize. There may have been a public discussion between Elymas and Saul.TO TURN ASIDE (διαστρεψα). First aori... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT SAUL, WHO IS ALSO CALLED PAUL (Σαυλος δε, ο κα Παυλος). By this remarkably brief phrase Luke presents this epoch in the life of Saul Paul. The "also" (κα) does not mean that the name Paul was given now for the first time, rather than he had always had it. As a Jew and a Roman citizen, he undou... [ Continue Reading ]
OF ALL GUILE (παντος δολου). From δελω, to catch with bait, old word, already seen in Matthew 26:4; Mark 7:22; Mark 14:1. Paul denounces Elymas as a trickster.ALL VILLAINY (πασης ραιδιουργιας). Late compound from ραιδιουργος (ραιδιος, easy, facile, εργον, deed, one who does a thing adroitly and... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON THEE (επ σε). The use of επ with the accusative is rich and varied, the precise shade of meaning depending on the content. The "hand of the Lord" might be kindly (Acts 11:21) or hostile (Hebrews 10:31), but when God's hand touches one's life (Job 19:21) it may be in judgment as here with Ely... [ Continue Reading ]
BELIEVED (επιστευσεν). Ingressive aorist active indicative. Renan considers it impossible that a Roman proconsul could be converted by a miracle. But it was the teaching about the Lord (του κυριου, objective genitive) by which he was astonished (εκπλησσομενος, present passive participle of εκπλησσ... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL AND HIS COMPANY (ο περ Παυλον). Neat Greek idiom as in Plato, Cratylus 440 C ο περ Hερακλειτον. On this idiom see Gildersleeve, _Syntax_, p. 264. It means a man and his followers, "those around Paul." Now Paul ranks first always in Acts save in Acts 14:2; Acts 15:12; Acts 15:25 for special re... [ Continue Reading ]
PASSING THROUGH (διελθοντες). It is not clear why Paul and Barnabas left Perga so soon nor why they went to Antioch in Pisidia. Ramsay suggests malaria that spurred them on to the hills after the desertion of John Mark. They preached at Perga on the return (Acts 14:25) and apparently hurried away... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THE READING OF THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS (μετα την αναγνωσιν του νομου κα των προφητων). The law was first read in the synagogues till B.C. 163 when Antiochus Epiphones prohibited it. Then the reading of the prophets was substituted for it. The Maccabees restored both. There was a reading fro... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL STOOD UP (αναστας Παυλος). The Jewish custom was to sit while speaking (Luke 4:20), but the Greek and Roman was to stand (Acts 17:22). It is possible as Lewin (_Life of St. Paul_, Vol. 1, p. 141) suggests that here Paul stepped upon the platform and then took his seat as he began to speak or... [ Continue Reading ]
CHOSE (εξελεξατο). First aorist middle (indirect), selected for himself. Israel was the chosen people.EXALTED (υψωσεν). From υψοω, late verb from υψος so often used of Christ.WHEN THEY SOJOURNED (εν τη παροικια). In the sojourn. Late word from παροικος (sojourner, dweller, Acts 7:6) common in... [ Continue Reading ]
SUFFERED HE THEIR MANNERS (ετροποφορησεν). First aorist active indicative of τροποφορεω, late word from τροπος, manner, and φερω, reading of Aleph B D and accepted by Westcott and Hort. But A C Sahidic Bohairic read ετροφοφορησεν from τροφοφορεω (τροφος, a nurse, and φερω,) late word (II Macc. 7:... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE HAD DESTROYED (καθελων). Second aorist active participle of καθαιρεω, to tear down, old verb.HE GAVE THEM FOR AN INHERITANCE (κατεκληρονομησεν). First aorist active indicative of the double compound verb κατα-κληρο-νομεω, late verb in LXX (Numbers 34:18; Deuteronomy 3:28; Joshua 14:1) a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AFTER THESE THINGS (κα μετα ταυτα). That is, the time of the Judges then began. Cf. Judges 2:16.UNTIL SAMUEL THE PROPHET (εως Σαμουηλ προφητου). The _terminus ad quem_. He was the last of the judges and the first of the prophets who selected the first king (Saul) under God's guidance. Note... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ASKED (ηιτησαντο). First aorist indirect middle indicative, they asked for themselves. They were tired of a theocracy. Cf. 1 Samuel 8:5; 1 Samuel 10:1. Paul mentions with pride that Benjamin was the tribe of Saul (his name also), but he does not allude to Saul's sin (Furneaux).FOR THE SPACE... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE HAD REMOVED HIM (μεταστησας αυτον). First aorist active participle of μεθιστημ, old verb to transfer, to transpose (note force of μετα). This verb occurs in Luke 16:4 by the unjust steward about his removal from office. Cf. 1 Samuel 15:16.TO BE (εις). As or for, Greek idiom like the Heb... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THIS MAN'S SEED (τουτου απο του σπερματος). Emphatic position of τουτου. Of this one from the (his) seed.ACCORDING TO PROMISE (κατ' επαγγελιαν). This phrase in Galatians 3:29; 2 Timothy 1:1. See the promise in 2 Samuel 7:2; Psalms 132:11; Isaiah 11:1; Isaiah 11:10; Jeremiah 23:5;... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN JOHN HAD FIRST PREACHED (προκηρυξαντος Ιωανου). Literally, John heralding beforehand, as a herald before the king (Luke 3:3). Genitive absolute of first aorist active participle of προκηρυσσω, old verb to herald beforehand, here alone in the N.T., though Textus Receptus has it also in Acts 3... [ Continue Reading ]
AS JOHN WAS FULFILLING HIS COURSE (ως επληρου Ιωανης τον δρομον). Imperfect active of πληροω, describing his vivid ministry without defining the precise period when John asked the question. Paul uses this word δρομος (course) of his own race (Acts 20:24; 2 Timothy 4:7).WHAT SUPPOSE YE THAT I AM?... [ Continue Reading ]
TO US (ημιν). Both Jews and Gentiles, both classes in Paul's audience, dative of advantage.IS SENT FORTH (εξαπεσταλη). Second aorist passive indicative of the double compound verb εξαποστελλω, common verb to send out (εξ) and forth (απο). It is a climacteric or culminative aorist tense. It has... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE THEY KNEW HIM NOT (τουτον αγνοησαντες). First aorist active participle (causal) of αγνοεω, old verb, not to know. Peter gives "ignorance" (αγνοια) as the excuse of the Jews in the death of Christ (Acts 3:17) and Paul does the same about his conduct before his conversion (1 Timothy 1:13).... [ Continue Reading ]
THOUGH THEY FOUND NO CAUSE OF DEATH (μηδεμιαν αιτιαν θανατου ευροντες). Second aorist active with usual negative of the participle. As a matter of fact the Sanhedrin did charge Jesus with blasphemy, but could not prove it (Matthew 26:65; Matthew 27:24; Luke 23:22). At this time no Gospel had prob... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THE TREE (απο του ξυλου). Not here strictly a tree, but wood as already in Acts 5:30; Acts 10:29 and later in Galatians 3:13. Strictly speaking, it was Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus who took the body of Jesus down from the cross, though the Jews had asked Pilate to have the bones of Jesu... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD (ο δε θεος ηγειρεν εκ νεκρων). This crucial fact Paul puts sharply as he always did.... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS SEEN FOR MANY DAYS (ωφθη επ ημερας πλειους). The common verb (first aorist passive indicative of οραω, to see) for the appearance of the Risen Christ, the one used by Paul of his own vision of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:8), which is not reported by Luke here. For more days (than a few), the lan... [ Continue Reading ]
WE BRING YOU GOOD TIDINGS OF THE PROMISE (ημεις υμας ευαγγελιζομεθα την επαγγελιαν). Two accusatives here (person and thing), old Greek did not use accusative of the person with this verb as in Acts 16:10; Luke 3:18. Note "we you" together. Here the heart of Paul's message on this occasion.... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH FULFILLED (εκπεπληρωκεν). Hath filled out (εκ).UNTO OUR CHILDREN (τοις τεκνοις ημων). The MSS. vary greatly here about ημων (our), some have αυτων, some αυτων ημιν. Westcott and Hort consider these readings "a primitive error" for ημιν (to us) taken with αναστησας Ιησουν (having for us rai... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW NO MORE TO RETURN TO CORRUPTION (μηκετ μελλοντα υποστρεφειν εις διαφθοραν). No longer about to return as Lazarus did. Jesus did not die again and so is the first fruits of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:23; Romans 6:9).HE HATH SPOKEN (ειρηκεν). Present perfect active indicative, common... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE (διοτ). Compound conjunction (δια, οτ) like our "because that." The reason for the previous statement about "the holy things."THOU WILT NOT GIVE THY HOLY ONE TO SEE CORRUPTION (ου δωσεις τον οσιον σου ιδειν διαφθοραν). Quotation from Psalms 16:10 to show that Jesus did not see corruptio... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS OWN GENERATION (ιδια γενεα). Either locative case, "in his own generation" or dative object of υπηρετησας (served).THE COUNSEL OF GOD (τη του θεου βουλη). So here, either the dative, the object of υπηρετησας if γενεα is locative, or the instrumental case "by the counsel of God" which again... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGH THIS MAN (δια τουτου). This very man whom the Jews had crucified and whom God had raised from the dead. Remission of sins (αφεσις αμαρτιων) is proclaimed (καταγγελλετα) to you. This is the keynote of Paul's message as it had been that of Peter at Pentecost (Acts 2:38; Acts 5:31; Acts 10:4... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BY HIM EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH IS JUSTIFIED FROM ALL THINGS, FROM WHICH YE COULD NOT BE JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW OF MOSES (κα απο παντων ων ουκ ηδυνηθητε εν νομω Μωυσεως δικαιοθηνα εν τουτω πας ο πιστευων δικαιουτα). This is a characteristic Greek sentence with the principal clause at the end and... [ Continue Reading ]
BEWARE THEREFORE (βλεπετε ουν). The warning is pertinent. Perhaps Paul noticed anger on the faces of some of the rabbis.LEST THERE COME UPON YOU (μη επελθη). Second aorist active subjunctive with the negative final conjunction μη.IN THE PROPHETS (εν τοις προφηταις). The quotation is from the... [ Continue Reading ]
YE DESPISERS (ο καταφρονητα). Not in the Hebrew, but in the LXX. It is pertinent for Paul's purpose.PERISH (αφανισθητε). Or vanish away. First aorist passive imperative. Added by the LXX to the Hebrew.IF ONE DECLARE IT UNTO YOU (εαν τις εκδιηγητα υμιν). Condition of third class with present m... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS THEY WENT OUT (Εξιοντων δε αυτων). Genitive absolute with present active participle of εξειμ, to go out, old verb, in the N.T. only in Acts 12:42; Acts 17:15; Acts 20:7; Acts 27:43. As they (Paul and Barnabas) were going out with all the excitement and hubbub created by the sermon.THEY BES... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE SYNAGOGUE BROKE UP (λυθεισης της συναγωγης). Genitive absolute of first aorist passive participle of λυω. Apparently Paul and Barnabas had gone out before the synagogue was formally dismissed.OF THE DEVOUT PROSELYTES (των σεβομενων προσηλυτων). Of the worshipping proselytes described in... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NEXT SABBATH (τω ερχομενω σαββατω). Locative case, on the coming (ερχομενω, present middle participle of ερχομα) Sabbath. So the best MSS., though some have εχομενω (present middle participle of εχω in sense of near, bordering, following as in Luke 13:33; Acts 29:15).ALMOST (σχεδον). Old wo... [ Continue Reading ]
THE JEWS (ο Ιουδαιο). Certainly not the proselytes of verse Acts 13:43. Probably many of the Jews that were then favourably disposed to Paul's message had reacted against him under the influence of the rabbis during the week and evidently on this Sabbath very many Gentiles ("almost the whole city... [ Continue Reading ]
SPAKE OUT BOLDLY (παρρησιασαμενο). First aorist middle participle of παρρησιαζομα, to use freedom in speaking, to assume boldness. Both Paul and Barnabas accepted the challenge of the rabbis. They would leave their synagogue, but not without a word of explanation.IT WAS NECESSARY TO YOU FIRST (H... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR SO HATH THE LORD COMMANDED US (ουτως γαρ εντεταλτα ημιν ο κυριος). Perfect middle indicative of εντελλω, poetic (Pindar) and late verb to enjoin (Acts 1:2). The command of the Lord Paul finds in Isaiah 49:6 quoted by Simeon also (Luke 2:32). The conviction of Paul's mind was now made clear by... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE GENTILES HEARD THIS THEY WERE GLAD (ακουοντα τα εθνη εχαιρον). Present active participle of ακουω and imperfect active of χαιρω, linear action descriptive of the joy of the Gentiles.GLORIFIED THE WORD OF GOD (εδοξαζον τον λογον του θεου). Imperfect active again. The joy of the Gentiles in... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS SPREAD ABROAD (διεφερετο). Imperfect passive of διαφερω, to carry in different directions (δια). By the recent converts as well as by Paul and Barnabas. This would seem to indicate a stay of some months with active work among the Gentiles that bore rich fruit.THROUGHOUT ALL THE REGION (δι'... [ Continue Reading ]
URGED ON (παρωτρυναν). First aorist (effective) active of παρ-οτρυνω, old verb, but here alone in the N.T., to incite, to stir up. The Jews were apparently not numerous in this city as they had only one synagogue, but they had influence with people of prominence, like "the devout women of honourab... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY SHOOK OFF THE DUST OF THEIR FEET AGAINST THEM (Hο δε εκτιναξαμενο τον κονιορτον των ποδων επ' αυτους). First aorist middle (indirect) participle of εκτινασσω, to shake out or off. Homer uses it for knocking out teeth. In the papyri. The middle aorist participle occurs again in Acts 18:6 a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE DISCIPLES (ο τε or ο δε μαθÂητα). The Gentile Christians in Antioch in Pisidia. Persecution had precisely the opposite effect to the intention of the Jews for they "were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit" (επληρουντο χαρας κα πνευματος αγιου). Imperfect passive, they kept on being fille... [ Continue Reading ]