AFTER THE UPROAR WAS CEASED (μετα το παυσασθα τον θορυβον). Literally, after the ceasing (accusative of articular aorist middle infinitive of παυω, to make cease) as to the uproar (accusative of general reference). Noise and riot, already in Matthew 26:5; Matthew 27:24; Mark 5:38; Mark 14:2; and... [ Continue Reading ]
THOSE PARTS (τα μερη εκεινα). We have no way of knowing why Luke did not tell of Paul's stay in Troas (2 Corinthians 2:12) nor of meeting Titus in Macedonia (2 Corinthians 2:13-7) nor of Paul's visit to Illyricum (Romans 15:19) to give time for II Corinthians to do its work (Acts 20:2), one of the... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE HAD SPENT THREE MONTHS THERE (ποιησας μηνας τρεις). Literally, "having done three months," the same idiom in Acts 14:33; Acts 18:23; James 5:13. During this period Paul may have written Galatians as Lightfoot argued and certainly did Romans. We do not have to say that Luke was ignorant of... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCOMPANIED HIM (συνειπετο αυτω). Imperfect of συνεπομα, old and common verb, but only here in the N.T. The singular is used agreeing with the first name mentioned Σωπατρος and to be supplied with each of the others. Textus Receptus adds here "into Asia" (αχρ της Ασιας, as far as Asia), but the be... [ Continue Reading ]
WERE WAITING FOR US IN TROAS (εμενον ημας εν Τροιαδ). Here again we have "us" for the first time since chapter 16 where Paul was with Luke in Philippi. Had Luke remained all this time in Philippi? We do not know, but he is with Paul now till Rome is reached. The seven brethren of verse Acts 20:4... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THE DAYS OF UNLEAVENED BREAD (μετα τας ημερας των αζυμων). Paul was a Jew, though a Christian, and observed the Jewish feasts, though he protested against Gentiles being forced to do it (Galatians 4:10; Colossians 2:16). Was Luke a proselyte because he notes the Jewish feasts as here and in... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK (εν δε μια των σαββατων). The cardinal μια used here for the ordinal πρωτη (Mark 16:9) like the Hebrew _ehadh_ as in Mark 16:2; Matthew 28:1; Luke 24:1; John 20:1 and in harmony with the _Koine_ idiom (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 671). Either the singular (Mark 16:9) σα... [ Continue Reading ]
MANY LIGHTS (λαμπαδες ικανα). It was dark at night since the full moon (passover) was three weeks behind. These lamps were probably filled with oil and had wicks that flickered and smoked. They would not meet in the dark.IN THE UPPER ROOM (εν τω υπερωιω). As in Acts 1:13 which see.... [ Continue Reading ]
SAT (καθεζομενος). Sitting (present middle participle describing his posture).IN THE WINDOW (επ της θυριδος). Old word diminutive from θυρα, door, a little door. Latticed window (no glass) opened because of the heat from the lamps and the crowd. Our window was once spelt _windore_ (Hudibras), p... [ Continue Reading ]
FELL ON HIM (επεπεσεν αυτω). Second aorist active indicative of επιπιπτω with dative case as Elijah did (1 Kings 17:21) and Elisha (2 Kings 4:34).EMBRACING (συνπεριλαβων). Second aorist active participle of συνπεριλαμβανω, old verb to embrace completely (take hold together round), but only here... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE WAS GONE UP (αναβας). Second aorist active participle in sharp contrast to καταβας (went down) of verse Acts 20:10.HAD BROKEN BREAD (κλασας τον αρτον). Probably the Eucharist to observe which ordinance Paul had come and tarried (verse Acts 20:7), though some scholars distinguish between... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY BROUGHT THE LAD ALIVE (ηγαγον τον παιδα ζωντα). Second aorist active indicative of αγω. Evidently the special friends of the lad who now either brought him back to the room or (Rendall) took him home to his family. Knowling holds that ζωντα (living) here is pointless unless he had been dead.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE SHIP (επ το πλοιον). Note article. It is possible that Paul's party had chartered a coasting vessel from Philippi or Troas to take them to Patara in Lycia. Hence the boat stopped when and where Paul wished. That is possible, but not certain, for Paul could simply have accommodated himself... [ Continue Reading ]
MET US (συνεβαλλεν ημιν). Imperfect active where the aorist (συνεβαλεν, as C D have it) would seem more natural. It may mean that as soon as (ως) Paul "came near or began to meet us" (inchoative imperfect), we picked him up. Luke alone in the N.T. uses συνβαλλω to bring or come together either in... [ Continue Reading ]
WE CAME OVER AGAINST CHIOS (κατηντησαμεν αντικρυς Χιου). Luke uses this _Koine_ verb several times (Acts 16:1; Acts 18:19), meaning to come right down in front of and the notion of αντα is made plainer by αντικρυς, face to face with, common "improper" preposition only here in the N.T. They probab... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR PAUL HAD DETERMINED (κεκρικε γαρ ο Παυλος). Past perfect active (correct text) of κρινω and not the aorist εκρινε. Either Paul controlled the ship or the captain was willing to oblige him.TO SAIL PAST EPHESUS (παραπλευσα την Εφεσον). First aorist active infinitive of παραπλεω, old verb to s... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLED TO HIM (μετεκαλεσατο). Aorist middle (indirect) indicative of μετακαλεω, old verb to call from one place to another (μετα for "change"), middle to call to oneself, only in Acts in the N.T. (Acts 7:14; Acts 10:32; Acts 20:17; Acts 24:25). Ephesus was some thirty miles, a stiff day's journey... [ Continue Reading ]
YE YOURSELVES KNOW (υμεις επιστασθε). Pronoun expressed and emphatic. He appeals to their personal knowledge of his life in Ephesus.FROM THE FIRST DAY THAT (απο πρωτης ημερας αφ' ης). "From first day from which." He had first "set foot" (επεβην, second aorist active indicative of old verb επιβα... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW THAT I SHRANK NOT (ως ουδεν υπεστειλαμεν). Still indirect discourse (question) after επιστασθε (ye know) with ως like πως in verse Acts 20:18. First aorist middle of υποστελλω, old verb to draw under or back. It was so used of drawing back or down sails on a ship and, as Paul had so recently b... [ Continue Reading ]
TESTIFYING (διαμαρτυρομενος). As Peter did (Acts 2:40) where Luke uses this same word thoroughly Lucan and Pauline. So again in verses Acts 20:23; Acts 20:24. Paul here as in Romans 1:16 includes both Jews and Greeks, to the Jew first.REPENTANCE TOWARD GOD (την εις θεον μετανοιαν)AND FAITH TOWA... [ Continue Reading ]
BOUND IN THE SPIRIT (δεδεμενος τω πνευματ). Perfect passive participle of δεω, to bind, with the locative case. "Bound in my spirit" he means, as in Acts 19:21, from a high sense of duty. The mention of "the Holy Spirit" specifically in verse Acts 20:23 seems to be in contrast to his own spirit h... [ Continue Reading ]
SAVE THAT (πλην οτ). The οτ clause is really in the ablative case after πλην, here a preposition as in Philippians 1:18, this idiom πλην οτ occasionally in ancient Greek.IN EVERY CITY (κατα πολιν). Singular here though plural in κατ' οικους (verse Acts 20:20).BONDS AND AFFLICTIONS (δεσμα κα θ... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I HOLD NOT MY LIFE OF ANY ACCOUNT (αλλ' ουδενος λογου ποιουμα την ψυχην). Neat Greek idiom, accusative ψυχην and genitive λογου and then Paul adds "dear unto myself" (τιμιαν εμαυτω) in apposition with ψυχην (really a combination of two constructions).SO THAT I MAY ACCOMPLISH MY COURSE (ως τε... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW, BEHOLD (κα νυν, ιδου). Second time and solemn reminder as in verse Acts 20:22.I KNOW (εγω οιδα). Emphasis on εγω which is expressed.YE ALL (υμεις παντες). In very emphatic position after the verb οψεσθε (shall see) and the object (my face). Twice Paul will write from Rome (Philippians... [ Continue Reading ]
I TESTIFY (μαρτυρομα). Elsewhere in the N.T. only in Paul's Epistles (Galatians 5:3; Ephesians 4:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:12). It means "I call to witness" while μαρτυρεω means "I bear witness."THIS DAY (εν τη σημερον ημερα). The today day, the last day with you, our parting day.I AM PURE FROM THE... [ Continue Reading ]
Paul here repeats the very words and idioms used in verse Acts 20:20, adding "the whole counsel of God" (πασαν την βουλην του θεου). All the counsel of God that concerned Paul's work and nothing inconsistent with the purpose of God of redemption through Christ Jesus (Page).... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE HEED UNTO YOURSELVES (προσεχετε εαυτοις). The full phrase had τον νουν, hold your mind on yourselves (or other object in the dative), as often in old writers and in Job 7:17. But the ancients often used the idiom with νουν understood, but not expressed as here and Acts 5:35; Luke 12:1; Luke 1... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER MY DEPARTING (μετα την αφιξιν μου). Not his death, but his departure from them. From αφικνεομα and usually meant arrival, but departure in Herodotus IX. 17, 76 as here.GRIEVOUS WOLVES (λυκο βαρεις). Βαρεις is heavy, rapacious, harsh. Jesus had already so described false teachers who would... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM AMONG YOUR OWN SELVES (εξ υμων αυτων). In sheep's clothing just as Jesus had foretold. The outcome fully justified Paul's apprehensions as we see in Colossians, Ephesians, I and II Timothy, Revelation. False philosophy, immorality, asceticism will lead some astray (Colossians 2:8; Colossians... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE WATCH YE (διο γρηγορειτε). Paul has concluded his defence of himself and his warning. Now he exhorts on the basis of it (διο) because of which thing. The very command of Jesus concerning the perils before his return as in Mark 13:35 (γρηγορειτε), the very form (late present imperative f... [ Continue Reading ]
AND NOW (κα τα νυν). Same phrase as in verses Acts 20:22; Acts 20:25 save that ιδου (behold) is wanting and the article τα occurs before νυν, accusative of general reference. And as to the present things (or situation) as in Acts 4:29.I COMMEND (παρατιθεμα). Present middle indicative of παρατιθη... [ Continue Reading ]
NO MAN'S SILVER OR GOLD OR APPAREL (αργυριου η χρυσιου η ιματισμου ουδενος). Genitive case after επεθυμησα. One of the slanders against Paul was that he was raising this collection, ostensibly for the poor, really for himself (2 Corinthians 12:17). He includes "apparel" because oriental wealth co... [ Continue Reading ]
YE YOURSELVES (αυτο). Intensive pronoun. Certainly they knew that the church in Ephesus had not supported Paul while there.THESE HANDS (α χειρες αυτα). Paul was not above manual labour. He pointed to his hands with pride as proof that he toiled at his trade of tent-making as at Thessalonica and... [ Continue Reading ]
I GAVE YOU AN EXAMPLE (υπεδειξα). First aorist active indicative of υποδεικνυμ, old verb to show under one's eyes, to give object lesson, by deed as well as by word (Luke 6:47). Hυποδειγμα means example (John 13:15; James 5:10). So Paul appeals to his example in 1 Corinthians 11:1; Philippians 3:... [ Continue Reading ]
HE KNEELED DOWN (θεις τα γονατα αυτου). Second aorist active participle of τιθημ, to place. The very idiom used in Acts 7:60 of Stephen. Not in ancient writers and only six times in the N.T. (Mark 15:19; Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60; Acts 9:40; Acts 20:36; Acts 21:5). Certainly kneeling in prayer is a fi... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ALL WEPT SORE (ικανος κλαυθμος εγενετο παντων). Literally, There came considerable weeping of all (on the part of all, genitive case).KISSED HIM (κατεφιλουν αυτον). Imperfect active of καταφιλεω, old verb, intensive with κατα and repetition shown also by the tense: They kept on kissing or... [ Continue Reading ]
SORROWING (οδυνωμενο). Present middle participle of οδυναω, old verb to cause intense pain, to torment (Luke 16:24), middle to distress oneself (Luke 2:48; Acts 20:38). Nowhere else in N.T.WHICH HE HAD SPOKEN (ω ειρηκε). Relative attracted to the case of the antecedent λογω (word). Past perfect... [ Continue Reading ]