WERE PARTED FROM THEM (αποσπασθεντας απ' αυτων). First aorist passive participle of αποσπαω same verb as in Acts 20:30; Luke 22:41.HAD SET SAIL (αναχθηνα). First aorist passive of αναγω, the usual verb to put out (up) to sea as in verse Acts 21:2 (ανηχθημεν).WE CAME WITH A STRAIGHT COURSE (ευ... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING FOUND A SHIP (ευροντες πλοιον). Paul had used a small coasting vessel (probably hired) that anchored each night at Cos, Rhodes, Patara. He was still some four hundred miles from Jerusalem. But at Patara Paul caught a large vessel (a merchantman) that could sail across the open sea.CROSSING... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN WE HAD COME IN SIGHT OF CYPRUS (αναφαναντες την Κυπρον). First aorist active participle of αναφαινω (Doric form -φαναντες rather than the Attic -φηναντες), old verb to make appear, bring to light, to manifest. Having made Cyprus visible or rise up out of the sea. Nautical terms. In the N.T.... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING FOUND (ανευροντες). Second aorist active participle of ανευρισκω, to seek for, to find by searching (ανα). There was a church here, but it was a large city and the number of members may not have been large. Probably some of those that fled from Jerusalem who came to Phoenicia (Acts 11:19)... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WE HAD ACCOMPLISHED THE DAYS (εξαρτισα ημας τας ημερας). First aorist active infinitive of εξαρτιζω, to furnish perfectly, rare in ancient writers, but fairly frequent in the papyri. Only twice in the N.T., here and 2 Timothy 3:17. Finish the exact number of days (seven) of verse Acts 21:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEACH (αιγιαλον). As in Matthew 13:2 which see. This scene is in public as at Miletus, but they did not care.BADE EACH OTHER FAREWELL (απεσπασαμεθα αλληλους). First aorist middle of απασπαζομα. Rare compound, here alone in the N.T. Tender scene, but "no bonds of long comradeship, none of the cl... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD FINISHED (διανυσαντες). First aorist active participle of διανυω, old verb to accomplish (ανυω) thoroughly (δια), only here in the N.T.FROM TYRE (απο Τυρου). Page takes (Hackett also) with κατηντησαμεν (we arrived) rather than with " τον πλουν" (the voyage) and with good reason: "And we, ha... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THE MORROW (τη επαυριον). Another and the more common way of expressing this idea of "next day" besides the three in Acts 20:15 and the one in Acts 21:1.UNTO CAESAREA (εις Καισαριαν). Apparently by land as the voyage (πλουν) ended at Ptolemais (verse Acts 21:7). Caesarea is the political capi... [ Continue Reading ]
VIRGINS WHICH DID PROPHESY (παρθενο προφητευσα). Not necessarily an "order" of virgins, but Philip had the honour of having in his home four virgin daughters with the gift of prophecy which was not necessarily predicting events, though that was done as by Agabus here. It was more than ordinary pre... [ Continue Reading ]
AS WE TARRIED (επιμενοντων ημων). Genitive absolute. Note επ (additional) with μενω as in Acts 12:16.MANY DAYS (ημερας πλειους). More days (than we expected), accusative of time.A CERTAIN PROPHET NAMED AGABUS (προφητης ονοματ Αγαβος). A prophet like the daughters of Philip, mentioned already... [ Continue Reading ]
COMING (ελθÂων, second aorist active participle of ερχομα), taking (αρας, first aorist active participle of αιρÂω, to take up),BINDING (δÂησας, first aorist active participle of δεÂω, to bind). Vivid use of three successive participles describing the dramatic action of Agabus.PAUL'S GIRDLE (τ... [ Continue Reading ]
BOTH WE AND THEY OF THAT PLACE (ημεις τε κα ο εντοπιο). Usual use of τε κα (both--and). Εντοπιο, old word, only here in N.T.NOT TO GO UP (του μη αναβαινειν). Probably ablative of the articular present active infinitive with redundant negative με after παρεκαλουμεν (imperfect active, conative). W... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT ARE YOU DOING WEEPING? (Τ ποιειτε κλαιοντεσ?) Strong protest as in Mark 11:5.BREAKING MY HEART (συνθρυπτοντες μου την καρδιαν). The verb συνθρυπτω, to crush together, is late _Koine_ for αποθρυπτω, to break off, both vivid and expressive words. So to enervate and unman one, weakening Paul'... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE WOULD NOT BE PERSUADED (μη πειθομενου αυτου). Genitive absolute of the present passive participle of πειθω. Literally, "he not being persuaded." That was all. Paul's will (καρδια) was not broken, not even bent.WE CEASED (ησυχασαμεν). Ingressive aorist active indicative of ησυχαζω, old v... [ Continue Reading ]
WE TOOK UP OUR BAGGAGE (επισκευασαμενο). First aorist middle participle of επισκευαζω, old verb to furnish (σκευοσ, επ) with things necessary, to pack up, saddle horses here Ramsay holds. Here only in the N.T.WENT UP (ανεβαινομεν). Inchoative imperfect active of αναβαινω, we started to go up.... [ Continue Reading ]
CERTAIN OF THE DISCIPLES (των μαθητων). The genitive here occurs with τινες understood as often in the Greek idiom, the partitive genitive used as nominative (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 502).BRINGING (αγοντες). Nominative plural participle agreeing with τινες understood, not with case of μαθητων.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN WE WERE COME (γενομενων ημων). Genitive absolute again, "we having come."RECEIVED (απεδεξαντο). Αποδεχομα, to receive from. This old compound only in Luke in the N.T.GLADLY (ασμενως). Old adverb ησμενως from ηδομα, to be pleased. Here only in the N.T. Perhaps this first glad welcome was... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAY FOLLOWING (τη επιουση). As in Acts 20:15 which see.WENT IN (εισηιε). Imperfect active of εισειμ, old classic verb used only four times in the N.T. (Acts 3:3; Acts 21:18; Acts 21:26; Hebrews 9:6), a mark of the literary style rather than the colloquial _Koine_ use of εισερχομα. Together w... [ Continue Reading ]
HE REHEARSED (εξηγειτο). Imperfect middle of εξηγεομα, old verb to lead out, to draw out in narrative, to recount. So Paul is pictured as taking his time for he had a great story to tell of what had happened since they saw him last.ONE BY ONE (καθ' ενα εκαστον). According to each one (item) and... [ Continue Reading ]
GLORIFIED (εδοξαζον). Inchoative imperfect, began to glorify God, though without special praise of Paul.HOW MANY THOUSANDS (ποσα μυριαδες). Old word for ten thousand (Acts 19:19) and then an indefinite number like our "myriads" (this very word) as Luke 12:1; Acts 21:20; Judges 1:14; Revelation 5... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HAVE BEEN INFORMED CONCERNING THEE (κατηχηθησαν περ σου). First aorist passive indicative of κατηχεω. A word in the ancient Greek, but a few examples survive in the papyri. It means to sound (echo, from ηχω, our word) down (κατα), to resound, re-echo, to teach orally. Oriental students today... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT IS IT THEREFORE? (Τ ουν εστιν?). See this form of question by Paul (1 Corinthians 14:15; 1 Corinthians 14:26). What is to be done about it? Clearly James and the elders do not believe these misrepresentations of Paul's teaching, but many do.THEY WILL CERTAINLY HEAR (παντως ακουσοντα). Παντω... [ Continue Reading ]
DO THEREFORE THIS (τουτο ουν ποιησον). The elders had thought out a plan of procedure by which Paul could set the whole matter straight.WE HAVE (εισιν ημιν). "There are to us" (dative of possession as in Acts 18:10). Apparently members of the Jerusalem church.WHICH HAVE A VOW ON THEM (ευχην εχ... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE TAKE (τουτους παραλαβων). Second aorist active participle of παραλαμβανω. Taking these alone.PURIFY THYSELF WITH THEM (αγνισθητ συν αυτοις). First aorist passive imperative of αγνιζω, old verb to purify, to make pure (αγνος). See the active voice in James 4:8; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:3. It... [ Continue Reading ]
WE WROTE (επεστειλαμεν). First aorist active of επιστελλω, to send to and so to write like our epistle (επιστολη). Old verb, but in the N.T. only here and Acts 15:20; Hebrews 13:22. It is the very word used by James in this "judgment" at the Conference (Acts 15:20, επιστειλα). B D here read απεστε... [ Continue Reading ]
TOOK THE MEN (παραλαβων τους ανδρας). The very phrase used in verse Acts 21:24 to Paul.THE NEXT DAY (τη εχομενη). One of the phrases in Acts 20:15 for the coming day. Locative case of time.PURIFYING HIMSELF WITH THEM (συν αυτοις αγνισθεις, first aorist passive participle of αγνιζω). The preci... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SEVEN DAYS (α επτα ημερα). For which Paul had taken the vow, though there may be an allusion to the pentecostal week for which Paul had desired to be present (Acts 20:16). There is no necessary connexion with the vow in Acts 18:15. In Acts 24:17 Paul makes a general reference to his purpose in... [ Continue Reading ]
HELP (βοηθειτε). Present active imperative of βοηθεω, to run (θεω) at a cry (βοη), as if an outrage had been committed like murder or assault.ALL MEN EVERYWHERE (παντα πανταχη). Alliterative. Πανταχη is a variation in MSS., often πανταχου, and here only in the N.T. The charges against Paul remin... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR (γαρ). Luke adds the reason for the wild charges made against Paul.THEY HAD BEFORE SEEN (ησαν προεωρακοτες). Periphrastic past perfect of προοραω, old verb to see before, whether time or place. Only twice in the N.T., here and Acts 2:25 quoted from Psalms 15:8. Note the double reduplication... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE CITY WAS SHAKEN (εκινηθη η πολις ολη). First aorist passive of κινεω, common verb for violent motion and emotion. See also Acts 24:5 where the word is used by Tertullus of Paul as the stirrer up of riots!THE PEOPLE RAN TOGETHER (εγενετο συνδρομη του λαου). Rather, There came a running t... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THEY WERE SEEKING TO KILL HIM (ζητουντων αυτων). Genitive absolute of ζητεω, to seek, without αυτων (they). This was their real purpose.TIDINGS (φασις). From φαινω, to show. Old word for the work of informers and then the exposure of secret crime. In LXX. Here only in the N.T.CAME UP (ανεβ... [ Continue Reading ]
FORTHWITH (εξαυτης). Common in the _Koine_ (εξ αυτης, supply ωρας, hour).HE TOOK (παραλαβων). See verses Acts 21:24; Acts 21:26.CENTURIONS (εκατονταρχας). See on Luke 7:2 for discussion. Plural shows that Lysias the chiliarch took several hundred soldiers along (a centurion with each hundred)... [ Continue Reading ]
CAME NEAR (εγγισας). First aorist active participle of εγγιζω, to draw near, _Koine_ verb from εγγυς, near, and common in the N.T.LAID HOLD ON HIM (επελαβετο αντου). See same verb in verse Acts 21:30.TO BE BOUND (δεθηνα). First aorist passive infinitive of δεω (see verse Acts 21:11).WITH TWO... [ Continue Reading ]
SOME SHOUTING ONE THING, SOME ANOTHER (αλλο αλλο τ επεφωνουν). Same idiom of αλλο αλλο as in Acts 19:32 which see. The imperfect of επιφωνεω, to call out to, suits well the idiom. This old verb occurs in the N.T. only in Luke and Acts (already in Acts 12:22).WHEN HE COULD NOT KNOW (μη δυναμενου... [ Continue Reading ]
UPON THE STAIRS (επ τους αναβαθμους). From ανα, up, and βαινω, to go. Late word, in LXX and _Koine_ writers. In the N.T. only here and verse Acts 21:40.SO IT WAS (συνεβη). Second aorist active of συμβαινω, to happen (see on Acts 20:19) with infinitive clause as subject here as often in the old... [ Continue Reading ]
FOLLOWED AFTER (ηκολουθε). Imperfect active of ακολυθεω, was following. Cheated of their purpose to lynch Paul, they were determined to have his blood.CRYING OUT (κραζοντες). Construction according to sense, plural masculine participle agreeing with neuter singular substantive πληθος (Robertson... [ Continue Reading ]
MAY I SAY SOMETHING UNTO THEE? (Ε εξεστιν μο ειπειν τ προς σε?). On this use of ε in a direct question see on Acts 1:6. The calm self-control of Paul in the presence of this mob is amazing. His courteous request to Lysias was in Greek to the chiliarch's amazement.DOST THOU KNOW GREEK? (Hελληνισ... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM (Εγω μεν ειμ). In contrast with the wild guess of Lysias Paul uses μεν and δε. He tells briefly who he is:A JEW (Ιουδαιος) by race,OF TARSUS IN CILICIA (Ταρσευς της Κιλικιας) by country, belonging to Tarsus (this adjective Ταρσευς only here and Acts 9:11), and proud of it, one of the gre... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE HAD GIVEN HIM LEAVE (επιτρεψαντος αυτου). Genitive absolute of aorist active participle of the same verb επιτρεπω.STANDING ON THE STAIRS (εστως επ των αναβαθμων). Second perfect active participle of ιστημ, to place, but intransitive to stand. Dramatic scene. Paul had faced many audience... [ Continue Reading ]