LOOKING STEADFASTLY (ατενισας). See on this word Acts 1:10; Acts 3:12; Acts 6:15; Acts 7:55; Acts 13:9. Paul may have had weak eyes, but probably the earnest gaze was to see if he recognized any faces that were in the body that tried Stephen and to which he apparently once belonged.I HAVE LIVED B... [ Continue Reading ]
ANANIAS (Hανανιας). Not the one in Luke 3:2; John 18:13; Acts 4:7, but the son of Nebedaeus, nominated high priest by Herod, King of Chalcis, A.D. 48 and till A.D. 59. He was called to Rome A.D. 52 to answer "a charge of rapine and cruelty made against him by the Samaritans, but honourably acquit... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU WHITED WALL (τοιχε κεκονιαμενε). Perfect passive participle of κονιαω (from κονια, dust or lime). The same word used in Matthew 23:27 for "whited sepulchres" (ταφο κεκονιαμενο) which see. It is a picturesque way of calling Ananias a hypocrite, undoubtedly true, but not a particularly tactful... [ Continue Reading ]
OF GOD (του θεου). As God's representative in spite of his bad character (Deuteronomy 17:8). Here was a charge of irreverence, to say the least. The office called for respect.... [ Continue Reading ]
I WIST NOT (ουκ ηιδειν). Second past perfect of οιδα used as an imperfect. The Greek naturally means that Paul did not know that it was the high priest who gave the order to smite his mouth. If this view is taken, several things may be said by way of explanation. The high priest may not have had o... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN PAUL PERCEIVED (γνους δε ο Παυλος). Perceiving (second aorist ingressive of γινωσκω). Paul quickly saw that his cause was ruined before the Sanhedrin by his unwitting attack on the high priest. It was impossible to get a fair hearing. Hence, Vincent says, "Paul, with great tact, seeks to... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE HAD SO SAID (τουτο αυτου λαλουντος). Genitive absolute of present participle (Westcott and Hort) rather than aorist (ειποντος). While he was saying this.A DISSENSION (στασις). This old word for standing or station (Hebrews 9:8) from ιστημ, to place, we have seen already to mean insurrec... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS NO RESURRECTION, NEITHER ANGEL, NOR SPIRIT (μη εινα αναστασιν μητε αγγελον μητε πνευμα). Infinitive with negative μη in indirect assertion. These points constitute the chief doctrinal differences between the Pharisees and the Sadducees.BOTH (αμφοτερα). Here used though three items of b... [ Continue Reading ]
STROVE (διεμαχοντο). Imperfect middle of διαμαχομα, old Attic verb, to fight it out (between, back and forth, fiercely). Here only in the N.T. It was a lively scrap and Luke pictures it as going on. The Pharisees definitely take Paul's side.AND WHAT IF A SPIRIT HATH SPOKEN TO HIM OR AN ANGEL? ... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THERE AROSE A GREAT DISSENSION (πολλης της γινομενης στασεως). Present middle participle (genitive absolute). Literally, "dissension becoming much."LEST PAUL SHOULD BE TORN IN PIECES BY THEM (μη διασπασθη ο Παυλος). First aorist passive subjunctive of διασπαω, to draw in two, to tear in pi... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NIGHT FOLLOWING (τη επιουση νυκτ). Locative case, on the next (following) night.THE LORD (ο κυριος). Jesus. Paul never needed Jesus more than now. On a previous occasion the whole church prayed for Peter's release (Acts 12:5), but Paul clearly had no such grip on the church as that, though h... [ Continue Reading ]
BANDED TOGETHER (ποιησαντες συστροφην). See on Acts 19:40 (riot), but here conspiracy, secret combination, binding together like twisted cords.BOUND THEMSELVES UNDER A CURSE (ανεθεματισαν εαυτους). First aorist active indicative of αναθεματιζω, a late word, said by Cremer and Thayer to be wholly... [ Continue Reading ]
MORE THAN FORTY (πλειους τεσσερακοντα). Without "than" (η) as in verse Acts 23:21; Acts 24:11 and often in the ancient Greek.CONSPIRACY (συνωμοσιαν). Old word from συνομνυμ, to swear together. Only here in the N.T.... [ Continue Reading ]
CAME TO THE CHIEF PRIESTS AND THE ELDERS (προσελθοντες τοις αρχιερευσιν κα τοις πρεσβυτεροις). The Sanhedrin, just as Judas did (Luke 22:4).WITH A GREAT CURSE (αναθεματ). This use of the same word as the verb repeated in the instrumental case is in imitation of the Hebrew absolute infinitive and... [ Continue Reading ]
YE (υμεις). Emphatic.SIGNIFY (εμφανισατε). First aorist active imperative of εμφανιζω. Make plain from εμφανης, chiefly in Acts. Repeated in verse Acts 23:22. The authority is with the chiliarch not with the Sanhedrin, but he had appealed to the Sanhedrin for advice.AS THOUGH YE WOULD JUDGE OF... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR LYING IN WAIT (την ενεδραν). Old word from εν (in) and εδρα (seat), ambush. In N.T. only here and Acts 25:3. Accusative object of ακουσας.HE CAME (παραγενομενος). Second aorist middle participle of παραγινομα. It may mean, "having come upon them" and so discount their plot, a graphic touc... [ Continue Reading ]
CALLED UNTO HIM (προσκαλεσαμενος). First aorist participle indirect middle, calling to himself. Paul laid his plans as energetically as if Jesus had not promised that he would see Rome (Acts 23:11).BRING (απαγε). "Take away.... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL THE PRISONER (ο δεσμιος Παυλος). Bound (δεσμιος) to a soldier, but not with two chains (Acts 21:33), and with some freedom to see his friends as later (Acts 28:16), in military custody (_custodia militaris_). This was better than _custodia publica_ (public custody), the common prison, but mo... [ Continue Reading ]
TOOK HIM BY THE HAND (επιλαβομενος της χειρος αυτου). Kindly touch in Lysias, _ut fiduciam adolescentis confirmaret_ (Bengel). Note genitive with the second aorist middle (indirect, to himself) of επιλαμβανω as in Luke 8:54 with κρατησας which see. How old the young man (νεανιας) was we do not kn... [ Continue Reading ]
THE JEWS (ο Ιουδαιο). As if the whole nation was in the conspiracy and so in verse Acts 23:12. The conspirators may have belonged to the Zealots, but clearly they represented the state of Jewish feeling toward Paul in Jerusalem.HAVE AGREED (συνεθεντο). Second aorist middle indicative of συντιθη... [ Continue Reading ]
DO NOT THEREFORE YIELD UNTO THEM (Συ ουν μη πεισθηις αυτοις). First aorist passive subjunctive of πειθω, common verb, here to be persuaded by, to listen to, to obey, to yield to. With negative and rightly. Do not yield to them (dative) at all. On the aorist subjunctive with μη in prohibitions aga... [ Continue Reading ]
TELL NO MAN (μηδεν εκλαλησα). Indirect command (_oratio obliqua_) after παραγγειλας (charging) with first aorist active infinitive of εκλαλεω (in ancient Greek, but here only in N.T.), but construction changed to direct in rest of the sentence (_oratio recta_) as in Acts 1:4, "that thou hast sign... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO (τινας δυο). "Some two" as in Luke 7:19, indicating (Page) that they were not specially chosen.SOLDIERS (στρατιωτας),HORSEMEN (ιππεις),SPEARMEN (δεξιολαβους). The three varieties of troops in a Roman army like the cohort of Lysias (Page). The στρατιωτα were the heavy-armed legionaries,... [ Continue Reading ]
PROVIDE BEASTS (κτενη παραστησα). Change from direct to indirect discourse just the opposite of that in verse Acts 23:22.BEASTS (κτηνη). For riding as here or for baggage. See on Luke 10:34. Asses or horses, but not war-horses. Since Paul was chained to a soldier, another animal would be requir... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE WROTE (γραψας). First aorist active participle of γραφω, agreeing with the subject (Lysias) of ειπεν (said) back in verse Acts 23:23 (beginning).AFTER THIS FORM (εχουσαν τον τυπον τουτον). Textus Receptus has περιεχουσαν. The use of τυπον (type or form) like _exemplum_ in Latin (Page who... [ Continue Reading ]
MOST EXCELLENT (κρατιστω). See on Luke 1:3 to Theophilus though not in Acts 1:1. It is usual in addressing men of rank as here, like our "Your Excellency" in Acts 24:3 and Paul uses it to Festus in Acts 26:25.GREETING (χαιρειν). Absolute infinitive with independent or absolute nominative (Κλαυδ... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS SEIZED (συλλημφθεντα). First aorist passive participle of συλλαμβανω.RESCUED HIM HAVING LEARNED THAT HE WAS A ROMAN (εξειλαμεν μαθων οτ Ρομαιος εστιν). Wendt, Zoeckler, and Furneaux try to defend this record of two facts by Lysias in the wrong order from being an actual lie as Bengel rightly... [ Continue Reading ]
TO KNOW (επιγνωνα). To know fully, επ, second aorist active infinitive.THEY ACCUSED HIM (ενεκαλουν αυτω). Imperfect active indicative, were accusing him (dative), repeating their charges.... [ Continue Reading ]
CONCERNING QUESTIONS OF THEIR LAW (περ ζητηματα του νομου αυτων). The very distinction drawn by Gallio in Corinth (Acts 18:14). On the word see on Acts 15:2.BUT TO HAVE NOTHING LAID TO HIS CHARGE WORTHY OF DEATH OR OF BONDS (μηδεν δε αξιον θανατου η δεσμων εχοντα ενκλημα). Literally, "having no... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN IT WAS SHOWN TO ME THAT THERE WOULD BE A PLOT (μηνυθεισης μο επιβουλης εσεσθα). Two constructions combined; genitive absolute (μηνυθεισης επιβουλης, first aorist passive participle of μηνυω) and future infinitive (εσεσθα as if επιβουλην accusative of general reference used) in indirect asser... [ Continue Reading ]
AS IT WAS COMMANDED THEM (κατα το διατεταγμενον αυτοις). "According to that which was commanded them," perfect passive articular participle of διατασσω.BY NIGHT (δια νυκτος). Through the night, travelling by night forty miles from Jerusalem to Antipatris which was founded by Herod the Great and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY (οιτινες). Which very ones, the cavalry, the horsemen of verse Acts 23:31.DELIVERED (αναδοντες). Second aorist active participle of αναδιδωμ, old verb to give up, to hand over, here only in the N.T.PRESENTED PAUL ALSO (παρεστησαν κα τον Παυλον). First aorist active (transitive, not s... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE HAD READ IT (αναγνους). Second aorist active participle of αναγινωσκω, to know again, to read.OF WHAT PROVINCE HE WAS (εκ ποιας επαρχειας εστιν). Tense of εστιν (is) retained in indirect question. Ποιας is strictly "of what kind of" province, whether senatorial or imperial. Cilicia, lik... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL HEAR THY CAUSE (διακουσομα). "I will hear thee fully" (δια).WHEN--ARE COME (παραγενωντα). Second aorist middle subjunctive of παραγινομα with temporal conjunction οταν, indefinite temporal clause of future time (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 972), "whenever thine accusers come."IN HEROD'S PAL... [ Continue Reading ]