AND WITH AN ORATOR, ONE TERTULLUS (κα ρητορος Τερτυλλου τινος). A deputation of elders along with the high priest Ananias, not the whole Sanhedrin, but no hint of the forty conspirators or of the Asian Jews. The Sanhedrin had become divided so that now it is probably Ananias (mortally offended) an... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE (PAUL) WAS CALLED (κληθεντος αυτου). Genitive absolute (as so often in Acts) with first aorist passive participle of καλεω. Seeing that by thee we enjoy much peace (πολλης ειρηνης τυγχανοντες δια σου). Literally, obtaining much peace by thee. A regular piece of flattery, _captatio benevol... [ Continue Reading ]
IN ALL WAYS AND IN ALL PLACES (παντη τε κα πανταχου). Παντη, old adverb of manner only here in N.T. Πανταχου also old adverb of place, several times in N.T. But these adverbs most likely go with the preceding clause about "reforms" rather than as here translated with "we accept" (αποδεχομεθα). Bu... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT I BE NOT FURTHER TEDIOUS UNTO THEE (ινα μη επ πλειον σε ενκοπτω). _Koine_ verb (Hippocrates, Polybius) to cut in on (or into), to cut off, to impede, to hinder. Our modern telephone and radio illustrate it well. In the N.T. (Acts 24:4; 1 Thessalonians 2:18; Galatians 5:7; Romans 15:22; 1 Pet... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WE HAVE FOUND (ευροντες γαρ). Second aorist active participle of ευρισκω, but without a principal verb in the sentence. Probably we have here only a "summary of the charges against Paul" (Page).A PESTILENT FELLOW (λοιμον). An old word for pest, plague, pestilence, Paul the pest. In N.T. onl... [ Continue Reading ]
ASSAYED TO PROFANE (επειρασεν βεβηλωσα). A flat untruth, but the charge of the Asian Jews (Acts 21:28-30). _Verbum optum ad calumnian_ (Bengel).WE SEIZED (εκρατησαμεν). As if the Sanhedrin had arrested Paul, Tertullus identifying himself with his clients. But it was the mob (Acts 21:28-31) that... [ Continue Reading ]
This whole verse with some words at the end of verse Acts 24:6 and the beginning of verse Acts 24:8 in the Textus Receptus ("And would have judged according to our law. But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, commanding his accusers to come... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM WHOM (παρ' ου). Referring to Paul, but in the Textus Receptus referring to Lysias.BY EXAMINING HIM THYSELF (αυτος ανακρινας). Not by torture, since Paul was a Roman citizen, but by hearing what Paul has to say in defence of himself. Ανακρινω is to examine thoroughly up and down as in Luke... [ Continue Reading ]
JOINED IN THE CHARGE (συνεπεθεντο). Second aorist middle indicative of συνεπιτιθημ, old verb, double compound, to place upon (επ) together with (συν), to make a joint attack, here only in the N.T.AFFIRMING (φασκοντες). Alleging, with the accusative in indirect assertion as in Acts 25:19; Romans... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE GOVERNOR HAD BECKONED TO HIM (νευσαντος αυτω του ηγεμονος). Genitive absolute again with first aorist active participle of νευω, to give a nod, old word, in N.T. only here and John 13:24. "The governor nodding to him."FORASMUCH AS I KNOW (επισταμενος). Knowing, from επισταμα.THAT THOU... [ Continue Reading ]
SEEING THAT THOU CANST TAKE KNOWLEDGE (δυναμενου σου επιγνωνα). Genitive absolute again. The same word and form (επιγνωνα) used by Tertullus, if in Greek, in verse Acts 24:8 to Felix. Paul takes it up and repeats it.NOT MORE THAN TWELVE DAYS (ου πλειους ημερα δωδεκα). Here η (than) is absent wi... [ Continue Reading ]
DISPUTING (διαλεγομενον). Simply conversing, discussing, arguing, and then disputing, common verb in old Greek and in N.T. (especially in Acts).STIRRING UP A CROWD (επιστασιν ποιουντα οχλου). Επιστασις is a late word from εφιστημ, to make an onset or rush. Only twice in the N.T., 2 Corinthians... [ Continue Reading ]
PROVE (παραστησα). First aorist active infinitive of παριστημ, to place beside. They have made "charges," mere assertions. They have not backed up these charges with proof, "nor can they," says Paul.NOW (νυν). As if they had changed their charges from the cries of the mob in Jerusalem which is... [ Continue Reading ]
I CONFESS (ομολογω). The only charge left was that of being a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. This Paul frankly confesses is true. He uses the word in its full sense. He is "guilty" of that.AFTER THE WAY (κατα την οδον). This word Paul had already applied to Christianity (Acts 22:4). H... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THERE SHALL BE A RESURRECTION (αναστασιν μελλειν εσεσθα). Indirect assertion with infinitive and accusative of general reference (αναστασιν) after the word ελπιδα (hope). The future infinitive εσεσθα after μελλειν is also according to rule, μελλω being followed by either present, aorist, or... [ Continue Reading ]
HEREIN (εν τουτω). His whole confession of belief in verses Acts 24:14; Acts 24:15.DO I ALSO EXERCISE MYSELF (κα αυτος ασκω). "Do I also myself take exercise," take pains, labour, strive. Old word in Homer to work as raw materials, to adorn by art, then to drill. Our word ascetic comes from thi... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER MANY YEARS (δι' ετων πλειονων). "At an interval (δια) of more (πλειονων) years" (than a few, one must add), not "after many years." If, as is likely Paul went up to Jerusalem in Acts 18:22, that was some five years ago and would justify " πλειονων" (several years ago or some years ago).TO B... [ Continue Reading ]
AMIDST WHICH (εν αιλ). That is, "in which offerings" (in presenting which offerings, Acts 21:27).THEY FOUND ME (my accusers here present, ευρον με),PURIFIED IN THE TEMPLE (ηγνισμενον εν τω ιερω). Perfect passive participle of αγνιζω (same verb in Acts 21:24; Acts 21:26) state of completion of... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT CERTAIN JEWS FROM ASIA (τινες δε απο της Αλιας Ιουδαιο). No verb appears in the Greek for these words. Perhaps he meant to say that "certain Jews from Asia charged me with doing these things." Instead of saying that, Paul stops to explain that they are not here, a thoroughly Pauline anacoluth... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE MEN THEMSELVES (αυτο ουτο). Since the Asiatic Jews are not present and these men are.WRONG DOING (αδικημα). Or misdeed. Old word from αδικεω, to do wrong. In the N.T. only here and Acts 18:14; Revelation 18:5. Paul uses " αδικημα" from the standpoint of his accusers. "To a less sensitive... [ Continue Reading ]
EXCEPT IT BE (ε). Literally, "than," but after interrogative τ = τ αλλο "what else than."FOR THIS ONE VOICE (περ μιας ταυτης φωνης). The normal Greek idiom with the attributive use of ουτος calls for the article before μιας, though some inscriptions show it as here (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 702... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING MORE EXACT KNOWLEDGE (ακριβεστερον ειδως). "Knowing" (second perfect active participle of οιδα) "more accurately" (comparative of adverb ακριβως). More accurately than what? Than the Sanhedrin supposed he had "concerning the Way" (τα περ της οδου, the things concerning the Way, common in Ac... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHOULD HAVE INDULGENCE (εχειν τε ανεσιν). From ανιημ, to let loose, release, relax. Old word, in the N.T. only here and 2 Thessalonians 1:7; 2 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 7:5; 2 Corinthians 8:13. It is the opposite of strict confinement, though under guard, "kept in charge" (τηρεισθα).FOR... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH DRUSILLA HIS WIFE (συν Δρουσιλλη τη ιδια γυναικ). Felix had induced her to leave her former husband Aziz, King of Emesa. She was one of three daughters of Herod Agrippa I (Drusilla, Mariamne, Bernice). Her father murdered James, her great-uncle Herod Antipas slew John the Baptist, her great-... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS TERRIFIED (εμφοβος γενομενος). Ingressive aorist middle of γινομα, "becoming terrified." Εμφοβος (εν and φοβος) old word, in the N.T. only Luke 24:5; Acts 10:5; Acts 24:25; Revelation 11:13. Paul turned the tables completely around and expounded "the faith in Christ Jesus" as it applied to Fel... [ Continue Reading ]
HE HOPED WITHAL (αμα κα ελπιζων). "At the same time also hoping." Paul had mentioned the "alms" (Acts 24:17) and that excited the avarice of Felix for "money" (χρηματα). Roman law demanded exile and confiscation for a magistrate who accepted bribes, but it was lax in the provinces. Felix had doub... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN TWO YEARS WERE FULFILLED (διετιας δε πληρωθεισης). Genitive absolute first aorist passive of πληροω, common verb to fill full. Διετια, late word in LXX and Philo, common in the papyri, in N.T. only here and Acts 28:30. Compound of δια, two (δυο, δις) and ετος, year. So Paul lingered on in... [ Continue Reading ]