HAVING COME INTO THE PROVINCE (επιβας τη επαρχεια). Second aorist active participle of επιβαινω, to set foot upon. Literally, "Having set foot upon his province." Επαρχεια is a late word for province, in N.T. only here and Acts 23:34. Judea was not strictly a province, but a department (Page) of... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PRINCIPAL MEN (ο πρωτο). The first men, the leading men of the city, besides the chief priests. In verse Acts 25:15 we have "the chief priests and the elders." These chief men among the Jews would desire to pay their respects to the new Procurator on his first visit to Jerusalem. There was an... [ Continue Reading ]
ASKING FAVOUR AGAINST HIM (αιτουμενο χαριν κατ' αυτου). A favour to themselves (middle voice), not to Paul, but "against" (κατ', down, against) him.THAT HE WOULD SEND FOR (οπως μεταπεμψητα). First aorist middle subjunctive of μεταπεμπω (see Acts 24:24; Acts 24:26) with final particle οπως like... [ Continue Reading ]
HOWBEIT (μεν ουν). No antithesis expressed, though Page considers δε in verse Acts 25:6 to be one. They probably argued that it was easier for one man (Paul) to come to Jerusalem than for many to go down there. But Festus was clearly suspicious (verse Acts 25:6) and was wholly within his rights t... [ Continue Reading ]
THEM THEREFORE WHICH ARE OF POWER AMONG YOU (ο ουν εν υμιν δυνατο). "The mighty ones among you," "the men of power" (δυνατο) and authority, "the first men," the Sanhedrin, in other words. Note change here by Luke from indirect discourse in verse Acts 25:4, to direct in verse Acts 25:5 (φησιν, say... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THE MORROW (τη επαυριον). Locative case of the article with ημερα understood (επαυριον, adverb, tomorrow). Festus lost no time for the chief men had come down with him.SAT ON THE JUDGMENT SEAT (καθισας επ του βηματος). A legal formality to give weight to the decision. Ingressive aorist active... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE WAS COME (παραγενομενου αυτου). Genitive absolute of common verb παραγινομα (cf. Acts 24:24).WHICH HAD COME DOWN (ο καταβεβηκοτες). Perfect active participle of καταβαινω. They had come down on purpose at the invitation of Festus (verse Acts 25:5), and were now ready.STOOD ROUND ABOUT H... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE PAUL SAID IN HIS DEFENCE (του Παυλου απολογουμενου). Genitive absolute again, present middle participle of απολογεομα, old verb to make defence as in Acts 19:33; Acts 24:10; Acts 26:1; Acts 26:2. The recitative οτ of the Greek before a direct quotation is not reproduced in English.HAVE I SI... [ Continue Reading ]
DESIRING TO GAIN FAVOUR WITH THE JEWS (θελων τοις Ιουδαιοις χαριν καταθεσθα). Precisely the expression used of Felix by Luke in Acts 24:27 which see. Festus, like Felix, falls a victim to fear of the Jews.BEFORE ME (επ' εμου). Same use of επ with the genitive as in Acts 23:30; Acts 24:19; Acts 2... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM STANDING BEFORE CAESAR'S JUDGMENT-SEAT (Hεστως επ του βηματος Καισαρος ειμ). Periphrastic present perfect indicative (εστως ειμ), second perfect participle εστως of ιστημ (intransitive). Paul means to say that he is a Roman citizen before a Roman tribunal. Festus was the representative of Ca... [ Continue Reading ]
IF I AM A WRONG-DOER (ε μεν ουν αδικω). Condition of the first class with ε and the present active indicative of αδικεω (α privative and δικη): "If I am in the habit of doing injustice," assuming it to be true for the sake of argument.AND HAVE COMMITTED ANYTHING WORTHY OF DEATH (κα αξιον θανατο... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE HAD CONFERRED WITH THE COUNCIL (συνλαλησας μετα του συμβουλιου). The word συμβουλιον in the N.T. usually means "counsel" as in Matthew 12:14, but here alone as an assembly of counsellors or council. But the papyri (Milligan and Moulton's _Vocabulary_) furnish a number of instances of this... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN CERTAIN DAYS WERE PASSED (Hημερων διαγενομενον). Genitive absolute of διαγινομα, to come between, "days intervening."AGRIPPA THE KING (Αγριππας ο βασιλευς). Agrippa II son of Agrippa I of Acts 12:20-23. On the death of Herod King of Chalcis A.D. 48, Claudius A.D. 50 gave this Herod Agrippa... [ Continue Reading ]
TARRIED (διετριβον). Imperfect active of διατριβω, common verb for spending time (Acts 12:19, etc.).MANY DAYS (πλειους ημερας). More days (than a few). Accusative case for extent of time.LAID PAUL'S CASE (ανεθετο τα κατα τον Παυλον). Second aorist middle indicative of ανατιθημ, old verb to set... [ Continue Reading ]
INFORMED (ενεφανισαν). Same word as in Acts 23:15; Acts 23:22; Acts 25:2 which see.ASKING FOR SENTENCE AGAINST HIM (αιτουμενο κατ' αυτου καταδικην). Only N.T. example of this old word (penalty, fine, condemnation) from κατα and δικη (justice against).... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS NOT THE CUSTOM OF THE ROMANS (οτ ουκ εστιν εθος Ρωμαιοις). If a direct quotation, οτ is recitative as in Authorized Version. Canterbury Revision takes it as indirect discourse after απεκριθην (I answered), itself in a relative clause (προς ους) with the present tense (εστιν, is) preserved a... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY WERE COME TOGETHER HERE (συνελθοντων ενθαδε). Genitive absolute of second aorist active participle of συνερχομα, but without αυτων (they), merely understood.DELAY (αναβολην). Old word from αναβαλλω, only here in N.T.... [ Continue Reading ]
BROUGHT (εφερον). Imperfect active of φερω, referring to their repeated charges.OF SUCH EVIL THINGS AS I SUPPOSED (ων εγω υπενοουν πονηρων). Incorporation of the antecedent πονηρων into the relative clause and change of the case of the relative from the accusative α object of υπενοουν to the ge... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HAD (δε ειχον). Descriptive imperfect active of εχω and δε of contrast (but).CONCERNING THEIR OWN RELIGION (περ της ιδιας δεισιδαιμονιας). See on Acts 17:22 for discussion of this word. Festus would hardly mean "superstition," whatever he really thought, because Agrippa was a Jew.AND OF ONE... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING PERPLEXED (απορουμενος). Present middle participle of the common verb απορεω (α privative and πορος way), to be in doubt which way to turn, already in Mark 6:20 which see and Luke 24:4. The Textus Receptus has εις after here, but critical text has only the accusative which this verb allows... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN PAUL HAD APPEALED (του Παυλου επικαλεσαμενου). Genitive absolute with first aorist middle participle of επικαλεομα, the technical word for appeal (verses Acts 25:11; Acts 25:12). The first aorist passive infinitive τηρηθηνα (to be kept) is the object of the participle.FOR THE DECISION OF THE... [ Continue Reading ]
I ALSO COULD WISH (εβουλομην κα αυτος). The imperfect for courtesy, rather than the blunt βουλομα, I wish, I want. Literally, "I myself also was wishing" (while you were talking), a compliment to the interesting story told by Festus. The use of αν with the imperfect would really mean that he does... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN AGRIPPA WAS COME AND BERNICE (ελθοντος του Αγριππα κα της Βερνικης). Genitive absolute, the participle agreeing in number and gender (masculine singular, ελθοντος) with Αγριππα, Βερνικης being added as an afterthought.WITH GREAT POMP (μετα πολλης φαντασιας). Φαντασια is a _Koine_ word (Poly... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH ARE HERE PRESENT WITH US (ο συνπαροντες ημιν). Present articular participle of συνπαρειμ (only here in N.T.) with associative instrumental case ημιν.MADE SUIT TO ME (ενετυχον μο). Second aorist active indicative of εντυγχανω, old verb to fall in with a person, to go to meet for consultati... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I FOUND (εγω δε κατελαβομην). Second aorist middle of καταλαμβανω, to lay hold of, to grasp, to comprehend as in Acts 4:13; Acts 10:34.THAT HE HAD COMMITTED NOTHING WORTHY OF DEATH (μηδεν αξιον αυτον θανατου πεπραχενα). Perfect active infinitive of πρασσω in indirect assertion with negative... [ Continue Reading ]
NO CERTAIN THING (ασφαλες τι--ου). Nothing definite or reliable (α privative, σφαλλω, to trip). All the charges of the Sanhedrin slipped away or were tripped up by Paul. Festus confesses that he had nothing left and thereby convicts himself of gross insincerity in his proposal to Paul in verse Ac... [ Continue Reading ]
UNREASONABLE (αλογον). Old word from α privative and λογος (reason, speech). "Without reason" as of animals (Judges 1:10; 2 Peter 2:12), "contrary to reason" here. These the only N.T. instances and in harmony with ancient usage.IN SENDING (πεμποντα). Note accusative case with the infinitive σημ... [ Continue Reading ]