WHEN THE NUMBER OF THE DISCIPLES WAS MULTIPLYING (πληθυνοντων των μαθητων). Genitive absolute of πληθυνω, old verb from πληθος, fulness, to increase. The new freedom from the intercession of Gamaliel was bearing rich fruit.A MURMURING OF THE GRECIAN JEWS (γογγυσμος των Hελληνιστων). Late onomato... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MULTITUDE (το πληθος). The whole church, not just the 120.FIT (αρεστον). Pleasing, verbal adjective from αρεσκω, to please, old word, but in the N.T. only here and Acts 12:3; John 8:29; 1 John 3:22. _Non placet_.SHOULD FORSAKE (καταλειψαντας). Late first aorist active participle for usual... [ Continue Reading ]
OF GOOD REPORT (μαρτυρουμενους). Present passive participle of μαρτυρεω, to bear witness to. Men with a good reputation as well as with spiritual gifts (the Holy Spirit and wisdom).WE MAY APPOINT (καταστησομεν). Future active indicative of καθιστημ, we shall appoint. The action of the apostles... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WE (εμεις δε). In contrast to the work given the seven.THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD (τη διακονια του λογου). The same word διακονια employed in verse Acts 6:1, but here about preaching as the special ministry with which the apostles were concerned. For "continue steadfastly" (προσκαρτερησομεν)... [ Continue Reading ]
PLEASED (ηρεσεν). Aorist active indicative of αρεσκω like Latin _placuit_ when a vote was taken. The use of ενωπιον before "the whole multitude" is like the LXX.THEY CHOSE (εξελεξαντο). First aorist middle indicative of εκλεγω, to pick out for oneself. Each one of the seven has a Greek name and... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY LAID THEIR HANDS ON THEM (επεθηκαν αυτοις τας χειρας). First aorist active indicative of επιτιθημ. Probably by the apostles who ratified the choice (verse Acts 6:3). The laying on of hands "was a symbol of the impartation of the gifts and graces which they needed to qualify them for the offi... [ Continue Reading ]
INCREASED (ηυξανεν). Imperfect active, kept on growing all the more because the apostles were now relieved from the daily ministration of the food.MULTIPLIED (επληθυνετο). Imperfect passive. The two imperfects kept pace with each other.OF THE PRIESTS (των ιερων). Who were usually Sadducees. I... [ Continue Reading ]
WROUGHT (εποιε). Imperfect active, repeatedly wrought. Evidently a man like Stephen would not confine his "ministry" to "serving tables." He was called in verse Acts 6:5 "full of faith and the Holy Spirit." Here he is termed "full of grace (so the best MSS., not faith) and power." The four words... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SYNAGOGUE OF THE LIBERTINES (εκ της συναγωγης της λεγομενης Λιβερτινων). The Libertines (Latin _libertinus_, a freedman or the son of a freedman) were Jews, once slaves of Rome (perhaps descendants of the Jews taken to Rome as captives by Pompey), now set free and settled in Jerusalem and nume... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO WITHSTAND (ουκ ισχυον αντιστηνα). Imperfect active of ισχυω, to have strength, and ingressive second aorist active (intransitive) infinitive of ανθιστημ. They continued unable (without strength enough) to take a stand against. Stephen knocked them down, Saul included, as fas... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THEY SUBORNED MEN (τοτε υπεβαλον ανδρας). Second aorist active indicative of υποβαλλω, old verb, but here only in the N.T., to put under like a carpet, to bring men under one's control by suggestion or by money. One recalls the plight of Caiaphas in the trial of Jesus when he sought false wi... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY STIRRED UP THE PEOPLE (συνεκινησαν τον λαον). They shook the people together like an earthquake. First aorist active indicative of συνκινεω, to throw into commotion. Old verb, but here only in the N.T. The elders and the scribes (Pharisees) are reached, but no word about the Sadducees. This... [ Continue Reading ]
FALSE WITNESSES (μαρτυρας ψευδεις). Just as Caiaphas did with Jesus.CEASETH NOT (ου παυετα). Wild charge just like a false witness that Stephen talks in the synagogues against the law and the holy temple.... [ Continue Reading ]
WE HAVE HEARD HIM SAY (ακηκοαμεν αυτου λεγοντος). The only direct testimony and evidently wrong. Curiously like the charge brought against Jesus before Caiaphas that he would destroy the temple and build it again in three days. Undoubtedly Stephen had said something about Christianity before as m... [ Continue Reading ]
AS IF THE FACE OF AN ANGEL (ωσε προσωπον αγγελου). Even his enemies saw that, wicked as they were. See Exodus 34:30 for the face of Moses when he came down from Sinai (2 Corinthians 3:7). Page quotes Tennyson: "God's glory smote him on the face." Where were Peter and John at this crisis? Apparent... [ Continue Reading ]