Acts 12:15

Μαίνῃ : used as in a colloquial expression, not meaning literal insanity, see Page's note on Acts 26:24, so in 2 Kings 9:11, ἐπίληπτος seems to be used. διϊσχυρίζετο : only here and in Luke 22:59 (cf. Acts 15:2 [252]). In Luke, A.V. renders “confidently affirmed” as it should be here, and as it is in R.V.; found in classical Greek, and so also in Jos., Ant., ii., 6, 4, but not in LXX; cf. also its use in Acta Petri et Pauli Apocryph., 34, 39 (Lumby). Both ἰσχυρίζεσθαι and its compound here are used in medical language, and both in the same way as in this passage. If we compare the parallel passages, Matthew 26:73; Mark 14:70; Luke 22:59, in Matthew we have εἶπον, in Mark ἔλεγον, but in Luke the strong word in the passage before us; Hobart, p. 77, and see also a similar change in parallel passages on p. 76. Ὁ ἄγγελος αὐτοῦ ἐστιν, cf. Matthew 18:10; Hebrews 1:14. According to Jewish ideas they would believe that Peter's guardian angel had assumed his form and voice, and stood before the door, see Edersheim, Jesus the Messiah, ii. 748 755, especially 752; “ Apocrypha ” (“Speaker's Commentary”) “Angelology,” i., 171 ff.; Weber, Jüdische Theol., pp. 170, 171 (1897); “Angels,” B.D., 1 2, Blass, Nösgen, J. Lightfoot, in loco. We may contrast the reserve of the canonical books of the Jews with the details of their later theology, “Engel,” Hamburger, Real-Encyclopädie des Judentums, i., 2 and 3.

[252] R(omana), in Blass, a first rough copy of St. Luke.