Acts 24:16

ἐν τούτῳ : “herein” is rather ambiguous, A. and R.V.; the expression may be used as = propterea, as the result of the confession of faith in Acts 24:14-15, cf. John 16:30 (Xen., Cyr., i., 3, 14). Rendall takes it = meanwhile (so apparently Wetstein), sc. χρόνῳ, i.e., in this earthly life; “hanc spem dum habeo,” Bengel. If we read καί, not δέ, perhaps best explained “non minus quam illi,” Blass, “I also exercise myself,” R.V., ἀσκῶ, cf. 2Ma 15:4; ἄσκησις, 4Ma 13:22; ἀσκητής, 4Ma 12:11; so in classical Greek, laborare, studere, Soph., Elect., 1024. ἀπρόσκοπον : only by Paul in N. T., cf. 1 Corinthians 10:32, where used actively, and cf. Sirach 32(35):21, Malachi 3:8; Malachi 3:8. In Philippians 1:10 Lightfoot points out that the word may be taken either transitively or intransitively, although he prefers the latter. Mr. Page in his note on the word in this passage commends A.V. “void of offence” as including the two images, not offending, upright, ἀπροσ. πρὸς τὸν Θεόν; not causing offence, ἀπροσ. πρὸς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους. “ Ad Deum et homines congruit quod sequitur eleemosynas et oblationes,” Bengel. διὰ παντός, see Plummer on Luke 24:53, cf. Acts 2:25; Acts 10:2; Matthew 18:10; Mark 5:5; Hebrews 2:15, emphatic here at the end of sentence, implying that the Apostle's whole aim in life should free him from the suspicion of such charges as had been brought against him.