Acts 25:23

φαντασίας, Polyb., xv., 25, 15, etc.; Diod. Sic., xii., 83, and instances in Wetstein, cf. Herod., vii., 10. φαντάζεσθαι (Page); “in eadem urbe, in qua pater ipsorum a vermibus corrosus ob superbiam perierat” (Wetstein). The word here in the description may point to the presence of an eyewitness (Plumptre). τὸ ἀκροατήριον : auditorium, but the article need not be pressed, as here the word may simply imply the chamber used on this occasion; it would scarcely have been the place of formal trial, as this was not in question. χιλιάρχοις : there were five cohorts stationed at Cæsarea, Jos., B.J., iii., 4, 2, but see the remarks of Belser, Beiträge, pp. 138 140. ἀνδράσι τοῖς κατʼ ἐξοχὴν : evidently from the context to be regarded as heathen. Both Jew and heathen in Cæsarea had equal civil rights, and had to conduct the public affairs in common; the expression here used does not mean that Jews were excluded from the government, although it is quite in accordance with the fact of the preponderating Gentile element mentioned by Josephus, B.J., iii., 9, 1; Schürer, Jewish People, div. ii., vol. i., p. 86, note, E.T. κατʼ ἐξοχήν : here only in N.T., not in classical Greek in this sense; primarily of any prominence, cf. LXX, Job 39:28, ἐξόχως, 3Ma 5:31; cf. for its meaning here Cic., Ad Att., iv., 15, 7, in classical Greek ἔξοχος; for the phrase, Winer-Moulton, li., 2, g.