Acts 26:11

τιμωρῶν (cf. Acts 22:5), more usually in the middle voice in this sense, although the active is so used sometimes in classical Greek, Soph., O. T., 107, 140, Polyb., ii., 56, 15. For ecclesiastial censures and punishments see Edersheim, History of the Jewish Nation, p. 374, cf. Matthew 10:17; Matthew 23:34. ἠνάγκαζον : “I strove to make them blaspheme,” R.V., all other E.V [400] render “I compelled them to blaspheme,” but the imperfect leaves it quite doubtful as to whether the persecutor succeeded in his attempts or not. The imperfect may thus be regarded as conative, Burton, p. 12, cf. Luke 1:59; Matthew 3:14. Blass points out that it may have the force of repeated action (cf. ἐδίωκον), but even if so, it does not say that the compulsion was effectual, Gram., p. 186. See further Page, in loco, for the rendering of R.V., which he regards as correct. A striking parallel may be adduced from Pliny's Letter to Trajan, x., 97, where the Christians are urged to call upon the gods, to worship the emperor, and to blaspheme Christ, “quorum nihil cogi posse dicuntur qui sunt revera Christiani,” cf. Polycarp, Martyr., ix., 2, 3. βλασφημεῖν, i.e., Jesus, “maledicere Christo,” Pliny, u. s., James 2:7; cf. 1 Timothy 1:13 with this passage, and Paul's later reflections on his conduct. ἕως καὶ εἰς τὰς ἔξω π.: “even unto foreign cities,” R.V., so that other cities besides Damascus had been included in the persecution, or would have been included if Saul's attempt had been successful. ἐδίωκον : “I set about persecuting them”. The imperfect ἐδίωκ. may however denote repeated action, and may indicate that Saul had already visited other foreign cities. Weiss regards the τε as connecting the two imperfects de conatu together the latter imperfect being regarded as a continuation of the former, in case the victims sought to save themselves by flight. ἐμμαιν.: only in Josephus once, Ant., xvii., 6, 5, but ἐμμανής in Wis 14:23, and in classical Greek, so also ἐκμαίνεσθαι.

[400] English Version.