WHILE APOLLOS WAS AT CORINTH (εν τω τον Απολλω εινα εν Κορινθω). Favourite idiom with Luke, εν with the locative of the articular infinitive and the accusative of general reference (Luke 1:8; Luke 2:27, etc.).HAVING PASSED THROUGH THE UPPER COUNTRY (διελθοντα τα ανωτερικα μερη). Second aorist ac... [ Continue Reading ]
DID YE RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT WHEN YE BELIEVED? (ε πνευμα αγιον ελαβετε πιστευσαντεσ?). This use of Π in a direct question occurs in Acts 1:6, is not according to the old Greek idiom, but is common in the LXX and the N.T. as in Luke 13:23 which see (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 916). Apparently Paul... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO WHAT (εις τ). More properly,UNTO WHAT orON WHAT BASIS (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 592). Clearly, Paul felt they had received a poor baptism with no knowledge of the Holy Spirit.JOHN'S BAPTISM (το Ιωανου βαπτισμα). Last mention of John the Baptist in the N.T. They had been dipped in other... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THE BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE (βαπτισμα μετανοιας). Cognate accusative with εβαπτισεν and the genitive μετανοιας describing the baptism as marked by (case of species or genus), not as conveying, repentance just as in Mark 1:4 and that was the work of the Holy Spirit. But John preached also the b... [ Continue Reading ]
THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS (το ονομα τον κυριου Ιησου). Apollos was not rebaptized. The twelve apostles were not rebaptized. Jesus received no other baptism than that of John. The point here is simply that these twelve men were grossly ignorant of the meaning of John's baptism as regards repentan... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN PAUL HAD LAID HIS HANDS UPON THEM (επιθεντος αυτοις του Παυλου χειρας). Genitive absolute of second aorist active participle of επιτιθημ. This act of laying on of the hands was done in Samaria by Peter and John (Acts 8:16) and in Damascus in the case of Paul (Acts 9:17) and was followed as h... [ Continue Reading ]
SPAKE BOLDLY (επαρρησιαζετο). Imperfect middle, kept on at it for three months. Cf. same word in Acts 18:26.PERSUADING (πειθων). Present active conative participle of πειθω, trying to persuade (Acts 28:23). Paul's idea of the Kingdom of God was the church of God which he (Jesus, God's Son) had... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN SOME WERE HARDENED (ως δε τινες εσκληρυνοντο). Imperfect passive of σκληρυνω, causative like _hiphil_ in Hebrew, to make hard (σκληρος) or rough or harsh (Matthew 25:24). In LXX and Hippocrates and Galen (in medical writings). In N.T. only here and Romans 9:18 and 4 times in Hebrews 3:8;... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR TWO YEARS (επ ετη δυο). Note επ with accusative for extent of time as in verse Acts 19:8, επ μηνας τρεις and often. But in Acts 20:31 Paul said to the Ephesian elders at Miletus that he laboured with them for the space of "three years." That may be a general expression and there was probably... [ Continue Reading ]
SPECIAL MIRACLES (δυναμεις ου τας τυχουσας). "Powers not the ones that happen by chance," "not the ordinary ones," litotes for "the extraordinary." All "miracles" or "powers" (δυναμεις) are supernatural and out of the ordinary, but here God regularly wrought (εποιε), imperfect active) wonders beyo... [ Continue Reading ]
HANDKERCHIEFS (σουδαρια). Latin word for συδορ (sweat). Used in Luke 19:20; John 11:44; John 20:7. In two papyri marriage-contracts this word occurs among the toilet articles in the dowry (Deissmann, _Bible Studies_, p. 223).APRONS (σιμικινθια). Latin word also, _semicinctilum_ (σεμι, χινγο). O... [ Continue Reading ]
OF THE STROLLING JEWS, EXORCISTS (των περιερχομενων Ιουδαιων εξορκιστων). These exorcists travelled around (περ) from place to place like modern Gypsy fortune-tellers. The Jews were especially addicted to such practices with spells of sorcery connected with the name of Solomon (Josephus, _Ant_. V... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVEN SONS OF SCEVA (Σκευα επτα υιο). Who this Sceva was we do not know. If a high priest, he was highly connected in Jerusalem (cf. Acts 5:24). Some MSS. have ruler instead of priest. His name may be Latin in origin. Σκευα has Doric form of genitive. But that he had seven sons in this degraded b... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS I KNOW (τον Ιησουν γινωσκω). "The (whom you mention) Jesus I recognize (γινωσκω)" and "the (whom you mentioned) Paul I am acquainted with (τον Παυλον επισταμα)." Clear distinction between γινωσκω and επισταμα.BUT WHO ARE YE? (υμεις δε τινες εστε?). But you, who are you? Emphatic prolepsis... [ Continue Reading ]
LEAPED ON THEM (εφαλομενος επ' αυτους). Second aorist (ingressive) middle participle of εφαλλομα, old verb to spring upon like a panther, here only in the N.T.MASTERED (κατακυριευσας). First aorist (effective) active participle of κατακυριευω, late verb from κατα and κυριος, to become lord or m... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS MAGNIFIED (εμεγαλυνετο). Imperfect passive. To make great. It was a notable victory over the powers of evil in Ephesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
CAME (ηρχοντο). Imperfect middle, kept coming, one after another. Even some of the believers were secretly under the spell of these false spiritualists just as some Christians today cherish private contacts with so-called occult powers through mediums, seances, of which they are ashamed.CONFESSIN... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT A FEW OF THEM THAT PRACTISED CURIOUS ARTS (ικανο των τα περιεργα πραξαντων). Considerable number of the performers or exorcists themselves who knew that they were humbugs were led to renounce their evil practices. The word περιεργα (curious) is an old word (περι, εργα) originally a piddler ab... [ Continue Reading ]
MIGHTILY (κατα κρατος). According to strength. Only here in N.T., common military term in Thucydides. Such proof of a change counted.GREW AND PREVAILED (ηυξανεν κα ισχυεν). Imperfect actives, kept growing and gaining strength. It was a day of triumph for Christ in Ephesus, this city of vast wea... [ Continue Reading ]
PURPOSED IN THE SPIRIT (εθετο εν τω πνευματ). Second aorist middle indicative for mental action and "spirit" expressed also. A new stage in Paul's career begins here, a new division of the Acts.PASSED THROUGH (διελθων). Word (διερχομα) used ten times in Acts (cf. Acts 19:1) of missionary journe... [ Continue Reading ]
TIMOTHY AND ERASTUS (Τιμοθεον κα Εραστον). Paul had sent Timothy to Corinth (1 Corinthians 4:17) and had requested kindly treatment of this young minister in his difficult task of placating the divided church (1 Corinthians 16:10-11) that he might return to Paul as he evidently had before Paul lea... [ Continue Reading ]
NO SMALL STIR (ταραχος ουκ ολιγος). Same phrase in Acts 12:18 and nowhere else in the N.T. Litotes.CONCERNING THE WAY (περ της οδου). See this phrase for Christianity in Acts 9:2; Acts 19:9; Acts 24:22 which see, like the "Jesus Way" of the Indians. There had already been opposition and "stir" b... [ Continue Reading ]
DEMETRIUS, A SILVERSMITH (Δημητριος αργυροκοπος). The name is common enough and may or may not be the man mentioned in 3 John 1:12 who was also from the neighbourhood of Ephesus. There is on an inscription at Ephesus near the close of the century a Demetrius called νεοποιος Αρτεμιδος a temple ward... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOM HE GATHERED TOGETHER (ους συναθροισας). First aorist active participle of συναθροιζω, old verb to assemble together (αθροος, a crowd), in the N.T. only here and Acts 12:12.WITH THE WORKMEN OF LIKE OCCUPATION (κα τους περ τα τοιαυτα εργατας). "And the workmen concerning such things," appare... [ Continue Reading ]
AT EPHESUS (Εφεσου). Genitive of place as also with Ασιας (Asia). Cf. Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 494f.THIS PAUL (ο Παυλος ουτος). Contemptuous use of ουτος.HATH TURNED AWAY (μετεστησεν). Changed, transposed. First aorist active indicative, did change. Tribute to Paul's powers as a preacher bor... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS OUR TRADE (τουτο το μερος). Part, share, task, job, trade.COME INTO DISREPUTE (εις απελεγμον ελθειν). Not in the old writers, but in LXX and _Koine_. Literally, reputation, exposure, censure, rejection after examination, and so disrepute. Their business of making gods would lose caste as t... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE FILLED WITH WRATH (γενομενο πλερεις θυμου). Having become full of wrath.CRIED OUT (εκραζον). Inchoative imperfect, began to cry out and kept it up continuously. Reiteration was characteristic of the orgiastic exercises. The Codex Bezae adds after θυμου (wrath): Δραμοντες εις την αμφοδ... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH THE CONFUSION (της συγχυσεως). Genitive case after επλησθη. An old word, but in the N.T. only here, from verb συγχεω, to pour together like a flood (only in Acts in the N.T.). Vivid description of the inevitable riot that followed "the appearance of such a body in the crowded agora of an exc... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN PAUL WAS MINDED TO ENTER IN UNTO THE PEOPLE (Παυλου δε βουλομενου εισελθειν εις τον δημον). Genitive absolute. Plainly Paul wanted to face the howling mob, whether it was the occasion pictured in 2 Corinthians 1:9 or not. "St. Paul was not the man to leave his comrades in the lurch" (Kno... [ Continue Reading ]
CERTAIN ALSO OF THE CHIEF OFFICERS OF ASIA (τινες δε κα των Ασιαρχων). These "Asiarchs" were ten officers elected by cities in the province who celebrated at their own cost public games and festivals (Page). Each province had such a group of men chosen, as we now know from inscriptions, to superv... [ Continue Reading ]
SOME THEREFORE CRIED ONE THING AND SOME ANOTHER (αλλο μεν ουν αλλο τ εκραζον). This classical use of αλλος αλλο (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 747) appears also in Acts 2:12; Acts 21:34. Literally, "others cried another thing." The imperfect shows the repetition (kept on crying) and confusion which is... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY BROUGHT ALEXANDER OUT OF THE CROWD (εκ δε του οχλου συνεβιβασαν Αλεξανδρον). The correct text (Aleph A B) has this verb συνεβιβασαν (from συνβιβαζω, to put together) instead of προεβιβασαν (from προβιβαζω, to put forward). It is a graphic word, causal of βαινω, to go, and occurs in Acts... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY PERCEIVED (επιγνοντες). Recognizing, coming to know fully and clearly (επι-), second aorist (ingressive) active participle of επιγινωσκω. The masculine plural is left as nominative absolute or πενδενς without a verb. The rioters saw at once that Alexander was (εστιν, present tense retai... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TOWN-CLERK (ο γραμματευς). Ephesus was a free city and elected its own officers and the recorder or secretary was the chief magistrate of the city, though the proconsul of the province of Asia resided there. This officer is not a mere secretary of another officer or like the copyists and stud... [ Continue Reading ]
CANNOT BE GAINSAID (αναντιρητων ουν οντων). Genitive absolute with ουν (therefore). Undeniable (αν, αντι, ρητος), verbal adjective. Occasionally in late Greek (Polybius, etc.), only here in N.T., but adverb αναντιρητως in Acts 10:29. These legends were accepted as true and appeased the mob.YE OUG... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER ROBBERS OF TEMPLES (ουτε ιεροσυλους). Common word in Greek writers from ιερον, temple, and συλαω, to rob, be guilty of sacrilege. The word is found also on inscriptions in Ephesus. The Jews were sometimes guilty of this crime (Romans 2:22), since the heathen temples often had vast treasur... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVE A MATTER AGAINST ANY ONE (εχουσιν προς τινα λογον). For this use of εχω λογον with προς see Matthew 5:32; Colossians 3:13. The town-clerk names Demetrius and the craftsmen (τεχνιτα) as the parties responsible for the riot.THE COURTS ARE OPEN (αγοραιο αγοντα). Supply ημερα (days), court day... [ Continue Reading ]
ANYTHING ABOUT OTHER MATTERS (τ περαιτερω). Most MSS. here have τ περ ετερων, but B b Vulgate read τ περαιτερω as in Plato's Φαεδο. Several papyri examples of it also. It is comparative περαιτερος of περα, beyond. Note also επ in επιζητειτε. Charges of illegal conduct (Page) should be settled in t... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR INDEED WE ARE IN DANGER TO BE ACCUSED CONCERNING THIS DAY'S RIOT (κα γαρ κινδυνευομεν εγκαλεισθα στασεως περ της σημερον). The text is uncertain. The text of Westcott and Hort means "to be accused of insurrection concerning today's assembly." The peril was real. Κινδυνευομεν, from κινδυνος, d... [ Continue Reading ]
DISMISSED THE ASSEMBLY (απελυσεν την εκκλησιαν). The town-clerk thus gave a semblance of law and order to the mob by formally dismissing them, this much to protect them against the charge to which they were liable. This vivid, graphic picture given by Luke has all the earmarks of historical accur... [ Continue Reading ]