BRETHREN AND FATHERS (Ανδρες αδελφο κα πατερες) Men, brethren, and fathers. The very language used by Stephen (Acts 7:2) when arraigned before the Sanhedrin with Paul then present. Now Paul faces a Jewish mob on the same charges brought against Stephen. These words are those of courtesy and digni... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SPAKE (προσεφωνε). Imperfect active, was speaking. See aorist active προσεφωνησεν in Acts 21:40.THEY WERE THE MORE QUIET (μαλλον παρεσχον ησυχιαν). Literally, The more (μαλλον) they furnished or supplied (second aorist active indicative of παρεχω) quietness (ησυχιαν, old word, in the N.T. onl... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM A JEW (Εγω ειμ ανηρ Ιουδαιος). Note use of Εγω for emphasis. Paul recounts his Jewish advantages or privileges with manifest pride as in Acts 26:4; 2 Corinthians 11:22; Galatians 1:14; Philippians 3:4-7.BORN (γεγεννημενος). Perfect passive participle of γενναω. See above in Acts 21:39 for... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I (ος).I WHO , literally.THIS WAY (ταυτην την οδον). The very term used for Christianity by Luke concerning Paul's persecution (Acts 9:2), which see. Here it "avoids any irritating name for the Christian body" (Furneaux) by using this Jewish terminology.UNTO THE DEATH (αχρ θανατου). Unt... [ Continue Reading ]
DOTH BEAR ME WITNESS (μαρτυρε μο). Present active indicative as if still living. Caiaphas was no longer high priest now, for Ananias is at this time (Acts 23:2), though he may be still alive.ALL THE ESTATE OF THE ELDERS (παν το πρεσβυτεριον). All the eldership or the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:5) of whi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS (εγενετο δε). Rather than the common κα εγενετο and with the infinitive (περιαστραψα), one of the three constructions with κα (δε) εγενετο by Luke (Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 1042f.), followed by κα, by finite verb, by subject infinitive as here.AS I MADE MY JOURNEY (μο πορευ... [ Continue Reading ]
I FELL (επεσα). Second aorist active indicative with -α rather than επεσον, the usual form of πιπτω.UNTO THE GROUND (εις το εδαφος). Old word, here alone in N.T. So the verb εδαφιζω, is in Luke 19:44 alone in the N.T.A VOICE SAYING (φωνης λεγουσης). Genitive after ηκουσα, though in Acts 26:14... [ Continue Reading ]
OF NAZARETH (ο Ναζωραιος). The Nazarene, not in Acts 9:5; Acts 26:15 and here because Jesus is mentioned now for the first time in the address. The form Ναζωραιος as in Matthew 2:23 (which see) is used also in Acts 24:5 for the followers of Jesus instead of Ναζαρηνος as in Mark 1:24, etc. (which... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY HEARD NOT THE VOICE (την δε φωνην ουκ ηκουσαν). The accusative here may be used rather than the genitive as in verse Acts 22:7 to indicate that those with Paul did not understand what they heard (Acts 9:7) just as they beheld the light (Acts 22:9), but did not see Jesus (Acts 9:7). The di... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO DAMASCUS (εις Δαμασκον). In Acts 9:6 simply "into the city" (εις την πολιν).OF ALL THINGS WHICH (περ παντων ων). Hων, relative plural attracted to genitive of antecedent from accusative α, object of ποιησα (do).ARE APPOINTED FOR THEE (τετακτα σο). Perfect passive indicative of τασσω, to... [ Continue Reading ]
I COULD NOT SEE (ουκ ενεβλεπον). Imperfect active of εμβλεπω, I was not seeing, same fact stated in Acts 9:8. Here the reason as "for the glory of that light" (απο της δοξης του φωτος εκεινου).BEING LED BY THE HAND (χειραγωγουμενος). Present passive participle of χειραγωγεω, the same verb used... [ Continue Reading ]
A DEVOUT MAN ACCORDING TO THE LAW (ευλαβης κατα τον νομον). See on Acts 2:5; Acts 8:2; Luke 2:25 for the adjective ευλαβης. Paul adds "according to the law" to show that he was introduced to Christianity by a devout Jew and no law-breaker (Lewin).... [ Continue Reading ]
I LOOKED UP ON HIM (αναβλεψα εις αυτον). First aorist active indicative and same word as αναβλεψον (Receive thy sight). Hence here the verb means as the margin of the Revised Version has it: "I received my sight and looked upon him." For "look up" see John 9:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH APPOINTED THEE (προεχειρισατο). First aorist middle indicative of προχειριζω, old verb to put forth into one's hands, to take into one's hands beforehand, to plan, propose, determine. In the N.T. only in Acts 3:20; Acts 22:14; Acts 26:16. Three infinitives after this verb of God's purpose ab... [ Continue Reading ]
A WITNESS FOR HIM (μαρτυς αυτω). As in Acts 1:8.OF WHAT (ων). Attraction of the accusative relative α to the genitive case of the unexpressed antecedent τουτων.THOU HAST SEEN AND HEARD (εωρακας, present perfect active indicative κα ηκουσας, first aorist active indicative). This subtle change... [ Continue Reading ]
BY BAPTIZED (βαπτισα). First aorist middle (causative), not passive, Get thyself baptized (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 808). Cf. 1 Corinthians 10:2. Submit yourself to baptism. So as to απολουσα, Get washed off as in 1 Corinthians 6:11. It is possible, as in Acts 2:38, to take these words as teaching... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I HAD RETURNED (μο υποστρεψαντ),WHILE I PRAYED (προσευχομενου μου),I FELL (γενεσθα με). Note dative μο with εγενετο as in verse Acts 22:6, genitive μου (genitive absolute with προσευχομενου), accusative of general reference με with γενεσθα, and with no effort at uniformity, precisely as... [ Continue Reading ]
SAW HIM SAYING (ιδειν αυτον λεγοντα). The first visit after his conversion when they tried to kill him in Jerusalem (Acts 9:29).BECAUSE (διοτι, δια and οτ),FOR THAT .... [ Continue Reading ]
IMPRISONED AND BEAT (ημην φυλακιζων κα δερων). Periphrastic imperfect active of φυλακιζω (LXX and late _Koine_, here alone in the N.T.) and δερω (old verb to skin, to beat as in Matthew 21:35 which see).IN EVERY SYNAGOGUE (κατα τας συναγογας). Up and down (κατα) in the synagogues.... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS SHED (εξεχυννετο). Imperfect passive of εκχυννω (see on Matthew 23:35), was being shed.WITNESS (μαρτυρος). And "martyr" also as in Revelation 2:13; Revelation 17:6. Transition state for the word here.I ALSO WAS STANDING BY (κα αυτος ημην εφεστως). Periphrastic second past perfect in form,... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL SEND THEE FORTH FAR HENCE UNTO THE GENTILES (Εγω εις εθνη μακραν εξαποστελω σε). Future active of the double (εξ, out, απο, off or away) compound of εξαποστελλω, common word in the _Koine_ (cf. Luke 24:49). This is a repetition by Jesus of the call given in Damascus through Ananias (Acts 9... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY GAVE HIM AUDIENCE (ηκουον). Imperfect active, they kept on listening, at least with respectful attention.UNTO THIS WORD (αχρ τουτου του λογου). But "this word" was like a spark in a powder magazine or a torch to an oil tank. The explosion of pent-up indignation broke out instantly worse th... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THEY CRIED OUT (κραυγαζοντων αυτων). Genitive absolute with present active participle of κραυγαζω, a rare word in the old Greek from κραυγη (a cry). See on Matthew 12:19. Two other genitive absolutes here, ριπτουντων (throwing off, present active participle, frequent active variation of ριπτω)... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT HE BE EXAMINED BY SCOURGING (μαστιξιν ανεταζεσθα αυτον). The present passive infinitive of ανεταζω in indirect command after ειπας (bidding). This verb does not occur in the old Greek (which used εξεταζω as in Matthew 2:8), first in the LXX, in the N.T. only here and verse Acts 22:29, but Mil... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY HAD TIED HIM UP (ος προετειναν αυτον). First aorist active indicative of προτεινω, old verb to stretch forward, only here in the N.T. Literally, "When they stretched him forward."WITH THE THONGS (τοις ιμασιν). If the instrumental case of ιμας, old word for strap or thong (for sandals... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT ART THOU ABOUT TO DO? (Τ μελλεις ποιειν?). On the point of doing, sharp warning.... [ Continue Reading ]
ART THOU A ROMAN? (Συ Ρομαιος ει?).THOU (emphatic position) a Roman? It was unbelievable.... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH A GREAT SUM (πολλου κεφαλαιου). The use of κεφαλαιου (from κεφαλη, head) for sums of money (principal as distinct from interest) is old and frequent in the papyri. Our word capital is from χαπυτ (head). The genitive is used here according to rule for price. "The sale of the Roman citizenship... [ Continue Reading ]
DEPARTED FROM HIM (απεστησαν απ' αυτου). Second aorist active indicative (intransitive) of αφιστημ, stood off from him at once.WAS AFRAID (εφοβηθη). Ingressive aorist passive indicative of φοβεομα, became afraid. He had reason to be.THAT HE WAS A ROMAN (οτ Ρομαιος εστιν). Indirect assertion w... [ Continue Reading ]
TO KNOW THE CERTAINTY (γνωνα το ασφαλες). Same idiom in Acts 21:34 which see.WHEREFORE HE WAS ACCUSED (το τ κατεγορειτα). Epexegetical after to ασφαλες. Note article (accusative case) with the indirect question here as in Luke 22:1; Luke 22:23; Luke 22:24 (which see), a neat idiom in the Greek.... [ Continue Reading ]