Acts:28
Seeker Overlay ON
rwp @
Acts:28:1 @{
Then we knew } (\
tote epegn
men \).
Second aorist (
ingressive )
active indicative of \
epigin
sk \.
Then we recognized .
See strkjv @
27:39 |. {
Was called } (\
kaleitai \).
Present passive indicative retained in indirect discourse . {
Melita } (\
Melit \).
Not \
Mileten \
as only B reads ,
a clerical error ,
but retained in the text of Westcott and Hort because of B .
Page notes that the island was Malta as is shown from the name ,
the location ,
the presence of a ship from Alexandria bound for Rome wintering there (
verse 11 |),
and the mention of Syracuse as the next stop after leaving (
verse 12 |).
rwp @
Acts:28:2 @{
The barbarians } (\
hoi barbaroi \).
The Greeks called all men "
barbarians "
who did not speak Greek (
Romans:1:14 |),
not "
barbarians "
in our sense of rude and uncivilized ,
but simply "
foreign folk ."
Diodorus Siculus (
V .
12 )
says that it was a colony of the Phoenicians and so their language was Punic (
Page ).
The word originally meant an uncouth repetition (\
barbar \)
not understood by others (
1Corinthians:14:11 |).
In strkjv @
Colossians:3:11 |
Paul couples it with Scythian as certainly not Christian .
These are (
with verse 4 |
below )
the only N .
T .
instances . {
Showed us } (\
pareichan \).
Imperfect active of \
parech \
with \-
an \
instead of \-
on \
as \
eichan \
in strkjv @
Mark:8:7 | (
Robertson ,
_Grammar_
,
p .
339 ).
It was their habit on this occasion ,
Luke means ,
they kept on showing . {
No common kindness } (\
ou t
n tuchousan philanthr
pian \).
The old word \
philanthr
pia \ (\
philos \, \
anthr
pos \),
love of mankind ,
occurs in the N .
T .
only here and strkjv @
Titus:3:4 | (
adverb in strkjv @
27:3 |).
See on ¯
19:11 |
for this use of \
ou t
n tuchousan \, "
not the kindness that happens every day ."
They were not "
wreckers "
to take advantage of the calamity . {
They kindled a fire } (\
hapsantes puran \).
The only N .
T .
example and verse 3 |
of the old word \
pura \ (
from \
pur \,
fire ),
a pile of burning fuel (
sticks ).
First aorist active participle of \
hapt \,
to set fire to ,
to kindle .
Cf . \
anapt \
in strkjv @
Luke:12:49 |. {
Received us all } (\
proselabonto pantas h
m
s \).
Second aorist middle (
indirect indicative of \
proslamban \.
They took us all to themselves (
cf .
strkjv @
Acts:18:26 |). {
The present } (\
ton ephest
ta \).
Second perfect active participle (
intransitive )
of \
ephist
mi \, "
the rain that stood upon them " (
the pouring rain ).
Only in Luke and Paul in N .
T .
rwp @
Acts:28:3 @{
When Paul had gathered } (\
sustrepsantos tou Paulou \).
Genitive absolute with first aorist active participle of \
sustreph \,
old verb to twist or turn together or roll into a bundle .
In N .
T .
only here and strkjv @
Matthew:17:22 |. {
A bundle of sticks } (\
phrugan
n ti pl
thos \). "
Some multitude (
or pile )
of dry twigs " (\
phrugan
n \
from \
phrug \
or \
phruss \,
to dry .
Only here in N .
T .). {
Laid } (\
epithentos \).
Songs:genitive absolute again with second aorist active participle of \
epitith
mi \,
to place upon .
Few things show Paul to better advantage than this incident . {
By reason of the heat } (\
apo t
s therm
s \).
Old word ,
only here in N .
T .
Ablative case with \
apo \ (
from the heat ).
The viper was in a state of torpor in the bundle of sticks .
The heat wakened him . {
A viper } (\
echidna \).
The old word used by the Baptist of the Pharisees (
Matthew:3:7 ;
strkjv @
Luke:3:7 |)
and by Jesus also (
Matthew:12:34 ;
strkjv @
23:33 |).
It is objected that there is little wood in the island today and no vipers ,
though Lewin as late as 1853 believes that he saw a viper near St .
Paul '
s Bay .
But the island now has 1 ,
200 people to the square mile and snakes of any kind have a poor chance .
The viper has also disappeared from Arran as the island became more frequented (
Knowling ).
Ramsay thinks that the small constrictor (
_Coronella
Austriaca_
)
which still exists in the island may be the "
viper ,"
though it has no poison fangs ,
but clings and bites .
The natives thought that it was a poisonous viper . {
Fastened on his hand } (\
kath
pse t
s cheiros autou \).
First aorist active indicative of \
kathapt \,
to fasten down on with the genitive case .
Old verb ,
here only in N .
T .
Cf .
strkjv @
Mark:16:18 |.
rwp @
Acts:28:4 @{
The beast } (\
to th
rion \).
Diminutive of \
th
r \
and so little beast .
See on ¯
Mark:1:13 |.
Aristotle and the medical writers apply the word to venomous serpents ,
the viper in particular (
Knowling ),
as Luke does here .
Vincent calls attention to the curious history of our word "
_treacle_
"
for molasses (
Latin _theriaca_
)
from \
th
riak \,
an antidote made from the flesh of vipers .
Coverdale translates strkjv @
Jeremiah:8:22 |: "
There is no more treacle in Gilead ."
Jeremy Taylor : "
We kill the viper and make treacle of him ." {
Hanging from his hand } (\
kremamenon ek t
s cheiros autou \).
Vivid picture of the snake dangling from Paul '
s hand .
Present middle participle of \
kremamai \,
late form for \
kremannumi \,
to hang up ,
to suspend (
cf .
strkjv @
Galatians:3:13 |). {
No doubt } (\
pant
s \).
Literally ,
By all means ,
old adverb .
Cf .
strkjv @
21:22 ;
strkjv @
Luke:4:23 ;
strkjv @
1Corinthians:9:22 |.
Only by Luke and Paul in the N .
T . "
They _knew_
that he was a prisoner being taken to Rome on some grave charge ,
and _inferred_
that the charge was murder " (
Page ). {
Though he hath escaped } (\
dias
thenta \).
First aorist passive participle of \
dias
z \ (
same verb used in strkjv @
24:43 ,
44 ;
strkjv @
28:1 |),
so-called concessive use of the participle (
Robertson ,
_Grammar_
,
p .
1129 ). {
Yet Justice } (\
dik \).
An abstraction personified like the Latin _Justitia_
(
Page ).
The natives speak of \
Dik \
as a goddess ,
but we know nothing of such actual worship in Malta ,
though the Greeks worshipped abstractions as in Athens . {
Hath not suffered } (\
ouk eiasen \).
Did not suffer .
They look on Paul as a doomed man as good as dead .
These people thought that calamity was proof of guilt ,
poor philosophy and worse theology .
rwp @
Acts:28:5 @{
Shook off } (\
apotinaxas \).
First aorist active participle of \
apotinass \,
to shake off .
Rare word (
Euripides ,
Galen ,
LXX ).
In N .
T .
only here and strkjv @
Luke:9:5 |.
rwp @
Acts:28:6 @{
But they expected } (\
hoi de prosedok
n \).
Imperfect active ,
were expecting ,
continued to expect . {
That he would have swollen } (\
auton mellein pimprasthai \).
More exactly , "
Expecting him to be about (
or that he was about )
to swell up ." \
Pimprasthai \
is present middle infinitive from \
pimpr
mi \,
to blow ,
to burn ,
to inflame ,
to cause to swell . \
Pr
th \,
to swell ,
seems connected and both use the aorist \
epr
sa \.
Our word "
inflammation "
likewise means a burning and a swelling .
This verb is a common medical term used as Luke has it .
It occurs here only in N .
T . {
Or fallen down dead suddenly } (\
katapiptein aphn
nekron \).
Rather , "
or was about to fall down dead suddenly ."
The two common results of a bite by a viper or other poisonous snake ,
both medical terms used by Luke . {
But when they were long in expectation } (\
epi polu de aut
n prosdok
nt
n \).
Genitive absolute . "
But while they were expecting for much time ." {
Nothing amiss come to him } (\
m
den atopon eis auton ginomenon \). "
Nothing out of place coming to him " (
present middle participle ). \
M
den \
the usual negative of the participle and the accusative case the object of \
the
rount
n \ (
genitive absolute ). {
Changed their minds } (\
metabalomenoi \).
Aorist middle (
direct )
participle of \
metaball \,
old verb to turn about or around ,
turning themselves about ,
changing their minds .
Plato uses this very verb in middle voice for changing the mind . {
That he was a god } (\
auton einai theon \).
Accusative and infinitive in indirect discourse .
At Lystra Paul was first received as a god (
Mercury )
and then they stoned him to kill him (
Acts:14:11 ,
19 |).
Songs:fickle is popular favour .
rwp @
Acts:28:7 @{
To the chief man of the island } (\
t
i pr
t
i t
s n
sou \).
An official title correct in Malta (
Ramsay ,
_St
.
Paul_
,
p .
343 ).
An inscription in Malta calls Prudens "
Primate of the Maltese " (\
pr
tos Melitai
n \).
Here it is plainly a title and not the common use seen in strkjv @
13:50 ;
strkjv @
25:2 ;
strkjv @
28:17 |. {
Publius } (\
Popli
i \).
This Greek name (\
praenomen \)
can be derived either from \
Popilius \
or \
Publius \ (
cf . \
publicus \
for \
populicus \
from \
populus \).
Entertained us (\
exenisen h
m
s \).
Paul and his companions (
Luke and Aristarchus ).
Was Julius included ?
On \
xeniz \
see strkjv @
Acts:10:23 |. {
Courteously } (\
philophron
s \).
This old adverb from \
philophr
n \ (\
philos ,
phren \,
friendly mind )
occurs here alone in the N .
T .
In a kindly or friendly manner ,
all the more so because of the original suspicion of Paul as a criminal .
rwp @
Acts:28:8 @{
Lay } (\
katakeisthai \).
Common verb for the sick (
Mark:1:30 ;
strkjv @
John:5:6 |). {
Sick } (\
sunechomenon \). "
Held together ."
Common verb again for the sick as in strkjv @
Luke:4:38 |. {
Of fever } (\
puretois \).
Instrumental case ,
and plural "
fevers ,"
medical term for intermittent attacks of fever (
Demosthenes ,
Lucian ,
medical writers ). {
Dysentery } (\
dusenteri
i \).
Instrumental case also .
Late form of the older \
dusenteria \
and only here in N .
T .
Our very word _dysentery_
.
Another medical term of which Luke uses so many .
Hippocrates often mentions these two diseases together . {
Laying his hands on him healed him } (\
epitheis tas cheiras aut
i iasato auton \).
Either like the laying on of hands in strkjv @
James:5:14 |,
the gift of healing (
1Corinthians:12:9f .|),
or the tender interest of Jesus when he took hold of the hand of Peter '
s mother-in-law (
Mark:1:31 |).
Ramsay argues that \
iaomai \
is employed here of the miraculous healing by Paul while \
therapeu \
is used of the cures by Luke the physician (
verse 9 |).
This is a general distinction and it is probably observed here ,
but in strkjv @
Luke:6:18 | (
which see )
both verbs are employed of the healings by Jesus . {
Came and were healed } (\
pros
rchonto kai etherapeuonto \).
Imperfect middle and imperfect passive .
A regular stream of patients came during these months .
Luke had his share in the honours , "
us " (\
h
m
s \),
and no doubt his share in the cures . {
With many honours } (\
pollais timais \).
Instrumental case .
The word was often applied to payment for professional services as we today speak of an honorarium . {
They put on board } (\
epethento \).
Second aorist middle indicative of \
epitith
mi \,
to put on .
The idea of "
on board "
is merely suggested by \
anagomenois \ (
when we sailed ) "
the things for our needs " (\
ta pros tas chreias \).
rwp @
Acts:28:11 @{
Which had wintered } (\
parakecheimakoti \).
Perfect active participle of \
paracheimaz \,
to pass the winter .
Old verb ,
in N .
T .
only strkjv @
27:12 ;
strkjv @
28:11 ;
strkjv @
1Corinthians:16:6 ;
strkjv @
Titus:3:12 |.
The locative case agreeing with \
ploi
i \.
Navigation in the Mediterranean usually opened up in February (
always by March ),
spring beginning on Feb .
9 (
Page ). {
Whose sign was the Twin Brothers } (\
paras
m
i Dioskourois \).
The word \
paras
m
i \
can be either a substantive (
as Revised Version has it )
or an adjective "
marked by the sign ,"
examples of both uses common in ancient Greek . \
Dioskourois \
is in apposition with \
paras
m
i \.
The word means the twin sons (\
kouros \
or \
koros \)
of Zeus (\
Dios \,
genitive of \
Zeus \)
and Leda ,
viz .,
Castor and Pollux .
The Attic used the dual , \
t
Dioskor \.
Castor and Pollux were the tutelary deities of sailors whose figures were painted one on each side of the prow of the ship .
This sign was the name of the ship .
Songs:they start in another grain ship of Alexandria bound for Rome .
rwp @
Acts:28:12 @{
Touching } (\
katachthentes \).
First aorist passive participle of \
katag \,
to go down to land ,
just the opposite of \
an
chth
men \
in verse 11 |
from \
anag \,
to go up to sea . {
At Syracuse } (\
eis Surakousas \).
The chief city of Sicily and eighty miles from Malta .
Perhaps open weather and a southerly wind helped them across .
Here it was that Alcibiades wrecked the power and glory of Athens .
Why the ship spent three days we do not know .
rwp @
Acts:28:13 @{
We made a circuit } (\
perielthontes \).
Second aorist active of \
perierchomai \,
to go around ,
old verb ,
already in strkjv @
19:13 |.
See also strkjv @
Hebrews:11:37 ;
strkjv @
1Timothy:5:13 |.
But Westcott and Hort read \
perielontes \
after Aleph B (
from \
periaire \)
as in strkjv @
27:40 |,
though here it could only mean casting loose ,
for which no other authority exists .
At any rate the ship had to tack to reach Rhegium and was not able to make a straight course (\
enthudrome \,
strkjv @
16:11 |). {
Rhegium } (\
Rh
gion \)
is from \
rh
gnumi \,
to break off ,
the place where the land breaks off ,
the southern entrance to the straits of Messina . {
A south wind sprang up } (\
epigenomenou notou \).
Genitive absolute again ,
and for all the world like that fatal south wind in strkjv @
27:13 |,
but with no bad results this time ,
though the weather was plainly treacherous at this early season . {
On the second day } (\
deuteraioi \).
This is the classical use of the predicate adjective , "
We second day men "
as in strkjv @
Luke:24:22 ;
strkjv @
John:11:39 ;
strkjv @
Phillipians:3:5 |
instead of the adverb (
Robertson ,
_Grammar_
,
p .
657 ). {
To Puteoli } (\
eis Potiolous \).
It was 182 miles from Rhegium and would require 26 hours (
Page ).
It was eight miles northwest from Neapolis (
Naples )
and the chief port of Rome ,
the regular harbour for the Alexandrian ships from Rome .
Portions of the great mole are said to be still visible .
rwp @
Acts:28:14 @{
Where we found brethren } (\
hou heurontes adelphous \).
Possibly from Alexandria ,
but ,
as Blass observes ,
it is no more strange to find "
brethren "
in Christ in Puteoli when Paul arrives than in Rome .
There was a large Jewish quarter . {
Seven days } (\
h
meras hepta \).
Accusative of extent of time .
Paul and his party remained so long at the urgent request of the brethren .
He was still a prisoner ,
but clearly Julius was only too glad to show another courtesy to Paul to whom they all owed their lives .
It was 130 miles by land from Puteoli to Rome over one of the great Roman roads . {
And so we came to Rome } (\
kai hout
s eis t
n Rom
n
lthamen \).
Songs:at last .
Luke is exultant as Page observes :
_Paulus
Romae captivus :
triumphus unicus_
.
It is the climax of the book of Acts (
19:21 ;
strkjv @
23:11 |),
but not the close of Paul '
s career .
Page rightly remarks that a new paragraph should begin with verse 15 |,
for brethren came from Rome and this part of the journey is touched with the flavour of that incident .
The great event is that Paul reached Rome ,
but not as he had once hoped (
Romans:15:22-29 |).
rwp @
Acts:28:15 @{
When they heard of us } (\
akousantes ta peri h
m
n \).
How "
they heard the things concerning us "
we do not know .
Good news had its way of travel even before the days of telegraph ,
telephone ,
daily papers .
Possibly Julius had to send on special couriers with news of his arrival after the shipwreck .
Possibly some of the brethren in Puteoli at once (
beginning of the week )
sent on news to the brethren in Rome .
The church in Rome had long ago received Paul '
s letter from Corinth at the hands of Phoebe . {
To meet us } (\
eis apant
sin h
min \).
Idiomatic phrase , "
for meeting with us " (
associative instrumental case ).
_Koin
_
word \
apant
sis \
from verb \
apanta \,
to meet ,
in N .
T .
only here ;
strkjv @
Matthew:25:6 ;
strkjv @
1Timothy:4:17 |.
Use after \
eis \
rather than infinitive like a translation Hebraism (
Robertson ,
_Grammar_
,
p .
91 ). {
As far as the Market of Appius } (\
achri Appiou Phorou \).
The Forum of Appius ,
90 miles from Puteoli ,
40 from Rome ,
on the great Appian Way .
The Censor Appius Claudius had constructed this part of the road ,
B .
C .
312 .
Paul probably struck the Appian Way at Capua .
Portions of this great stone highway are still in use .
If one wishes to tread where Paul trod ,
he can do it here .
Appii Forum had a bad reputation ,
the haunt of thieves ,
thugs ,
and swindlers .
What would this motley crowd think of Paul chained to a soldier ? {
Three Taverns } (\
Tri
n Tabern
n \).
Genitive case after \
achri \
like \
Appiou Phorou \.
About 30 miles from Rome .
_Tres
Tabernae_
. {
Whom } (\
hous \).
Two groups of the disciples came (
one Gentile ,
one Jewish ,
Rackham thinks ),
one to Appii Forum ,
the other to Three Taverns .
It was a joyous time and Julius would not interfere . {
Took courage } (\
elabe tharsos \).
The old substantive \
tharsos \
is here alone in the N .
T .
Jesus himself had exhorted Paul to be of good courage (\
tharsei \
strkjv @
Acts:23:11 |)
as he had done the disciples (
John:16:33 |).
Paul had passed through enough to cause depression ,
whether he was depressed or not ,
but he deeply appreciated this kindly sympathy .
rwp @
Acts:28:16 @{
Paul was suffered to abide by himself } (\
epetrap
t
i Paul
i menein kath '
heauton \).
Second aorist passive of \
epitrepo \,
to permit or allow .
Literally , "
It was permitted to Paul to abide by himself ."
Some late documents (
Textus Receptus )
here add : "
The centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard " (
or the \
stratopedarch \).
This officer used to be considered Burrus who was Prefect of the Praetorian Guard A .
D .
51-62 .
But it is by no means certain that Julius turned the prisoners over to this officer .
It seems more likely that Julius would report to the captain of the Peregrini .
If so ,
we may be sure that Julius would give a good report of Paul to this officer who would be kindly disposed and would allow Paul comparative freedom (
living by himself ,
in his lodging ,
verse 23 |,
his own hired house verse 30 |,
though still chained to a soldier ). {
With the soldier that guarded him } (\
sun t
i phulassonti auton strati
t
i \).
Probably a new soldier every day or night ,
but always with this soldier chained to his right hand day and night .
Now that Paul is in Rome what can he do for Christ while he awaits the outcome of his own appeal to Nero ?
rwp @
Acts:28:17 @{
Those that were the chief of the Jews } (\
tous ontas t
n Ioudai
n pr
tous \).
This use of \
pr
tos \
for the leading men of a city or among the Jews we have already had in strkjv @
13:50 ;
strkjv @
25:2 ;
strkjv @
Luke:19:47 |.
Literally , "
Those that were first among the Jews ."
The position of the participle \
ontas \
between the article and the adjective \
pr
tous \
is regular (
Robertson ,
_Grammar_
,
p .
777 ). {
When they were come together } (\
sunelthont
n aut
n \).
Genitive absolute again .
Paul could not go to the synagogue ,
as his custom was ,
being a bound prisoner .
Songs:he invited the Jewish leaders to come to his lodging and hear his explanation of his presence in Rome as a prisoner with an appeal to Caesar .
He is anxious that they may understand that this appeal was forced upon him by Festus following Felix and lot because he has come to make an attack on the Jewish people .
He was sure that false reports had come to Rome .
These non-Christian Jews accepted Paul '
s invitation . {
Nothing against } (\
ouden enantion \).
Adjective here as in strkjv @
26:9 |,
not preposition as in strkjv @
7:10 ;
strkjv @
8:32 |.
From \
en \
and \
antios \ (\
anti \),
face to face .
Concessive participle \
poi
sas \
as in verse 4 | (\
dias
thenta \)
which see . {
Yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans } (\
desmios ex Ierosolum
n paredoth
n eis tas cheiras t
n Romai
n \).
This condensed statement does not explain how he "
was delivered ,"
for in fact the Jews were trying to kill him when Lysias rescued him from the mob (
22:27-36 |).
The Jews were responsible for his being in the hands of the Romans ,
though they had hoped to kill him first .
rwp @
Acts:28:18 @{
When they had examined me } (\
anakrinantes me \).
First aorist active participle of \
anakrin \,
the same verb used already in strkjv @
24:8 ;
strkjv @
25:6 ,
26 |
of the judicial examinations by Felix and Festus . {
Desired } (\
eboulonto \).
Imperfect middle of attempted action or picture of their real attitude .
This is a correct statement as the words of both Felix and Festus show . {
Because there was } (\
dia to--huparchein \).
Accusative case with \
dia \ (
causal use )
with the articular infinitive , "
Because of the being no cause of death in me " (\
en emoi \,
in my case , \
aitia \,
usual word for crime or charge of crime ).
rwp @
Acts:28:19 @{
When the Jews spake against it } (\
antilegont
n t
n Ioudai
n \).
Genitive absolute again , \
antilegont
n \ (\
antileg \)
common verb for speaking against as in strkjv @
13:45 |.
_Clementer
dicit_
(
Bengel ). "
The word is a mild one to describe the bitter enmity of the Jews " (
Knowling ). {
I was constrained } (\
nagkasth
n \). "
I was compelled ,"
first aorist passive indicative of \
anagkaz \,
the very word used of Paul '
s efforts to get the Christians to blaspheme (
26:11 |)
which see .
Paul was compelled to appeal to Caesar (
see strkjv @
25:11 ,
12 |
for this phrase ),
unless Paul was willing to be the victim of Jewish hate when he had done no wrong . {
Not that I had aught to accuse my nation of } (\
ouch h
s tou ethnous mou ech
n ti kat
gorein \).
This use of \
h
s \
with a participle (\
ech
n \)
is common in Greek for the alleged reason .
The genitive case with the infinitive \
kat
gorein \
is regular .
Paul says \
ethnos \
instead of \
laos \
as in strkjv @
24:17 ;
strkjv @
26:4 |.
rwp @
Acts:28:20 @{
Did I intreat } (\
parekalesa \).
Did I invite you . {
Because of the hope of Israel } (\
heineken t
s elpidos tou Israel \).
Genitive with preposition \
heineken \.
The hope of the Messiah is his point as in strkjv @
26:6 |. {
I am bound with this chain } (\
t
n halusin taut
n perikeimai \).
This old verb means to lie around as in strkjv @
Luke:17:2 ;
strkjv @
Hebrews:12:1 |.
But it is also used as the passive of \
peritith
mi \,
to place around with the accusative of \
peritith
mi \
retained .
It is a transitive passive .
Paul does not lie around the chain ,
but the chain lies around him ,
a curious reversal of the imagery (
Robertson ,
_Grammar_
,
p .
815 ).
rwp @
Acts:28:21 @{
Letters } (\
grammata \).
Official documents from the Sanhedrin about the charges against Paul . {
Any harm of thee } (\
ti peri sou pon
ron \). {
Evil } (\
pon
ron \).
The three aorists (\
edexametha ,
ap
ggeilen ,
elal
sen \)
cover the past .
These Jews do not mean to say that they had never heard of Paul .
It is hardly likely that they had heard of his appeal to Caesar , "
for how could the news have reached Rome before Paul ?" (
Page ).
rwp @
Acts:28:22 @{
But we desire } (\
axioumen de \).
Old verb \
axio \,
to deem worthy ,
to think right or proper as in strkjv @
15:38 |
which see .
They think it only fair to hear Paul '
s side of his case . {
Concerning this sect } (\
peri t
s hairese
s taut
s \).
Paul had identified Christianity with Judaism (
verse 20 |)
in its Messianic hope .
The language seems to imply that the number of Christians in Rome was comparatively small and mainly Gentile .
If the edict of Claudius for the expulsion of the Jews from Rome (
Acts:18:2 |)
was due to disturbance over Christ (\
Chr
stus \),
then even in Rome the Jews had special reason for hostility towards Christians . {
Everywhere spoken against } (\
pantachou antilegetai \).
Cf .
verse 19 |.
The line of cleavage between Jew and Christian was now sharply drawn everywhere .
rwp @
Acts:28:23 @{
Appointed } (\
taxamenoi \).
First aorist middle participle of \
tass \.
Formal arrangement as in strkjv @
Matthew:28:16 |
when Jesus appointed the mountain for his meeting in Galilee . {
In great number } (\
pleiones \).
Comparative of \
polus \, "
more than a few ." {
Expounded } (\
exetitheto \).
Imperfect middle of \
ektith
mi \,
to set forth ,
as in strkjv @
11:4 ;
strkjv @
18:26 |.
He did it with detail and care and spent all day at it , "
from morning till evening " (\
apo pr
i he
s hesperas \).
In N .
T .
only here ,
strkjv @
4:3 |
and strkjv @
Luke:24:29 |,
though common word . {
Persuading them concerning Jesus } (\
peith
n autous peri tou I
sou \).
Conative present active participle ,
trying to persuade .
It was only about Jesus that he could make good his claim concerning the hope of Israel (
verse 20 |).
It was Paul '
s great opportunity .
Songs:he appealed both to Moses and to the prophets for proof as it was his custom to do .
rwp @
Acts:28:24 @{
Some believed } (\
hoi men epeithonto \).
Imperfect passive indicative of \
peith \.
More exactly , "
some began to be persuaded " (
inchoative ). {
Some disbelieved } (\
hoi de
pistoun \).
Imperfect active of \
apiste \,
to disbelieve ,
continued to disbelieve .
It is usually so .
rwp @
Acts:28:25 @{
When they agreed not } (\
asumph
noi ontes \).
Old adjective ,
only here in N .
T .,
double compound (\
a \
privative , \
sum ,
ph
n \),
without symphony ,
out of harmony ,
dissonant ,
discordant .
It was a triumph to gain adherents at all in such an audience . {
They departed } (\
apeluonto \).
Imperfect middle (
direct )
indicative , "
They loosed themselves from Paul ."
Graphic close . {
After that Paul had spoken one word } (\
eipontos tou Paulou rh
ma hen \).
Genitive absolute .
One last word (
like a preacher )
after the all day exposition . {
Well } (\
kal
s \).
Cf .
strkjv @
Matthew:14:7 ;
strkjv @
Mark:7:6 ,
9 | (
irony ).
Here strong indignation in the very position of the word (
Page ). {
To your fathers } (\
pros tous pateras hum
n \).
Songs:Aleph A B instead of \
h
m
n \ (
our )
like Stephen in strkjv @
7:52 |
whose words Paul had heard .
By mentioning the Holy Spirit Paul shows (
Knowling )
that they are resisting God (
7:52 |).
rwp @
Acts:28:26 @{
Say } (\
eipon \).
Second aorist active imperative instead of the old form \
eipe \.
The quotation is from strkjv @
Isaiah:6:9 ,
10 |.
This very passage is quoted by Jesus (
Matthew:13:14 ,
15 ;
strkjv @
Mark:4:12 ;
strkjv @
Luke:8:10 |)
in explanation of his use of parables and in strkjv @
John:12:40 |
the very point made by Paul here , "
the disbelief of the Jews in Jesus " (
Page ).
See on Matthew for discussion of the language used .
Here the first time ("
go to this people and say ")
does not occur in Matthew .
It is a solemn dirge of the doom of the Jews for their rejection of the Messiah foreseen so long ago by Isaiah .
rwp @
Acts:28:28 @{
This salvation } (\
touto to s
t
rion \).
Adjective from \
s
t
r \ (
Saviour ),
saving ,
bringing salvation .
Common in the old Greek .
The neuter as here often in LXX (
as strkjv @
Psalms:67:2 |)
as substantive like \
s
t
ria \ (
cf .
strkjv @
Luke:3:6 |). {
They will also hear } (\
autoi kai akousontai \). \
Autoi \
as opposed to the rejection by the Jews , "
vivid and antithetical " (
Page ).
rwp @
Acts:28:30 @{
Two whole years } (\
dietian hol
n \).
Only here in N .
T .
and strkjv @
24:27 |
which see .
During these busy years in Rome Paul wrote Philippians ,
Philemon ,
Colossians ,
Ephesians ,
Epistles that would immortalize any man ,
unless ,
forsooth ,
one or more of them was written from Ephesus or Caesarea ,
which has not yet been proven . {
In his own hired dwelling } (\
en idi
i misth
mati \).
Old word ,
here only in N .
T .,
that which is hired for a price (
from \
mistho \
and that from \
misthos \,
hire ). {
Received } (\
apedecheto \).
Imperfect middle of \
apodechomai \,
received from time to time as they came ,
all that came (\
eisporeuomenous \)
from time to time . {
Preaching } (\
keruss
n \), {
teaching } (\
didask
n \),
the two things that concerned Paul most ,
doing both as if his right hand was not in chains ,
to the amazement of those in Rome and in Philippi (
Phillipians:1:12-14 |). {
None forbidding him } (\
ak
lut
s \).
Old adverb from \
a \
privative and the verbal adjective \
k
lutos \ (
from \
k
lu \,
to hinder ),
here only in the N .
T .
Page comments on "
the rhythmic cadence of the concluding words ."
Page rejects the notion that the book is an unfinished work .
It closes with the style of a concluded work .
I agree with Harnack that Luke wrote the Acts during this period of two years in Rome and carried events no further because they had gone no further .
Paul was still a prisoner in Rome when Luke completed the book .
But he had carried Paul to "
Rome ,
the capital of the world ,
_Urbi
et Orbi_
" (
Page ).
The gospel of Christ has reached Rome .
For the fate of Paul we must turn elsewhere .
But Luke had the presence of Paul while he carried the Acts to its triumphant conclusion .
Ramsay can give a good deal in proof of his claim that Luke is the greatest of all historians .
Beyond a doubt his rank is high and the world can never repay its debt to this cultured physician who wrote the Gospel and the Acts .