04600
 \\When there arose a great dissension\\ (\\polls ts ginomens\\
 \\stases\\). Present middle participle (genitive absolute).
 Literally, "dissension becoming much." \\Lest Paul should be torn\\
 \\in pieces by them\\ (\\m diaspasthi ho Paulos\\). First aorist
 passive subjunctive of \\diaspa\\, to draw in two, to tear in
 pieces, old verb, in the N.T. only here and
 # Mr 5:4
 of tearing chains in two. The subjunctive with \\m\\ is the common
 construction after a verb of fearing (Robertson, _Grammar_, p.
 995). \\The soldiers\\ (\\to strateuma\\). The army, the band of soldiers
 and so in verse
 # 27
 \\To go down\\ (\\kataban\\). Second aorist active participle of
 \\katabain\\, having gone down. \\Take him by force\\ (\\harpasai\\). To
 seize. The soldiers were to seize and save Paul from the midst of
 (\\ek mesou\\) the rabbis or preachers (in their rage to get at each
 other). Paul was more of a puzzle to Lysias now than ever.

04601
 \\The night following\\ (\\ti epiousi nukti\\). Locative case, on the
 next (following) night. \\The Lord\\ (\\ho kurios\\). Jesus. Paul never
 needed Jesus more than now. On a previous occasion the whole
 church prayed for Peter's release
 # 12:5
 but Paul clearly had no such grip on the church as that, though
 he had been kindly welcomed
 # 21:18
 In every crisis Jesus appears to him (cf.
 # Ac 18:9
 It looked dark for Paul till Jesus spoke. Once before in
 Jerusalem Jesus spoke words of cheer
 # 22:18
 Then he was told to leave Jerusalem. Now he is to have "cheer" or
 "courage" (\\tharsei\\). Jesus used this very word to others
 # Mt 9:2,22; Mr 10:49
 It is a brave word. \\Thou hast testified\\ (\\diemartur\\). First
 aorist middle indicative second person singular of \\diamarturomai\\,
 strong word (
 See note on "Ac 22:18"
 ). \\Must thou\\ (\\se dei\\). That is the needed word and on this Paul
 leans. His hopes
 # 19:21
 of going to Rome will not be in vain. He can bide Christ's time
 now. And Jesus has approved his witness in Jerusalem.

04602
 \\Banded together\\ (\\poisantes sustrophn\\). See on
 # 19:40
 (riot), but here conspiracy, secret combination, binding together
 like twisted cords. \\Bound themselves under a curse\\ (\\anethematisan\\
 \\heautous\\). First aorist active indicative of \\anathematiz\\, a late
 word, said by Cremer and Thayer to be wholly Biblical or
 ecclesiastical. But Deissmann (_Light from the Ancient East_, p.
 95) quotes several examples of the verb in an Attic cursing
 tablet from Megara of the first or second century A.D. This proof
 shows that the word, as well as \\anathema\\ (substantive) from which
 the verb is derived, was employed by pagans as well as by Jews.
 Deissmann suggests that Greek Jews like the seven sons of Sceva
 may have been the first to coin it. It occurs in the LXX as well
 as
 # Mr 14:71
 (which see and
 # Luke 21:5
 # Ac 23:12,14,21
 They placed themselves under an anathema or curse, devoted
 themselves to God (cf.
 # Le 27:28; 1Co 16:22
 \\Drink\\ (\\pein=piein\\). Second aorist active infinitive of \\pin\\. For
 this shortened form see Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 343. \\Till they\\
 \\had killed\\ (\\hes hou apokteinsin\\). First aorist active
 subjunctive of \\apoktein\\, common verb. No reason to translate
 "had killed," simply "till they should kill," the aorist merely
 punctiliar action, the subjunctive retained instead of the
 optative for vividness as usual in the _Koin_ (Robertson,
 _Grammar_, pp. 974-6). Same construction in verse
 # 14
 King Saul took an "anathema" that imperilled Jonathan
 # 1Sa 14:24
 Perhaps the forty felt that the rabbis could find some way to
 absolve the curse if they failed. See this verse repeated in
 verse
 # 21

04603
 \\More than forty\\ (\\pleious tesserakonta\\). Without "than" (\\\\) as in
 verse
 # 21; 24:11
 and often in the ancient Greek. \\Conspiracy\\ (\\sunmosian\\). Old word
 from \\sunomnumi\\, to swear together. Only here in the N.T.

04604
 \\Came to the chief priests and the elders\\ (\\proselthontes tois\\
 \\archiereusin kai tois presbuterois\\). The Sanhedrin, just as Judas
 did
 # Lu 22:4
 \\With a great curse\\ (\\anathemati\\). This use of the same word as the
 verb repeated in the instrumental case is in imitation of the
 Hebrew absolute infinitive and common in the LXX, the very idiom
 and words of
 # De 13:15; 20:17
 an example of translation Greek, though found in other languages
 (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 531).
 See note on "Lu 21:5"
  for the distinction between \\anathema\\ and \\anathma\\. Jesus had
 foretold: "Whoso killeth you will think that he doeth God
 service"
 # Joh 16:2

04605
 \\Ye\\ (\\humeis\\). Emphatic. \\Signify\\ (\\emphanisate\\). First aorist
 active imperative of \\emphaniz\\. Make plain from \\emphans\\, chiefly
 in Acts. Repeated in verse
 # 22
 The authority is with the chiliarch not with the Sanhedrin, but
 he had appealed to the Sanhedrin for advice. \\As though ye would\\
 \\judge of his case more exactly\\ (\\hs mellontas diaginskein\\
 \\akribesteron ta peri autou\\). \\Hs\\ with the participle gives the
 alleged reason as here. So also in verse
 # 20
 \\Diagnosk\\, old verb to distinguish accurately, only here in N.T.
 and
 # 24:22
 \\Or ever come near\\ (\\pro tou eggisai auton\\). "Before the coming
 near as to him." \\Pro\\ and the genitive of the articular infinitive
 of \\eggiz\\ with accusative of general reference. \\We are ready to\\
 \\slay him\\ (\\hetoimoi esmen tou anelein auton\\). Genitive of purpose
 of the articular infinitive after the adjective \\hetoimoi\\
 (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1061). \\Anelein\\, second aorist active of
 \\anaire\\.

04606
 \\Their lying in wait\\ (\\tn enedran\\). Old word from \\en\\ (in) and
 \\hedra\\ (seat), ambush. In N.T. only here and
 # 25:3
 Accusative object of \\akousas\\. \\He came\\ (\\paragenomenos\\). Second
 aorist middle participle of \\paraginomai\\. It may mean, "having
 come upon them" and so discount their plot, a graphic touch.
 Vincent thinks that some Pharisee, since Paul was a Pharisee and
 so a member of the "guild," told his nephew of the plot. Perhaps,
 and perhaps not. \\Told Paul\\ (\\apggeilen ti Pauli\\). This nephew
 is not known otherwise. He may be a student here from Tarsus as
 Paul once was. Anyhow he knows what to do when he catches on to
 the conspirators. He had enough address to get into the barracks
 where Paul was. He ran the risk of death if discovered.

04607
 \\Called unto him\\ (\\proskalesamenos\\). First aorist participle
 indirect middle, calling to himself. Paul laid his plans as
 energetically as if Jesus had not promised that he would see Rome
 # 23:11
 \\Bring\\ (\\apage\\). "Take away."

04608
 \\Paul the prisoner\\ (\\ho desmios Paulos\\). Bound (\\desmios\\) to a
 soldier, but not with two chains
 # 21:33
 and with some freedom to see his friends as later
 # 28:16
 in military custody (_custodia militaris_). This was better than
 _custodia publica_ (public custody), the common prison, but more
 confining. \\Who hath something to say to thee\\ (\\echonta ti lalsai\\
 \\soi\\). Same idiom as in verse
 # 17,19
 but \\lalsai\\ here instead of \\apaggeilai\\.

04609
 \\Took him by the hand\\ (\\epilabomenos ts cheiros autou\\). Kindly
 touch in Lysias, _ut fiduciam adolescentis confirmaret_ (Bengel).
 Note genitive with the second aorist middle (indirect, to
 himself) of \\epilamban\\ as in
 # Lu 8:54
 with \\kratsas\\ which see. How old the young man (\\neanias\\) was we
 do not know, but it is the very word used of Paul in
 # 7:58
 when he helped in the killing of Stephen, a young man in the
 twenties probably. See also
 # 20:9
 of Eutychus. He is termed \\neaniskos\\ in verse
 # 22
 \\Asked him privately\\ (\\kat' idian epunthaneto\\). Imperfect middle,
 began to ask (inchoative).

04610
 \\The Jews\\ (\\hoi Ioudaioi\\). As if the whole nation was in the
 conspiracy and so in verse
 # 12
 The conspirators may have belonged to the Zealots, but clearly
 they represented the state of Jewish feeling toward Paul in
 Jerusalem. \\Have agreed\\ (\\sunethento\\). Second aorist middle
 indicative of \\suntithmi\\, old verb to join together, to agree.
 Already this form in
 # Lu 22:5
 which see. See also
 # Joh 9:22; Ac 24:9
 \\To bring down\\ (\\hops katagagis\\). Very words of the conspirators
 in verse
 # 15
 as if the young man overheard. Second aorist active subjunctive
 of \\katag\\ with \\hops\\ in final clause, still used, but nothing
 like so common as \\hina\\ though again in verse
 # 23
 (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 985). \\As though thou wouldest inquire\\
 (\\hs melln punthanesthai\\). Just as in verse
 # 15
 except that here \\melln\\ refers to Lysias instead of to the
 conspirators as in verse
 # 15
 The singular is used by the youth out of deference to the
 authority of Lysias and so modifies a bit the scheming of the
 conspirators, not "absurd" as Page holds.

04611
 \\Do not therefore yield unto them\\ (\\Su oun m peisthis autois\\).
 First aorist passive subjunctive of \\peith\\, common verb, here to
 be persuaded by, to listen to, to obey, to yield to. With
 negative and rightly. Do not yield to them (dative) at all. On
 the aorist subjunctive with \\m\\ in prohibitions against committing
 an act see Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 851-4. \\For there lie in\\
 \\wait\\ (\\enedreuousin gar\\). Present active indicative of \\enedreu\\,
 old verb from \\enedra\\ (verse
 # 16
 in the N.T. only here and
 # Lu 11:54
 which see. \\Till they have slain him\\ (\\hes hou anelsin auton\\).
 Same idiom as in verse
 # 12
 save that here we have \\anelsin\\ (second aorist active
 subjunctive) instead of \\apokteinsin\\ (another word for kill),
 "till they slay him." \\Looking for the promise from thee\\
 (\\prosdechomenoi tn apo sou epaggelian\\). This item is all that is
 needed to put the scheme through, the young man shrewdly adds.

04612
 \\Tell no man\\ (\\mdeni eklalsai\\). Indirect command (_oratio
 obliqua_) after \\paraggeilas\\ (charging) with first aorist active
 infinitive of \\eklale\\ (in ancient Greek, but here only in N.T.),
 but construction changed to direct in rest of the sentence
 (_oratio recta_) as in
 # 1:4
 "that thou hast signified these things to me" (\\hoti tauta\\
 \\enephanisas pros eme\\). Same verb here as in verse
 # 15
 This change is common in the N.T. (Robertson, _Grammar_, p.
 1047).

04613
 \\Two\\ (\\tinas duo\\). "Some two" as in
 # Lu 7:19
 indicating (Page) that they were not specially chosen. \\Soldiers\\
 (\\stratitas\\), \\horsemen\\ (\\hippeis\\), \\spearmen\\ (\\dexiolabous\\). The
 three varieties of troops in a Roman army like the cohort of
 Lysias (Page). The \\stratitai\\ were the heavy-armed legionaries,
 the \\hippeis\\ belonged to every legion, the \\dexiolaboi\\ were
 light-armed supplementary troops who carried a lance in the right
 hand (\\dexios\\, right, \\lamban\\, to take). Vulgate, _lancearios_. At
 the third hour of the night (\\apo trits hras ts nuktos\\). About
 nine in the evening.

04614
 \\Provide beasts\\ (\\kten parastsai\\). Change from direct to indirect
 discourse just the opposite of that in verse
 # 22
 \\Beasts\\ (\\ktn\\). For riding as here or for baggage.
 See note on "Lu 10:34"
 Asses or horses, but not war-horses. Since Paul was chained to a
 soldier, another animal would be required for baggage. It was
 also seventy miles and a change of horses might be needed. The
 extreme precaution of Lysias is explained in some Latin MSS. as
 due to fear of a night attack with the result that he might be
 accused to Felix of bribery. Luke also probably accompanied Paul.
 \\To bring safe\\ (\\hina diasssin\\). Final clause with \\hina\\ and the
 first aorist active subjunctive of \\diasz\\, old verb, to save
 through (\\dia\\) to a finish. Eight times in the N.T.
 # Mt 14:36; Lu 7:3; Ac 23:24; 27:43,44; 28:1,4; 1Pe 3:20
 \\Unto Felix the governor\\ (\\pros Phlika ton hgemona\\). Felix was a
 brother of Pallas, the notorious favourite of Claudius. Both had
 been slaves and were now freedmen. Felix was made procurator of
 Judea by Claudius A.D. 52. He held the position till Festus
 succeeded him after complaints by the Jews to Nero. He married
 Drusilla the daughter of Herod Agrippa I with the hope of winning
 the favour of the Jews. He was one of the most depraved men of
 his time. Tacitus says of him that "with all cruelty and lust he
 exercised the power of a king with the spirit of a slave." The
 term "governor" (\\hgemn\\) means "leader" from \\hgeomai\\, to lead,
 and was applied to leaders of all sorts (emperors, kings,
 procurators). In the N.T. it is used of Pilate
 # Mt 27:2
 of Felix,
 # Ac 23:24,26,33; 24:1
 of Festus
 # 26:30

04615
 \\And he wrote\\ (\\grapsas\\). First aorist active participle of \\graph\\,
 agreeing with the subject (Lysias) of \\eipen\\ (said) back in verse
 # 23
 (beginning). \\After this form\\ (\\echousan ton tupon touton\\). Textus
 Receptus has \\periechousan\\. The use of \\tupon\\ (type or form) like
 _exemplum_ in Latin (Page who quotes Cicero _Ad Att_. IX. 6. 3)
 may give merely the purport or substantial contents of the
 letter. But there is no reason for thinking that it is not a
 genuine copy since the letter may have been read in open court
 before Felix, and Luke was probably with Paul. The Roman law
 required that a subordinate officer like Lysias in reporting a
 case to his superior should send a written statement of the case
 and it was termed _elogium_. A copy of the letter may have been
 given Paul after his appeal to Caesar. It was probably written in
 Latin. The letter is a "dexterous mixture of truth and falsehood"
 (Furneaux) with the stamp of genuineness. It puts things in a
 favourable light for Lysias and makes no mention of his order to
 scourge Paul.

04616
 \\Most excellent\\ (\\kratisti\\).
 See note on "Lu 1:3"
  to Theophilus though not in
 # Ac 1:1
 It is usual in addressing men of rank as here, like our "Your
 Excellency" in
 # 24:3
 and Paul uses it to Festus in
 # 26:25
 \\Greeting\\ (\\chairein\\). Absolute infinitive with independent or
 absolute nominative (\\Klaudios Lusias\\) as is used in letters
 # Ac 15:23; Jas 1:1
 and in countless papyri (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1092).

04617
 \\Was seized\\ (\\sullmphthenta\\). First aorist passive participle of
 \\sullamban\\. \\Rescued him having learned that he was a Roman\\
 (\\exeilamen mathn hoti Romaios estin\\). Wendt, Zoeckler, and
 Furneaux try to defend this record of two facts by Lysias in the
 wrong order from being an actual lie as Bengel rightly says.
 Lysias did rescue Paul and he did learn that he was a Roman, but
 in this order. He did not first learn that he was a Roman and
 then rescue him as his letter states. The use of the aorist
 participle (\\mathn\\ from \\manthan\\) after the principal verb
 \\exeilamen\\ (second aorist middle of \\exaire\\, to take out to
 oneself, to rescue) can be either simultaneous action or
 antecedent. There is in Greek no such idiom as the aorist
 participle of subsequent action (Robertson, _Grammar_, pp.
 1112-14). Lysias simply reversed the order of the facts and
 omitted the order for scourging Paul to put himself in proper
 light with Felix his superior officer and actually poses as the
 protector of a fellow Roman citizen.

04618
 \\To know\\ (\\epignnai\\). To know fully, \\epi\\, second aorist active
 infinitive. \\They accused him\\ (\\enekaloun auti\\). Imperfect active
 indicative, were accusing him (dative), repeating their charges.

04619
 \\Concerning questions of their law\\ (\\peri ztmata tou nomou\\
 \\autn\\). The very distinction drawn by Gallio in Corinth
 # Ac 18:14
 On the word see on
 # 15:2
 \\But to have nothing laid to his charge worthy of death or of\\
 \\bonds\\ (\\mden de axion thanatou  desmn echonta enklma\\).
 Literally, "having no accusation (or crime) worthy of death or of
 bonds." This phrase here only in the N.T. \\Egklma\\ is old word for
 accusation or crime from \\egkale\\ used in verse
 # 28
 and in the N.T. only here and
 # 25:16
 Lysias thus expresses the opinion that Paul ought to be set free
 and the lenient treatment that Paul received in Caesarea and Rome
 (first imprisonment) is probably due to this report of Lysias.
 Every Roman magistrate before whom Paul appears declares him
 innocent (Gallio, Lysias, Felix, Festus).

04620
 \\When it was shown to me that there would be a plot\\ (\\mnutheiss\\
 \\moi epibouls esesthai\\). Two constructions combined; genitive
 absolute (\\mnutheiss epibouls\\, first aorist passive participle
 of \\mnu\\) and future infinitive (\\esesthai\\ as if \\epibouln\\
 accusative of general reference used) in indirect assertion after
 \\mnu\\ (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 877). \\Charging his accusers also\\
 (\\paraggeilas kai tois katgorois\\). First aorist active participle
 of \\paraggell\\ with which compare \\mathn\\ above (verse
 # 27
 not subsequent action. Dative case in \\katgorois\\. \\Before thee\\
 (\\epi sou\\). Common idiom for "in the presence of" when before a
 judge (like Latin _apud_) as in
 # 24:20,21; 25:26; 26:2
 What happened to the forty conspirators we have no way of
 knowing. Neither they nor the Jews from Asia are heard of more
 during the long five years of Paul's imprisonment in Caesarea and
 Rome.

04621
 \\As it was commanded them\\ (\\kata to diatetagmenon autois\\).
 "According to that which was commanded them," perfect passive
 articular participle of \\diatass\\. \\By night\\ (\\dia nuktos\\). Through
 the night, travelling by night forty miles from Jerusalem to
 Antipatris which was founded by Herod the Great and was on the
 road from Jerusalem to Caesarea, a hard night's ride.

04622
04623
 \\And they\\ (\\hoitines\\). Which very ones, the cavalry, the horsemen
 of verse
 # 31
 \\Delivered\\ (\\anadontes\\). Second aorist active participle of
 \\anadidmi\\, old verb to give up, to hand over, here only in the
 N.T. \\Presented Paul also\\ (\\parestsan kai ton Paulon\\). First
 aorist active (transitive, not second aorist intransitive)
 indicative of \\paristmi\\, common verb to present or place beside.
 What would Paul's friends in Caesarea (Philip and his daughters)
 think of the prophecy of Agabus now so quickly come true.

04624
 \\When he had read it\\ (\\anagnous\\). Second aorist active participle
 of \\anaginsk\\, to know again, to read. \\Of what province he was\\
 (\\ek poias eparcheias estin\\). Tense of \\estin\\ (is) retained in
 indirect question. \\Poias\\ is strictly "of what kind of" province,
 whether senatorial or imperial. Cilicia, like Judea, was under
 the control of the propraetor of Syria (imperial province).
 Paul's arrest was in Jerusalem and so under the jurisdiction of
 Felix unless it was a matter of insurrection when he could appeal
 to the propraetor of Syria.

04625
 \\I will hear thy cause\\ (\\diakousomai\\). "I will hear thee fully"
 (\\dia\\). \\When--are come\\ (\\paragenntai\\). Second aorist middle
 subjunctive of \\paraginomai\\ with temporal conjunction \\hotan\\,
 indefinite temporal clause of future time (Robertson, _Grammar_,
 p. 972), "whenever thine accusers come." \\In Herod's palace\\ (\\en\\
 \\ti praitrii\\). The Latin word \\praetorium\\. The word meant the
 camp of the general, then the palace of the governor as here and
 # Mt 27:27
 which see, and then the camp of praetorian soldiers or rather the
 praetorian guard as in
 # Php 1:13

04626
 \\And with an Orator, one Tertullus\\ (\\kai rhtoros Tertullou tinos\\).
 A deputation of elders along with the high priest Ananias, not
 the whole Sanhedrin, but no hint of the forty conspirators or of
 the Asian Jews. The Sanhedrin had become divided so that now it
 is probably Ananias (mortally offended) and the Sadducees who
 take the lead in the prosecution of Paul. It is not clear whether
 after five days is from Paul's departure from Jerusalem or his
 arrival in Caesarea. If he spent nine days in Jerusalem, then the
 five days would be counted from then (verse
 # 11
 The employment of a Roman lawyer (Latin _orator_) was necessary
 since the Jews were not familiar with Roman legal procedure and
 it was the custom in the provinces (Cicero _pro Cael_. 30). The
 speech was probably in Latin which Paul may have understood also.
 \\Rhtr\\ is a common old Greek word meaning a forensic orator or
 advocate but here only in the N.T. The Latin _rhetor_ was a
 teacher of rhetoric, a very different thing. Tertullus is a
 diminutive of Tertius
 # Ro 16:22
 \\Informed\\ (\\enephanisan\\). Same verb as in
 # 23:15,22
 somewhat like our modern "indictment," certainly accusations
 "against Paul" (\\kata tou Paulou\\). They were down on Paul and the
 hired barrister was prosecuting attorney. For the legal form see
 _Oxyrhynchus Papyri_, Vol. II., p. 162, line 19.

04627
 \\When he (Paul) was called\\ (\\klthentos autou\\). Genitive absolute
 (as so often in Acts) with first aorist passive participle of
 \\kale\\. Seeing that by thee we enjoy much peace (\\polls eirns\\
 \\tugchanontes dia sou\\). Literally, obtaining much peace by thee. A
 regular piece of flattery, _captatio benevolentiae_, to
 ingratiate himself into the good graces of the governor. Felix
 had suppressed a riot, but Tacitus (_Ann_. XII. 54) declares that
 Felix secretly encouraged banditti and shared the plunder for
 which the Jews finally made complaint to Nero who recalled him.
 But it sounded well to praise Felix for keeping peace in his
 province, especially as Tertullus was going to accuse Paul of
 being a disturber of the peace. \\And that by thy providence\\ (\\kai\\
 \\dia ts pronoias\\). Forethought, old Greek word from \\pronoos\\
 (\\pronoe\\ in
 # 1Ti 5:8; Ro 12:17; 2Co 8:21
 in N.T. only here and
 # Ro 13:14
 "Providence" is Latin _Providentia_ (foreseeing, _provideo_).
 Roman coins often have _Providentia Caesaris_. Post-Augustan
 Latin uses it of God (Deus). \\Evils are corrected for this nation\\
 (\\diorthmatn ginomenn ti ethnei touti\\). Genitive absolute
 again, \\ginomenn\\, present middle participle describing the
 process of reform going on for this nation (dative case of
 personal interest). \\Diorthma\\ (from \\diortho\\, to set right)
 occurs from Aristotle on of setting right broken limbs
 (Hippocrates) or reforms in law and life (Polybius, Plutarch).
 "Reform continually taking place for this nation." Felix the
 Reform Governor of Judea! It is like a campaign speech, but it
 doubtless pleased Felix.

04628
 \\In all ways and in all places\\ (\\panti te kai pantachou\\). \\Panti\\,
 old adverb of manner only here in N.T. \\Pantachou\\ also old adverb
 of place, several times in N.T. But these adverbs most likely go
 with the preceding clause about "reforms" rather than as here
 translated with "we accept" (\\apodechometha\\). But "with all
 gratitude" (\\meta pass eucharistias\\) does naturally go with
 \\apodechometha\\.

04629
 \\That I be not further tedious unto thee\\ (\\hina m epi pleion se\\
 \\enkopt\\). _Koin_ verb (Hippocrates, Polybius) to cut in on (or
 into), to cut off, to impede, to hinder. Our modern telephone and
 radio illustrate it well. In the N.T.
 # Ac 24:4; 1Th 2:18; Ga 5:7; Ro 15:22; 1Pe 3:7
 "That I may not cut in on or interrupt thee further (\\epi pleion\\)
 in thy reforms." Flattery still. \\Of thy clemency\\ (\\ti si\\
 \\epieikeii\\). Instrumental case of old word from \\epieiks\\ and this
 from \\epi\\ and \\eikos\\ (reasonable, likely, fair). "Sweet
 Reasonableness" (Matthew Arnold), gentleness, fairness. An
 \\epieiks\\ man is "one who makes reasonable concessions"
 (Aristotle, _Eth_. V. 10), while \\dikaios\\ is "one who insists on
 his full rights" (Plato, _Leg_. 757 D) as translated by Page. \\A\\
 \\few words\\ (\\suntoms\\). Old adverb from \\suntemn\\, to cut together
 (short), abbreviate. Like \\dia brachen\\ in
 # Heb 13:22
 In N.T. only here and
 # Mr 16
 (shorter conclusion).

04630
 \\For we have found\\ (\\heurontes gar\\). Second aorist active
 participle of \\heurisk\\, but without a principal verb in the
 sentence. Probably we have here only a "summary of the charges
 against Paul" (Page). \\A pestilent fellow\\ (\\loimon\\). An old word
 for pest, plague, pestilence, Paul the pest. In N.T. only here
 and
 # Lu 21:11
 (\\loimoi kai limoi\\, pestilences and famines) which see. Latin
 _pestis_. Think of the greatest preacher of the ages being
 branded a pest by a contemporary hired lawyer. \\A mover of\\
 \\insurrections\\ (\\kinounta staseis\\). This was an offence against
 Roman law if it could be proven. "Plotted against at Damascus,
 plotted against at Jerusalem, expelled from Pisidian Antioch,
 stoned at Lystra, scourged and imprisoned at Philippi, accused of
 treason at Thessalonica, haled before the proconsul at Corinth,
 cause of a serious riot at Ephesus, and now finally of a riot at
 Jerusalem" (Furneaux). Specious proof could have been produced,
 but was not. Tertullus went on to other charges with which a
 Roman court had no concern (instance Gallio in Corinth).
 \\Throughout the world\\ (\\kata tn oikoumenn\\). The Roman inhabited
 earth (\\gn\\) as in
 # 17:6
 \\A ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes\\ (\\prtostatn ts tn\\
 \\Nazrain haireses\\). \\Prtostats\\ is an old word in common use
 from \\prtos\\ and \\histmi\\, a front-rank man, a chief, a champion.
 Here only in the N.T. This charge is certainly true. About "sect"
 (\\hairesis\\)
 See note on "Ac 5:17"
 \\Nazraioi\\ here only in the plural in the N.T., elsewhere of Jesus
 # Mt 2:23; 26:71; Lu 18:37; Joh 18:5,7; 19:19
 # Ac 2:22; 3:6; 4:10; 6:14; 22:8; 26:9
 The disciple is not above his Master. There was a sneer in the
 term as applied to Jesus and here to his followers.

04631
 \\Assayed to profane\\ (\\epeirasen beblsai\\). A flat untruth, but the
 charge of the Asian Jews
 # 21:28-30
 _Verbum optum ad calumnian_ (Bengel). \\We seized\\ (\\ekratsamen\\). As
 if the Sanhedrin had arrested Paul, Tertullus identifying himself
 with his clients. But it was the mob
 # 21:28-31
 that attacked Paul and Lysias who rescued him
 # 21:32

04632
 This whole verse with some words at the end of verse
 # 6
 and the beginning of verse
 # 8
 in the Textus Receptus ("And would have judged according to our
 law. But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great
 violence took him away out of our hands, commanding his accusers
 to come unto thee") is absent from Aleph A B H L P 61 (many other
 cursives) Sahidic Bohairic. It is beyond doubt a later addition
 to the incomplete report of the speech of Tertullus. As the
 Revised Version stands, verse
 # 8
 connects with verse
 # 6
 The motive of the added words is clearly to prejudice Felix
 against Lysias and they contradict the record in
 # Ac 21
 Furneaux holds them to be genuine and omitted because
 contradictory to
 # Ac 21
 More likely they are a clumsy attempt to complete the speech of
 Tertullus.

04633
 \\From whom\\ (\\par' hou\\). Referring to Paul, but in the Textus
 Receptus referring to Lysias. \\By examining him thyself\\ (\\autos\\
 \\anakrinas\\). Not by torture, since Paul was a Roman citizen, but
 by hearing what Paul has to say in defence of himself. \\Anakrin\\
 is to examine thoroughly up and down as in
 # Lu 23:14

04634
 \\Joined in the charge\\ (\\sunepethento\\). Second aorist middle
 indicative of \\sunepitithmi\\, old verb, double compound, to place
 upon (\\epi\\) together with (\\sun\\), to make a joint attack, here only
 in the N.T. \\Affirming\\ (\\phaskontes\\). Alleging, with the accusative
 in indirect assertion as in
 # 25:19; Ro 1:22
 (nominative with infinitive, Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1038). \\Were\\
 \\so\\ (\\houts echein\\), "held thus," common idiom.

04635
 \\When the governor had beckoned to him\\ (\\neusantos auti tou\\
 \\hgemonos\\). Genitive absolute again with first aorist active
 participle of \\neu\\, to give a nod, old word, in N.T. only here
 and
 # Joh 13:24
 "The governor nodding to him." \\Forasmuch as I know\\ (\\epistamenos\\).
 Knowing, from \\epistamai\\. \\That thou hast been of many years a\\
 \\judge\\ (\\ek polln etn onta se kritn\\). The participle in indirect
 assertion after \\epistamenos\\ (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1041). Paul
 goes as far as he can in the way of a compliment. For seven years
 Felix has been governor, \\onta\\ being a sort of progressive present
 participle with \\ek polln etn\\ (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 892).
 \\Cheerfully\\ (\\euthums\\). Old adverb from \\euthumos\\ (\\eu\\ and
 \\thumos\\, good spirit), here only in N.T. \\Make my defence\\
 (\\apologoumai\\). Old and regular word for this idea as in
 # Lu 21:14
 which see.

04636
 \\Seeing that thou canst take knowledge\\ (\\dunamenou sou epignnai\\).
 Genitive absolute again. The same word and form (\\epignnai\\) used
 by Tertullus, if in Greek, in verse
 # 8
 to Felix. Paul takes it up and repeats it. \\Not more than twelve\\
 \\days\\ (\\ou pleious hmerai ddeka\\). Here \\\\ (than) is absent without
 change of case to the ablative as usually happens. But this idiom
 is found in the _Koin_ (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 666). \\Since\\
 (\\aph' hs\\). Supply \\hmeras\\, "from which day." \\To worship\\
 (\\proskunsn\\). One of the few examples of the future participle
 of purpose so common in the old Attic.

04637
 \\Disputing\\ (\\dialegomenon\\). Simply conversing, discussing, arguing,
 and then disputing, common verb in old Greek and in N.T.
 (especially in Acts). \\Stirring up a crowd\\ (\\epistasin poiounta\\
 \\ochlou\\). \\Epistasis\\ is a late word from \\ephistmi\\, to make an
 onset or rush. Only twice in the N.T.,
 # 2Co 11:28
 (the pressure or care of the churches) and here (making a rush of
 a crowd). The papyri give examples also for "onset." So Paul
 denies the two charges that were serious and the only one that
 concerned Roman law (insurrection).

04638
 \\Prove\\ (\\parastsai\\). First aorist active infinitive of \\paristmi\\,
 to place beside. They have made "charges," mere assertions. They
 have not backed up these charges with proof, "nor can they," says
 Paul. \\Now\\ (\\nuni\\). As if they had changed their charges from the
 cries of the mob in Jerusalem which is true. Paul has no hired
 lawyer to plead for him, but he has made a masterly plea for his
 freedom.

04639
 \\I confess\\ (\\homolog\\). The only charge left was that of being a
 ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. This Paul frankly
 confesses is true. He uses the word in its full sense. He is
 "guilty" of that. \\After the Way\\ (\\kata tn hodon\\). This word Paul
 had already applied to Christianity
 # 22:4
 He prefers it to "sect" (\\hairesin\\ which means a choosing, then a
 division). Paul claims Christianity to be the real (whole,
 catholic) Judaism, not a "sect" of it. But he will show that
 Christianity is not a deviation from Judaism, but the fulfilment
 of it (Page) as he has already shown in
 # Ga 3; Ro 9
 \\So serve I the God of our fathers\\ (\\houts latreu ti patrii\\
 \\thei\\). Paul has not stretched the truth at all. He has confirmed
 the claim made before the Sanhedrin that he is a spiritual
 Pharisee in the truest sense
 # 23:6
 He reasserts his faith in all the law and the prophets, holding
 to the Messianic hope. A curious "heretic" surely! \\Which these\\
 \\themselves also look for\\ (\\hn kai autoi houtoi prosdechontai\\).
 Probably with a gesture towards his accusers. He does not treat
 them all as Sadducees. See
 # Tit 2:13
 for similar use of the verb (\\prosdechomenoi tn makarian elpida\\,
 looking for the happy hope).

04640
 \\That there shall be a resurrection\\ (\\anastasin mellein esesthai\\).
 Indirect assertion with infinitive and accusative of general
 reference (\\anastasin\\) after the word \\elpida\\ (hope). The future
 infinitive \\esesthai\\ after \\mellein\\ is also according to rule,
 \\mell\\ being followed by either present, aorist, or future
 infinitive (Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 870, 877, 878). \\Both of the\\
 \\just and the unjust\\ (\\dikain te kai adikn\\). Apparently at the
 same time as in
 # Joh 5:29
 (cf.
 # Ac 17:31
 Gardner thinks that Luke here misrepresents Paul who held to no
 resurrection save for those "in Christ," a mistaken
 interpretation of Paul in my opinion. The Talmud teaches the
 resurrection of Israelites only, but Paul was more than a
 Pharisee.

04641
 \\Herein\\ (\\en touti\\). His whole confession of belief in verses
 # 14,15
 \\Do I also exercise myself\\ (\\kai autos ask\\). "Do I also myself
 take exercise," take pains, labour, strive. Old word in Homer to
 work as raw materials, to adorn by art, then to drill. Our word
 ascetic comes from this root, one who seeks to gain piety by
 rules and severe hardship. Paul claims to be equal to his
 accusers in efforts to please God. \\Void of offence\\ (\\aproskopon\\).
 This word belongs to the papyri and N.T. (only in Paul), not in
 the ancient writers. The papyri examples (Moulton Milligan,
 _Vocabulary_) use the word to mean "free from hurt or harm." It
 is a privative and \\proskopt\\ (to cut or stumble against). Page
 likes "void of offence" since that can be either active "not
 stumbling" as in
 # Php 1:10
 or passive "not stumbled against" as in
 # 1Co 10:32
 (the first toward God and the second toward men), the only other
 N.T. examples. Hence the word here appears in both senses (the
 first towards God, the second towards men). Paul adds "alway"
 (\\dia pantos\\), a bold claim for a consistent aim in life.
 "Certainly his conscience acquitted him of having caused any
 offence to his countrymen" (Rackham). Furneaux thinks that it
 must have been wormwood and gall to Ananias to hear Paul repeat
 here the same words because of which he had ordered Paul to be
 smitten on the mouth
 # 23:1

04642
 \\After many years\\ (\\di' etn pleionn\\). "At an interval (\\dia\\) of
 more (\\pleionn\\) years" (than a few, one must add), not "after
 many years." If, as is likely Paul went up to Jerusalem in
 # Ac 18:22
 that was some five years ago and would justify "\\pleionn\\"
 (several years ago or some years ago). \\To bring alms\\ (\\elemosunas\\
 \\poison\\). Another (see \\proskunsn\\ in verse
 # 11
 example of the future participle of purpose in the N.T. These
 "alms" (on \\elemosunas\\
 See note on "Mt 6:1"
 See note on "Mt 6:4"
 See note on "Ac 10:2"
 , common in Tobit and is in the papyri) were for the poor saints
 in Jerusalem
 # 1Co 16:1-4; 2Co 8; 9; Ro 15:26
 who were none the less Jews. "And offerings" (\\kai prosphoras\\).
 The very word used in
 # 21:26
 of the offerings or sacrifices made by Paul for the four brethren
 and himself. It does not follow that it was Paul's original
 purpose to make these "offerings" before he came to Jerusalem
 (cf.
 # 18:18
 He came up to worship (verse
 # 11
 and to be present at Pentecost
 # 20:16

04643
 \\Amidst which\\ (\\en hail\\). That is, "in which offerings" (in
 presenting which offerings,
 # 21:27
 \\They found me\\ (my accusers here present, \\heuron me\\), \\purified in\\
 \\the temple\\ (\\hgnismenon en ti hieri\\). Perfect passive
 participle of \\hagniz\\ (same verb in
 # 21:24,26
 state of completion of the Jewish sacrifices which had gone on
 for seven days
 # 21:27
 the very opposite of the charges made. \\With no crowd\\ (\\ou meta\\
 \\ochlou\\). "Not with a crowd" till the Asiatic Jews gathered one
 # 21:27
 \\Nor yet with tumult\\ (\\oude meta thorubou\\). They made the tumult
 # 27:30
 not Paul. Till they made the stir, all was quiet.

04644
 \\But certain Jews from Asia\\ (\\tines de apo ts Alias Ioudaioi\\). No
 verb appears in the Greek for these words. Perhaps he meant to
 say that "certain Jews from Asia charged me with doing these
 things." Instead of saying that, Paul stops to explain that they
 are not here, a thoroughly Pauline anacoluthon
 # 2Co 7:5
 as in
 # 26:9
 "The passage as it stands is instinct with life, and seems to
 exhibit the abruptness so characteristic of the Pauline Epistles"
 (Page). \\Who ought to have been here before thee\\ (\\hous edei epi\\
 \\sou pareinai\\). This use of \\epi\\ with genitive of the person is
 common. The imperfect indicative with verbs of necessity and
 obligation to express failure to live up to it is common in Greek
 (Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 919-21). "The accusers who were
 present had not witnessed the alleged offence: those who could
 have given evidence at first-hand were not present" (Furneaux).
 There was no case in a Roman court. These Asiatic Jews are never
 heard of after the riot, though they almost succeeded in killing
 Paul then. \\If they had aught against me\\ (\\ei ti echoien pros eme\\).
 A condition of the fourth class or undetermined with less
 likelihood of being determined (\\ei\\ with the optative, Robertson,
 _Grammar_, p. 1021). This is a "mixed condition" (_op.cit._, p.
 1022) with a conclusion of the second class.

04645
 \\These men themselves\\ (\\autoi houtoi\\). Since the Asiatic Jews are
 not present and these men are. \\Wrong doing\\ (\\adikma\\). Or misdeed.
 Old word from \\adike\\, to do wrong. In the N.T. only here and
 # Ac 18:14; Re 18:5
 Paul uses "\\adikma\\" from the standpoint of his accusers. "To a
 less sensitive conscience his action before the Sanhedrin would
 have seemed venial enough" (Furneaux). \\When I stood\\ (\\stantos\\
 \\mou\\). Genitive absolute, second aorist active participle of
 \\histmi\\ (intransitive), "when I took my stand." \\Before the\\
 \\council\\ (\\epi tou sunedriou\\). Same use of \\epi\\ with genitive as in
 verse
 # 19

04646
 \\Except it be\\ (\\e\\). Literally, "than," but after interrogative \\ti =\\
 \\ti allo\\ "what else than." \\For this one voice\\ (\\peri mias tauts\\
 \\phns\\). The normal Greek idiom with the attributive use of
 \\houtos\\ calls for the article before \\mias\\, though some
 inscriptions show it as here (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 702).
 \\That\\ (\\hs\\). Genitive of the relative attracted to the case of the
 antecedent \\phns\\. \\I cried\\ (\\ekekraxa\\). Reduplicated aorist as is
 usual with this verb in the LXX
 # Jud 3:15
 Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 348. \\Touching\\ (\\peri\\). Concerning
 (around, about). \\I am called in question\\ (\\krinomai\\). As in
 # 23:6
 \\Before you\\ (\\eph' humn\\). Same idiom as in verses
 # 19,20

04647
 \\Having more exact knowledge\\ (\\akribesteron eids\\). "Knowing"
 (second perfect active participle of \\oida\\) "more accurately"
 (comparative of adverb \\akribs\\). More accurately than what? Than
 the Sanhedrin supposed he had "concerning the Way" (\\ta peri ts\\
 \\hodou\\, the things concerning the Way, common in Acts for
 Christianity). How Felix had gained this knowledge of
 Christianity is not stated. Philip the Evangelist lived here in
 Caesarea and there was a church also. Drusilla was a Jewess and
 may have told him something. Besides, it is wholly possible that
 Felix knew of the decision of Gallio in Corinth that Christianity
 was a _religio licita_ as a form of Judaism. As a Roman official
 he knew perfectly well that the Sanhedrin with the help of
 Tertullus had failed utterly to make out a case against Paul. He
 could have released Paul and probably would have done so but for
 fear of offending the Jews whose ruler he was and the hope that
 Paul (note "alms" in verse
 # 17
 might offer him bribes for his liberty. \\Deferred them\\ (\\anebaleto\\
 \\autous\\). Second aorist middle indicative of \\anaball\\, old verb
 (only here in N.T.) to throw or toss up, to put back or off, in
 middle to put off from one, to delay, to adjourn. Felix adjourned
 the case without a decision under a plausible pretext, that he
 required the presence of Lysias in person, which was not the
 case. Lysias had already said that Paul was innocent and was
 never summoned to Caesarea, so far as we know. Since Paul was a
 Roman citizen, Lysias could have thrown some light on the riot,
 if he had any. \\Shall come down\\ (\\katabi\\). Second aorist active
 subjunctive of \\katabain\\. \\I will determine your matter\\
 (\\diagnsomai ta kath' hums\\). Future middle of \\diaginsk\\, old
 and common verb to know accurately or thoroughly (\\dia\\). In the
 N.T. only here (legal sense) and
 # 23:15
 "The things according to you" (plural, the matters between Paul
 and the Sanhedrin).

04648
 \\And should have indulgence\\ (\\echein te anesin\\). From \\animi\\, to
 let loose, release, relax. Old word, in the N.T. only here and
 # 2Th 1:7; 2Co 2:13; 7:5; 8:13
 It is the opposite of strict confinement, though under guard,
 "kept in charge" (\\treisthai\\). \\Forbid\\ (\\kluein\\). To hinder "no
 one of his friends" (\\mdena tn idin\\). No one of Paul's "own"
 (cf.
 # 4:23; Joh 1:11
 or intimates. Of these we know the names of Luke, Aristarchus,
 Trophimus, Philip the Evangelist.

04649
 \\With Drusilla his wife\\ (\\sun Drousilli ti idii gunaiki\\). Felix
 had induced her to leave her former husband Aziz, King of Emesa.
 She was one of three daughters of Herod Agrippa I (Drusilla,
 Mariamne, Bernice). Her father murdered James, her great-uncle
 Herod Antipas slew John the Baptist, her great-grandfather (Herod
 the Great) killed the babes of Bethlehem. Perhaps the mention of
 Drusilla as "his own wife" is to show that it was not a formal
 trial on this occasion. Page thinks that she was responsible for
 the interview because of her curiosity to hear Paul. \\Sent for\\
 (\\metepempsato\\). First aorist middle of \\metapemp\\ as usual
