2. Kept back (évocdicato). Only here, ver. 8, and Tit. ii. 10, where it is rendered purloining. From vécdgu, aloof, apart. The verb means to set apart for one’s self; hence to appropriate wrongfully.
Cu. V.] THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 467
3. To lie to (etcacIar). Rather, to deceive. The design of Satan was to deceive the Holy Ghost. To lie to would re- quire a different case in the noun, which ocenrs in ver. 4, where the same verb is properly rendered die (unto God). Satan fills the heart to deceive. The result of the attempt is merely to “e.
4. Whiles it remained, was it not thine own (ovyl pévov 4 cot eueve). A play on the words. Lit., remaining, did it not remain to thee? Rev., very happily, whzles it remained, did it not remain thine own ?
Conceived (ov). Lit., put or fived. Wherefore didst thou Six this deed in thy heart ?—i.e., resolve upon tt.
5. Gave up the ghost (éfépu£e). Used by Luke only. A rare word, occurring in the Septuagint, and in medical writers. See Ezek. xxi. 7, “ Every spirit shall faint.” See, also, on Sail- ing, Luke xxi. 26.
6. Wound him up (cuvécrevdav). Better, as Rev., wrapped him round. The verb means to draw together, or draw in - hence used for shortening sail, reducing expenses, lowering or humbling a person. In 1 Cor. vii. 29, it occurs in the phrase, “the time is short (cuvertadpévos, Rev., properly, shortened) ;” i.e., drawn together, contracted. In the sense of wrapping up it is found in Aristophanes, of wrapping cloaks or garments about one; also of tucking up the garments about the loins, asa preparation for service. In the sense of shrouding for burial, it occurs in Euripides (“Troades,” 382): “They were not shrouded (cuverectadgncar) by the hands of a wife.” In medical language, of bandaging a limb; of the contraction of tumors, and of organs of the body, ete. Some, however, as Meyer, refer the word here to the pressing together of the dead man’s limbs.
8. Answered. “The woman, whose entrance into the as- sembly of the saints was like a speech” (Benge).
468 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. V.
For so much (rogovrov). Perhaps pointing to the money still lying at his feet.
9. Ve have agreed together (cuvedwr}dn byiv). The verb is passive. Lit., was dt agreed by you. The figure in the word is that of concord of sounds. Your souls were attwned to each other respecting this deceit. See on muszc, Luke xv. 25.
To tempt (respdcas). To put it to the proof whether the Holy Spirit, ruling in the apostles, could be deceived. See on ver. 3.
The feet. Graphic. The steps of the young men returning from the burial are heard at the door.
12. Were wrought (éyévero). The best texts read éyiveto, the imperfect, were being wrought from time to time.
All. The whole body of believers.
13. The rest. Unbelievers, deterred by the fate of Ananias from uniting themselves to the church under false pretences.
Join himself (coArdo9ar). See on Luke xv. 15; x. 11. In all but two instances (Rom. xii. 9; 1 Cor. vi. 17), the word im- plies a forced, unnatural, or unexpected union. Thus Philip would not, without a special command, have “ joined himself” to the chariot of the Ethiopian prince (Acts viii. 29). Saul’s attempt to join himself to the apostles was regarded by them with suspicion (Acts ix. 26); and the fact that certain persons “clave to” Paul in Athens is expressly contrasted with the attitude of the citizens at large. The sense of an unnatural union comes out clearly in 1 Cor. vi. 16.
14. Were added (spoceritevto). Imperfect: hept being added.
15. Couches (xpa8Pdtwv). See on Mark ii. 4.
Cu. V.] THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 469
The shadow of Peter passing by. But the proper ren- dering is, as Peter passed by, his shadow might, etc.*