1. In the great majority of New Testament passages facth is clearly used in the sense of facth in Jesus Christ: “the con- viction and confidence regarding Jesus Christ as the only and perfect mediator of the divine grace and of eternal life, through his work of atonement” (Meyer).
2. This interpretation is according to the analogy of such expressions as obedience of Christ (2 Cor. x. 5), where the meaning is, clearly, obedience to Christ: obedience of the truth (1 Pet. i. 22). Accordingly, faith, though it becomes in man the subjective moral power of the new life, regenerated through the power of the Spirit, is regarded objectively as a power—the authority which commands submission.
3. This interpretation is according to the analogy of the ex- pression hearing of faith (Gal. iii. 2), which is to be rendered, not as equivalent to the reception of the Gospel, but as the report or message of faith; ie., which treats of faith, axon, hearing being always used in the New Testament in a passive sense, and often rendered fame, rumor, report (see Matt. iv. 24; xiv. 1; Mark i. 28; John xii. 38; Rom. x. 16). Compare, also, obedt- ence of faith (Rom. i. 5; xvi. 26), where faith is to be taken as the object, and not as the source, of the obedience; and hence is not to be explained as the obedience which springs from fuith, but as the obedience rendered to faith as the authoritative impulse of the new life in Christ.
The great majority of the best modern commentators hold
476 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (Cu. VL
that faith is to be taken as the subjective principle of Christian life (though often regarded objectively as a spiritual power), and not as Christian doctrine.
8. Did (éove). Imperfect: was working wonders during the progress of the events described in the previous verse.
9. Synagogue. See on Church, Matt. xvi. 18.
Of the libertines. In Jerusalem, and probably in other large cities, the several synagogues were arranged according to nationalities, and even crafts. Thus we have in this verse men- tion of the synagogues of the Cyrenians, Alexandrians, Cilicians, and Asiatics. Libertines is a Latin word (libertini, freedmen), and means here Jews or their descendants who had been taken as slaves to Rome, and had there received their liberty ; and who, in consequence of the decree of Tiberius, about 19 a.p., expelling them from Rome, had returned in great numbers to Jerusalem. They were likely to be the chief opponents of Stephen, because they supposed that by his preaching, their religion, for which they had suffered at Rome, was endangered in Jerusalem.
10. They were not able (ov« icyvov). See on Luke xiv. BO. SVin os
11. Suborned (é7éBarov). Only here in New Testament. The verb originally means to put wnder, as carpets under one’s feet ; hence, to put one person in place of another ; to substi- éute, as another’s child for one’s own; to employ a secret agent in one’s place, and to instigate or secretly instruct him.
12. They stirred up the people (cuvexivncav tov adv). The verb occurs only here in the New Testament. It implies . to stir up as a mass, to move them together (cvv). This is the first record of the hostility of the people toward the disciples. See ch. ii. 47.
Cu. VIL] THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 477
Caught (cuviprracav). Used by Luke only. Better as Rev., seized. See on Luke viii. 29.
14. This Jesus of Nazareth. Contemptuous.