28. An unlawful thing (a9éuctov). The word is peculiar to Peter, being used only here and 1 Pet. iv. 3. See note there. It emphasizes the violation of established order, being from the same root as TéInust, to lay down or establish. The Jews pro- fessed to ground this prohibition on the law of Moses ; but there is no direct command in the Mosaic law forbidding Jews to as- sociate with those of other nations. But Peter’s statement is general, referring to the general practice of the Jews to sepa- rate themselves in common life from uncircumcised persons. Juvenal says that the Jews were taught by Moses “not to show the way except to one who practises the same rites, and to guide the circumcised alone to the well which they seek” (Sat., xiv., 104, 105). Tacitus also says of the Jews that “among themselves they are inflexibly faithful, and ready with charitable aid, but hate all others as enemies. They keep separate from all strangers in eating, sleeping, and matrimonial connections ” (“¢ Histories,” v., 5).
Of another nation (a\dodvAw). Only here in New Testa- ment. Used of the Philistines, 1 Sam. xiii. 3-5 (Sept.).
Me. Emphatic, by contrast with ye. “ Ye know,” ete., “but God hath showed me.”
29. With what intent (rive Aoyw). More strictly, for what PeUson.
502 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (Cu. X.
30. Four days ago (a7 retdptnys iuépas). Lit., from the fourth day; reckoning backward from the day on which he was speaking. |
| was fasting, and. The best texts omit.
At the ninth hour I prayed (ryv évvadrnv mpocevydopevos). Lit., praying during the ninth hour. With the omission of I
‘was fasting, and, the rendering is as Rev., Your days ago, until this hour, I was keeping the ninth hour of prayer.*
31. Said (dnav). Rev., saith. The historical present, giving vividness to the narrative. :
33. Well (cada@s). You have done a courteous and handsome thing in coming. Compare 3 John 5, 6.
34. | perceive. See on ch. iv. 13.
Respecter of persons (zpocwmodjurrns). See on respect of persons, Jas. ii. 1. Only here in New Testament.
36. The word (rdv Adyov). The message.
37. That word (pjua). The contents of the message: the report or history which it proclaimed.
38. Anointed (éypicev). See on Christ, Matt. i. 1.
Went about (dujAdev). Lit., went through (the country). Compare ch. viii. 4.
And healing. The and («al) has a particularizing force: do- ing good, and in particular, healing.
* It must be confessed that this statement, as thus amended, is obscure, and that the rendering would be greatly simplified by retaining the omitted words, as is done by several high authorities, as Meyer, Alford, Hackett, Gloag, De Wette, though against strong MS. evidence. They explain the omission in these MSS. by the fact that no mention of fasting is made in ver, 3.
Cu. X.] THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 508
Oppressed (xatadvvacrevopévovs). Only here and Jas. ii. 6, on which see note.
39. They slew. The best texts insert xal, also: “whom also they slew;” also having an ineressive force. They added this crowning atrocity to other persecutions.
Tree. See on Luke xxiii. 31.
40. Shewed him openly (éexev avdrov eudavh yevéoSar). Lit., gave him to become manifest. Compare, for the construc- tion, ch. ii. 27.
41. Chosen before (mpoxeyerpotovnuévous). Only here in New Testament. The simple verb yeporovéw, to appoint, oc- curs Acts xiv. 23; 2 Cor. viii. 19; and originally means to stretch out the hand for the purpose of giving a vote. Hence to elect by show of hands, and generally to appoint. Plato uses the word of the election of leaders of choruses (“¢ Laws,” 765). ° In later ecclesiastical usage it signified ordain, as bishops or deacons.
Who (ofrwves). The compound pronoun marks them more strongly as belonging to the class of eye-witnesses.
42. Testify (Svapaptipacda). See on ch. ii. 40. Remission. See on Luke iii. 3; Jas. v. 15.