43. Hisname. As in the Lord’s prayer: not simply the title, but all that is embraced and expressed by the name: Christ’s “ entire perfection, as the object revealed to the believer for his apprehension, confession, and worship ” (Meyer).
44, The Holy Ghost fell. The only example of the bestow- ment of the Spirit before baptism.
45. They of the circumcision. From this point Luke dis- tinguishes Christians into two classes —those of the circumcision
504 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (Cu. XL
and those of the uncireumcision ; calling the former Jews, and the latter Gentiles or Greeks.
Were amazed. See on ch. ii. 7.
47. Water (76 Udwp). Note the article: the water; co-ordi- nating the water with the Spirit (see 1 John v. 8), and designat- ing water as the recognized and customary element of baptism.
1. In Judaea (xara ri Iovéaiav). More correctly, “ through- out Judaea.”
2. They of the circumcision. See on ch. x. 45.
3. Men uncircumcised (dvdpas axpoSvoriav éyovtas). An -indignant expression. See Eph. ii. 11.
4. Began. Graphically indicating the solemn purport of the speech (compare Luke xii. 1), or perhaps, in connection with expounded, his beginning with the first circumstances and going through the whole list of incidents.
6. | considered. See on Matt. vii. 3; Luke xxii. 24, 27.
12. Nothing doubting (udev Staxpwopevov). The Rey. renders making no distinction, taking the verb in its original sense, which is to separate or distinguish. The rendering seems rather strained, doubting being a common rendering in the New Testament and giving a perfectly good sense here. See Matt. xxi. 21; Mark xi. 23, and note on Jas. i. 6. It was natural that Peter should hesitate.
The six brethren. The men of Joppa who had gone with Peter to Cornelius, and had accompanied him also to Jerusalem, either as witnesses for him or for their own vindication, since they had committed the same offence.
Cz. XL) THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 505
13. Anangel. It has the definite article: “the angel,” mentioned in ch. x.
17. Forasmuch as (ed). Better, as Rev., 7f.
The like (ionv). Lit., equal ; making them, equally with us, recipients of the Holy Spirit.
19. They which were scattered abroad (oi duacmapévtes). On the technical expression, the dispersion, see on 1 Pet. i. 1. Not so used here.
20. The Greeks ("EnAnvas). Some, however, read ‘EnAn- vortas, the Grecian Jews. See onch. vi.1. The express object of the narrative has been to describe the admission of Gentiles into the church. There would have been nothing remarkable in these men preaching to Hellenists who had long before been received into the church, and formed a large part of the church at Jerusalem. It is better to follow the rendering of A. V. and Rev., though the other reading has the stronger MS. evidence. Note, also, the contrast with the statement in ver. 19, to the Jews only. There is no contrast between Jews and Hellenists, since Hellenists are included in the general term Jews.
23. Purpose (mpoJéces). Originally, placing in public ; set- ting before. Hence of the shew-bread, tle loaves set forth before the Lord (see on Mark ii. 26). Something set before one as an object of attainment: a purpose.
24. Good (aya90s). More than strictly wprzght. Compare Rom. v. 7, where it is distinguished from Sé«asos, just or righteous. ‘His benevolence effectually prevented him censur- ing anything that might be new or strange in these preachers to the Gentiles, and caused him to rejoice in their success”
(Gloag).
25. To seek (avafmrjca). Strictly, like our “hunt up” (ava).
506 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. XI.
26. Were called Christians (ypnpatica: Xpictiavovs). The * former of these two words, rendered were called, meant, origi- nally, to transact business, to have dealings with ; thence, in the course of business, to give audience to, to ee from which comes its use to denote the responses of an oracle ; a divine ad- vice or warning. See Acts x. 22; and Eonar Matt. ii. 12; Heb. xi. 7. Later, it acquires the meaning to bear a name ; to be called, with the implication of a name used in the ordinary transactions and intercourse of men; the name under which one passes.* This process of transition appears in the practice of naming men according to their occupations, as, in English, “John the Smith,” “ Philip the Armorer;” a practice which is the origin of many familiar family names, such as Butler, Car- penter, Smith, Cooper. Compare in New Testament Alexander the coppersmith (2 Tim. iv. 14); Matthew the publican (Matt. x. 8); Luke the physician (Col. iv‘14); Erastus the chamber- lain (Rom. xvi. 23); Rahab the harlot (Heb. xi. 31). In the same line is the use of the word calling, to denote one’s busi- ness. The meaning of the word in this passage is illustrated by Rom. vil. 3.