Made with hands (xevporrounrors). Probably pointing to the magnificent temples above and around him. Paul’s epistles abound in architectural metaphors. He here employs the very words of Stephen, in his address to the Sanhedrim, which he very probably heard. See ch. vii. 48.
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25. Is worshipped (Sepazevera). Incorrect. Render, as Rey., served. Luke often uses the word in the sense of to Aeal or cure ; but this is its primary sense. See on Luke v. 15. It refers to the clothing of the images of the gods in splendid garments, and bringing them costly gifts and offerings of food and drink.
As though he needed (zpocdeduevos). Properly, “needed anything 7m addition (mpés) to what he already has.”
26. Before appointed (spotetaypévous). The Rev., prop- erly, omits before, following the reading of the best texts, wpoc- TeTaypEvous, assigned.
Bounds (dpo9ecias). Only here in New Testament. The word, in the singular, means the fiving of boundaries, and so is transferred to the fixed boundaries themselves.
27. Might feel after. See on handle, Luke xxiv. 39. Com- pare Tennyson :
‘I stretch lame hands of faith, and grope And gather dust and chaff, and call To what I feel is Lord of all.” In Memoriam, lv.
28. We are also his offspring. A line from Aratus, a poet of Paul’s own province of Cilicia. The same sentiment, in al- most the same words, occurs in the fine hymn of Cleanthes to Jove. Hence the words, “Some of your own poets.”
29. The Godhead (70 Setov). Lit., that which és divine.
Like to gold, etc. These words must have impressed his hearers profoundly, as they looked at the multitude of statues of divinities which surrounded them.
Graven (yapdypart). Not a participle, as A. V., but a noun, in apposition with gold, silver, and stone; “a graving or carved- work of art,” etc.
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546 © WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu XVII.
30. Winked at (imepSav). Only here in New Testament. Originally, to overlook ; to suffer to pass unnoticed. So Rev., overlooked.
32. Resurrection. This word was the signal for a derisive outburst from the crowd.
Mocked (éydevafov). From yrevn, a jest. Only here in New Testament, though a compound, dvayrevato, mock, occurs, according to the best texts, at ch. il. 13. The force of the im- perfect, began to mock, should be given here in the translation, as marking the outbreak of derision.
In this remarkable speech of Paul are to be noted: his pru- dence and tact in not needlessly offending his hearers; his courtesy and spirit of conciliation in recognizing their piety to- ward their gods; his wisdom and readiness in the use of the inscription “to the unknown God,” and in citing their own poets; his meeting the radical errors of every class of his hearers, while seeming to dwell only on points of agreement; his lofty views of the nature of God and the great principle of the unity of the human race; his boldness in proclaiming Jesus and the resurrection among those to whom these truths were foolish- ness; the wonderful terseness and condensation of the whole, and the rapid but powerful and assured movement of the thought.
34. Clave. See on Luke x. 11; xv. 15; Acts v. 13.
The Areopagite. One of the judges of the court of Are- opagus. Of this court Curtius remarks: ‘Here, instead of a single judge, a college of twelve men of proved integrity con- ducted the trial. If the accused had an equal number of votes for and against him, he was acquitted. The Court on the hill of Ares is one of the most ancient institutions of Athens, and none achieved for the city an earlier or more widely spread recognition. The Areopagitic penal code was adopted as a norm by all subsequent legislators” (“History of Greece,” i., 307).
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