13. To go afoot (aefevew). Only here in New Testament. There is no good reason for changing this to by land, as Rey. The A. V. preserves the etymology of the Greek verb. The distance was twenty miles; less than half the distance by sea.
15. Arrived (apeB8dropev). Only here and Mark iv. 30, where it is used more nearly according to its original sense, to
560 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (Cu. XX.
throw beside; to bring one thing beside another in comparison. Here, of bringing the vessel alongside the island. The narra- tive implies that they only towched (Rev.) there, but not neces- sarily the word.
16. To spend time (ypovorpsBica). Only here in New Testament. The word carries the suggestion of a waste of time, being compounded with tpi8o, to rub; to wear out by rubbing. The sense is nearly equivalent to our expression, Sritter away time.
17. Having sent to Ephesus, About thirty miles. Elders. Called overseers or bishops in ver. 28.
20. Kept back (vrecreaunv). A picturesque word. Orig- inally, to draw in or contract. Used of furling sails, and of closing the fingers; of drawing back for shelter; of keeping back one’s real thoughts; by physicians, of withholding food from patients. It is rather straining a point to say, as Canon Farrar, that Paul is using a nautical metaphor suggested by his constantly hearing the word for furling sail used during his voyage. Paul’s metaphors lie mainly on the lines of military life, architecture, agriculture, and the Grecian games. The statement of Canon Farrar, that he ‘constantly draws his meta- phors from the sights and circumstances immediately around him,” is rather at variance with his remark that, with one ex- ception, he “cannot find a single word which shows that Paul had even the smallest susceptibility for the works of nature” (“ Paul,” i., 19). Nautical metaphors are, to say the least, not common in Paul’s writings. I believe there are but three in- stances: Eph. iv. 14; 1 Tim. i. 19; vi. 9. Paul means here that he suppressed nothing of the truth through fear of giving offence. Compare Gal. ii. 12; Heb. x. 38.
21. Repentance toward God. Repentance has the article: the repentance which is due to God. So, also, faith: the faith which is due toward Christ, as the advocate and mediator.
Cx. XX) THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 561
22. Bound in the spirit. In Acs own spirit. Constrained by an invincible sense of duty. Not by the Holy Spirit, which is mentioned in the next verse and distinguished by the epithet the Holy.
23. Testifieth (Scayapripera). The compound verb signi- fies full, clear testimony. Not by internal intimations of the Spirit, but by prophetic declarations “in every city.” Two of these are mentioned subsequently, at Tyre and Caesarea (ch. xxi. 4, 11).
24. But none of these things move me, neither count I, etc. The best texts omit nedther count I, and render, J esteem my life of no account, as if it were precious to myself.
Dear (riulav). Of value; precious.
Course (dpouov). A favorite metaphor of Paul, from the race-course. See 1 Cor. ix. 24-27; Philip. iii. 14; 2 Tim. iv. 7.
25. | know. The J is emphatic: 7 know through these special revelations to myself (ver. 23).
26. This day (74 oxpepov npépa). Very forcible. Lit., on to-day’s day ; this, our parting day.
27. Shunned. The same word as in ver. 20: kept back.
28. To yourselves and to all the flock. To yourselves first, that you may duly care for the flock. Compare 1 Tim. iv. 16.
Overseers (€micKérovs). Denoting the official function of the elders, but not in the later ecclesiastical sense of bishops, as implying an order distinct from presbyters or elders. The two terms are synonymous. The eders, by virtue of their office, were overseers.*
* See Bishop Lightfoot’s Commentary on Philippians, p. 93; and the Essay on the Christian Ministry, in the same volume, p, 179 sq. ; also, Conybeare and Howson, vol. i., ch. xiii,