15. Took up our carriages (amocKevacduevot). The verb means to pack up and carry off, or simply to pack or store away. Hence, some explain that Panl packed and stored the greater part of his luggage in Caesarea. The best texts, how- ever, read émicxevacdpevot, having equipped ourselves. Car- riages is used in the old English sense, now obsolete, of that which is carried, baggage. See 1 Sam. xvii. 22, A. V.
16. Bringing with them, etc. This would imply that Mnason was at Caesarea, and accompanied Paul and his com- panions to Jerusalem. It seems better to suppose that the dis- ciples accompanied the apostle in order to introduce him to Mnason, whom they knew. Render, conducting us to Mnason, with whom we should lodge.
Old (dpyaiw). Better, as Rev., carly. The rendering old might be taken to mean aged; whereas the word means of
long standing.
21. They are informed (xarnyjIncav). More than in-
566 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. XXI.
formed. They had been carefully instructed, probably by the Judaizing teachers. See on instructed, Luke i. 4.
To forsake Moses (dsroctaciav amd Macéws). Lit., apos- tasy from Moses. Compare 2 Thess. ii. 3.
22. What is it therefore ? How does the matter lie? What is to be done ?
The multitude must needs come together. Some texts omit. So Rev. If retained, we should read a multitude.
293. A vow. The Nazarite vow. See Num. vi. 1-21.
24, Be at charges with them (6amdvnoov ém avtois). Lit., spend upon them. Pay the necessary charges on their account. Hence Rev., rightly, ‘“‘for them.” The person who thus paid the expenses of poor devotees who could not afford the neces- sary charges shared the vow so far that he was required to stay with the Nazarites until the time of the vow had expired. “ For a week, then, St. Paul, if he accepted the advice of James and the presbyters, would have to live with four paupers in the chamber of the temple which was set apart for this pur- pose; and then to pay for sixteen sacrificial animals and the accompanying meat-offerings” (Farrar, “ Life and Work of Paul”). He must also stand among the Nazarites during the offering of the sacrifices, and look on while their heads were shaved, and while they took their hair to burn it under the caldron of the peace-offerings, ‘and while the priest took four sodden shoulders of rams, and four unleavened cakes out of the four baskets, and four unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and put them on the hands of the Nazarites, and waved them for a wave-offering before the Lord” (Farrar).
Walkest orderly (crovyeis). See on elements, 2 Pet. iii. 10.
25. Blood. See on ch. xv. 29.
Cu. XXI.J THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 567
26. Purifying himself (a@yvoJels). See on 1 Pet. i. 22; Jas. iv. 8.
Declaring (Svayyé\Awv). To the priests who directed the sacrifices and pronounced release from the vow.
Fulfilment—until, etc. There is some dispute and confu- sion here as to the precise meaning. The general sense is that, having entered the temple toward the close of the period re- quired for the fulfilment of these men’s vow, he gave notice that the vowed number of Nazarite days had expired, after which only the concluding offering was required
27. Asia. See on ch. ii. 9.
Stirred up (cuvéyeov). Only here in New Testament. Lit., poured together, threw into confusion. See on confounded, ch. ii. 6; and confusion, ch. xix. 29.
28. This place. The temple. Compare the charge against Stephen, ch. vi. 13.
Greeks. Seeon ch. vi. 1.
Temple (iepov). See on Matt. iv. 5. The Jews evidently meant to create the impression that Paul had introduced Gen- tiles into the inner court, which was restricted to the Jews. The temple proper was on the highest of a series of terraces which rose from the outer court, or Court of the Gentiles. In this outer court any stranger might worship. Between this and the terraces was a balustrade of stone, with columns at intervals, on which Greek and Latin inscriptions warned all Gentiles against advancing farther on pain of death. Beyond this balustrade rose a flight of fourteen steps to the first platform, on which was the Court of the Women, surrounded by a wall. In this court were the treasury, and various chambers, in one of which the Nazarites performed their vows. It was here that the Asiatic Jews discovered Paul.