39. Mean (donpov). Lit., without a mark or token (ohpa). Hence used of uncoined gold or silver: of oracles which give no intelligible response : of inarticulate voices: of disease without distinctive symptoms. Generally, as here, wndistinguished, mean. There is a conscious feeling of patriotism in Paul’s ex- pression.
40. Beckoned with the hand. Compare ch. xxvi. 1.
Tongue (dsaréxTw). Lit., dialect: the language spoken by the Palestinian Jews—a mixture of Syriac and Chaldaic.
1. Defence (azonoyias). See on answer, 1 Pet. iii. 15.
2. Kept—silence (aapécyov jovylav). Lit., gave quiet.
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3. At the feet. Referring to the Jewish custom of the pupils sitting on benches or on the floor, while the teacher oc- cupied an elevated platform.
Gamaliel. One of the seven Rabbis to whom the Jews gave the title Rabban. ab, “teacher,” was the lowest degree ; Rabbi, “my teacher,” the next higher; and Ladban, “ our teacher,” the highest. Gamaliel was a liberal Pharisee. “As Aquinas among the schoolmen was called Doctor Angelicus, and Bonaventura Doctor Seraphicus, so Gamaliel was called the Beauty of the Law. We had no antipathy to the Greek learning. Candor and wisdom seem to have been features of his character” (Conybeare and Howson). See ch. v. 34 sq.
Instructed (zemadevpévos). See on chastise, Luke xxiii. 16.
According to the perfect manner (xara axpiBeav). _Lit., according to the strictness. See on perfect understanding, Luke i. 3; and diligently, Acts xviii. 25. Compare, also, Acts xviil. 26; xxvi. 5.
Zealous (fAwr7is). Or a zealot. On the word as a title, see on Mark iii. 18.
4, Way. See on ch. ix. 2.
5. Estate of the elders (apecBurépiov). The eldership or Sanhedrin.
Went. The imperfect: was journeying. 6. About noon. Not mentioned in ch. ix.
8. Of Nazareth (6 Nafwpaios). Lit., the Nazarene. Not mentioned in ch. ix.
9. Heard not (ov« #xovcav). The verb is to be taken in the sense of understood, as Mark iv. 33; 1 Cor. xiv. 2, which ex- plains the apparent discrepancy with ch. ix. 7.
572 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. XXII.
11. For the glory of that light. The cause of his blind- ness is not stated in ch. ix.
12. A devout man, ete. In ch. ix. 10, he is called a dis- ciple. Paul here “affirms that he was not introduced to Chris- tianity by an opponent of Judaism, but by a strict Jew” (Gloag).
13. Stood (émicras). More correctly, as Rev., “standing by (é:/).”
Receive thy sight (avaBreyov). Better, look up. See the following words: J looked up upon him. The word admits of both translations, to look up and to recover sight.
| looked up upon him. Some unite both meanings here: L looked up with recovered sight. So Rev., in margin.
14. The God of our fathers—Just One. A conciliatory touch in Paul’s speech, mentioning both God and Christ by their Jewish names. Compare ch. iii. 14; vii. 52.
Hath chosen (mpoexetpicato). See on ch. iii. 20. Better, as Rev., appointed.
15. Allmen. He keeps back the offensive word Gentiles (ch. 1x. 15),
16. Wash away (dzrédovcat). See on ch. xvi. 33.
17. | was in a trance (yevéo9au pe ev éxaotace). Reyv., more correctly, Z fell into a trance; the verb meaning to be- come, rather than the simple to be. On ¢rance, see note on astonishment, Mark y. 42; and compare note on Acts x. 10.
20. Martyr. Better, as Rev., witness. The special sense of the word was probably not in use at this time. See on ch. i. 22. It occurs, however, in Apoe. ii. 18; xvii. 6.
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Standing by. See on ver. 13.
Consenting (cuvevdoxav). See on allow, Luke xi. 48; and compare Acts viii. 1.
Slew. See on Luke xxiii. 32.
21. Gentiles. ‘The fatal word, which hitherto he had care- fully avoided, but which it was impossible for him to avoid any longer, was enough. . . . The word ‘Gentiles,’ confirm- ing all their worst suspicions, fell like a spark on the inflam- mable mass of their fanaticism” (Farrar, “ Life and Work of