1. An orator (propos). An advocate. The Jews, being little acquainted with Roman forms and laws, had to "employ Roman advocates.
580 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. XXIV.
3. Very worthy deeds (catopJwpdrar). From Kxatop3éw, to set upright. Hence, a success consequent on right judgment ; a right action. The best texts, however, read SvopJopator, settings right; amendments. Thus the sentence reads, literally, obtaining much peace through thee, and amendments taking place for this nation through thy providence, we accept, ete.
Providence (mpovolas). Forethought. Providentia Au- gusti (the providence of the emperor) was a common title on the coins of the emperors.
4. Be tedious (éyxérrw). See on hindered, 1 Pet. iii. 7. The meaning is, rather, “that I may not further hinder thee, or detain thee.
Clemency (érrvetxeda). See on gentle, 1 Pet. ii. 18.
A few words (cuvréuas). Lit., concisely. From ovrtéuva, to cut down or cut short.
5. Pestilent fellow (Aoiuov). Lit., a plague or pest.
Ringleader (rpwtoctarnv). Originally, one who stands first on the right of a Vine; a file-leader. Thus Thucydides says that all armies when engaging are apt to thrust outward their right wing; and adds, “ Zhe first man in the front rank (6 rpwrootatys) of the right wing is originally responsible for the deflection” (v., 71). Here, of course, metaphorically, as A. V. and Rev. Only here in New Testament.
Sect (aipécews). See on heresies, 2 Pet. ii. 1.
Nazarenes. The only passage in scripture where this term is used to denote the Christians. See on Matt. ii. 23.
6. To profane (Se8nrdcar). The word is akin to Bndos, threshold, and Paiva, to step ; and its fundamental idea, thiere- fore, is that of overstepping the threshold of sacred places. The
Cu. XXIV.) THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES. 581
word profane is the Latin pro fanum, in front of the sanctuary ; that which is kept outside the fane because unholy.
We laid hold. .The best texts omit all after these words as far as by examining.
8. From whom. Paul. It would refer to Lysias if the omitted passage above were retained.
9. Assented (cvvéSevro). But the best texts read ouverré- Sevro, jointly set upon or assailed. So Rev., joined in the charge.
10. The more cheerfully (evIuudrepov). The best texts read the positive of the adverb, edJvpas, cheerfully.
14. The way. See on ch. ix. 2.
Asect. See on ver. 5. The word is commonly used in an indifferent sense, as signifying merely a school or party. So ch. xv. 5; xxviii. 22. Here, however, in a bad sense—a schis- matic sect, as in 1 Cor. xi. 19.
Worship (Aatpedw). Better, as Rev., serve. See on Luke i, 74.
God of my fathers (7 watpép Oem). A familiar classical phrase, and therefore well known to Felix. Thus Demosthenes calls Apollo the atpdos (ancestral god) of Athens. Socrates is asked (Plato, “ Euthydemus,” 302), “ Have you an ancestral Zeus (Zeds ratpaos)?” So, frequently, in the classics. Simi- larly, the Roman phrase, Di patrii, “the gods of the forefa- thers” On the Roman reverence for the ancestral religion, see note on ch, xvi. 21. The Roman’s own sentiment would pre- pare him to respect Paul’s.
15. Allow (mpoo8éxovra). Or, as Rev., look for. The word admits of either sense.
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16. Exercise myself (dona). Originally, to work raw ma- terial, to form: hence, to practise, exercise, discipline ; and so, in ecclesiastical language, to mortify the body. Of the kindred adjective doxytixds, our word ascetic is a transcript.
Void of offence (drpockoror). Lit., without stumbling ; un- shaken. The word is used thus in a passive sense here, as in Philip. i. 10. In 1 Cor. x. 82, it occurs in the active sense of giwing offence to others, or causing them to stumble.
18. Whereupon (ép ois). More correctly, a which (oceupa- tion); while so engaged. The best texts, however, read év ais, in which, the pronoun agreeing in gender with offerings. The sense, according to this, is, as Rev., margin, 7m presenting which