vanquish the old serpent. — xa/, and) Thus David was at the same time prudent and simple towards Saul.1 — dx'tpaioi, without horn) hoof, tooth, or sting ; both actively and passively harm less. Many words of this kind have at the same time both an active and a passive signification ; cf. Gnomon on Rom. xvi. 19.
17. Tlpoff'i^ire 8e avb ruv avdpuKuv, but beware of men) The ex pression used in the last verse, " Be ye wise," is now explained ; and the force of the injunction is extended,2 for the word men is of general signification ; cf. John ii. 24.3 — euv'sfyia, — 6wa.yu- ya/£, councils — synagogues) The councils, where the chief men assemble; the synagogues, where the people also resort. — ev raT$ auvu.yuya.T'S) in the synagogues) They will consider the action so holy, that it may be performed even in the synagogue, which is put in opposition to the council ; see ch. xxiii. 34. — paany- taffovsiv, they shall scourge) Hard things are foretold, yet they were actually endured by the apostles, and even by our Lord Himself.
18. As, but) The particle is here used epitatically,4 to denote a further step in the subject announced. — oL-yJfatcdi, ye shall be brought) The apostles did not come ultroneously to the rulers, they were brought. — airo%, against them) sc. the Jews, in con tradistinction to the Gentiles mentioned immediately afterwards. — xai ToTg edveffiv, and the Gentiles) This chapter therefore already contemplates matters more remote, and refers to the apostolate after our Lord's ascension.
19. My fjs.spi/j,v7i<tr,rt, Be not careful) Your only care must be to be without care. We are not forbidden by this passage from all preparation ; see 1 Tim. iv. 15, cf. Luke xxi. 14 ; 1 Cor. xiv. 26.
1 It not seldom happens that one finds others, as it were, altogether the counterpart of one's self. But it is of use to remember, that many are worse than yourself, and some perhaps better. — V. g.
* In the original, "Declaratur TO prudenles : acceditque moniti extensio." -(I. B.)
8 How strong are the reasons for being on our guard against men, is es pecially then made manifest, when one has to be conversant (to have inter course) with them at a time of their being under the constraint of no external consideration. — V. g.
4 See Append, on Epitasis. An emphatic addition to an enunciation al ready made. — ED.