thus do they hear [alluding to Isa. xxviii. 12, see last note]. — tilth, have their existence) The accent has the effect of making the word emphatic. — r\ b's ^opjjrg/a, but prophecy) namely, is for a signy or simply is ; comp. vi. 13. — roTg mffnvov<nvy to them that believe) This must be taken as an instance of the figure Amplificatio ; 1 in- asmuch as prophecy makes believers of unbelievers ; the speak- ing tongue leaves the unbeliever to himself [still an unbeliever]. The expression of Paul is indefinite. Unbelievers, generally, when tongues fall upon them, continue to be unbelievers, but prophecy makes believers of unbelievers, and gives spiritual nourishment to them, that believe.
23. "OXri Ini ro avro , the whole into one place) That was a rare occurrence in so large a city. — g/VgA0w<r/ d'sy and there come in) as strangers or even from curiosity. — Idiurai, unlearned) men who have some degree of faith, but do not abound in gifts. There follows by gradation, or unbelievers , who did not so readily come in, and yet were not debarred. In this verse Paul speaks in the plural, in the following in the singular. Many bad men, when together, prevent one another from believing by their bad con- versation ; individuals are more easily gained. — on ^a/W^g, that ye are mad) For they will not be able to distinguish that earnest- ness from madness ; hence they will speak to your prejudice ; comp. Acts ii. 13.
24. ndvreg, all) one by one , ver. 31. — g/VeA&j, there come in) We have an example of this at 1 Sam. xix. 20, 21. — uxkstoc, one that believeth not) To this word we refer is convinced , comp. John xvi. 9. — )bidrricy an unlearned person) to this word we refer is judged: comp. ii. 15. That conviction of unbelief and that judgment of uidearned rudeness is accomplished by the power of this very prophecy, although this be done without application to individuals. And these are two successive steps ; the third fol- lows, the secrets , etc.
24, 25. ’EAgy^gra/ vnb t»dvrwvy dvuxpivzrcu v <7ro •jrdvruv (xa/ ourw2)
1 See Append. The taking of the denomination of a thing, not so much from what it now is, as from what it is about to be. As here, “ Prophecy is a sign to those who thereby are made believers.” This seems Bengel’s meaning. — Ed.
2 ABD corrected later, Gfg Vulg. omit x,xi ovru. The later Syr. and some later uncial MSS., support the words with Rec. Text.- — Ed.