Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 28]
absolute again. Paul could not go to the synagogue, as his custom
was, being a bound prisoner. So he invited the Jewish leaders to
come to his lodging and hear his explanation of his presence in
Rome as a prisoner with an appeal to Caesar. He is anxious that
they may understand that this appeal was forced upon him by
Festus following Felix and lot because he has come to make an
attack on the Jewish people. He was sure that false reports had
come to Rome. These non-Christian Jews accepted Paul's
invitation. {Nothing against} (\ouden enantion\). Adjective here
as in 26:9, not preposition as in 7:10; 8:32. From \en\ and
\antios\ (\anti\), face to face. Concessive participle \poi•sas\
as in verse 4 (\dias•thenta\) which see. {Yet was I delivered
prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans} (\desmios
ex Ierosolum•n paredoth•n eis tas cheiras t•n Romai•n\). This
condensed statement does not explain how he "was delivered," for
in fact the Jews were trying to kill him when Lysias rescued him
from the mob (22:27-36). The Jews were responsible for his
being in the hands of the Romans, though they had hoped to kill
him first.
28:18 {When they had examined me} (\anakrinantes me\). First
aorist active participle of \anakrin•\, the same verb used
already in 24:8; 25:6,26 of the judicial examinations by Felix
and Festus. {Desired} (\eboulonto\). Imperfect middle of
attempted action or picture of their real attitude. This is a
correct statement as the words of both Felix and Festus show.
{Because there was} (\dia to--huparchein\). Accusative case with
\dia\ (causal use) with the articular infinitive, "Because of the
being no cause of death in me" (\en emoi\, in my case, \aitia\,
usual word for crime or charge of crime).
28:19 {When the Jews spake against it} (\antilegont•n t•n
Ioudai•n\). Genitive absolute again, \antilegont•n\ (\antileg•\)
common verb for speaking against as in 13:45. _Clementer dicit_
(Bengel). "The word is a mild one to describe the bitter enmity
of the Jews" (Knowling). {I was constrained} (\•nagkasth•n\). "I
was compelled," first aorist passive indicative of \anagkaz•\,
the very word used of Paul's efforts to get the Christians to
blaspheme (26:11) which see. Paul was compelled to appeal to
Caesar (see 25:11,12 for this phrase), unless Paul was willing
to be the victim of Jewish hate when he had done no wrong. {Not
that I had aught to accuse my nation of} (\ouch h•s tou ethnous
mou ech•n ti kat•gorein\). This use of \h•s\ with a participle
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