Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 2]
by the Holy Spirit to understand the Messianic prophecy and the
fulfilment right before their eyes. Peter now has spiritual
insight and moral courage. The {power} (\dunamis\) of the Holy
Spirit has come upon him as he proceeds to give the first
interpretation of the life and work of Jesus Christ since his
Ascension. It is also the first formal apology for Christianity
to a public audience. Peter rises to the height of his powers in
this remarkable sermon. Jesus had foretold that he would be a
Rock and now he is no longer shale, but a solid force for
aggressive Christianity. He follows here in verses 17-21
closely the LXX text of Joel and then applies the passage to the
present emergency (22-24).
2:17 {In the last days} (\en tais eschatais h•merais\). Joel does
not have precisely these words, but he defines "those days" as
being "the day of the Lord" (cf. Isa 2:2; Mic 4:1). {I will
pour forth} (\ekche•\). Future active indicative of \ekche•\.
This future like \edomai\ and \piomai\ is without tense sign,
probably like the present in the futuristic sense (Robertson,
_Grammar_, p. 354). Westcott and Hort put a different accent on
the future, but the old Greek had no accent. The old Greek had
\ekcheus•\. This verb means to pour out. {Of my Spirit} (\apo tou
pneumatos\). This use of \apo\ (of) is either because of the
variety in the manifestations of the Spirit (1Co 12) or because
the Spirit in his entirety remains with God (Holtzmann, Wendt).
But the Hebrew has it: "I will pour out my Spirit" without the
partitive idea in the LXX. {And your daughters} (\kai hai
thugateres h–m•n\). Anna is called a prophetess in Lu 2:36 and
the daughters of Philip prophesy (Ac 21:9) and verse 18
(handmaidens). See also 1Co 11:5 (\proph•tousa\). {Visions}
(\horaseis\). Late word for the more common \horama\, both from
\hora•\, to see. In Re 4:3 it means appearance, but in Re
9:17 as here an ecstatic revelation or vision. {Dream dreams}
(\enupniois enupniasth•sontai\). Shall dream with (instrumental
case) dreams. First future passive of \enupniaz•\ from \enupnios\
(\en\ and \hupnos\, in sleep), a common late word. Only here in
the N.T. (this from Joel as all these verses 17-21 are) and
Jude 1:8. {Yea and} (\kai ge\). Intensive particle \ge\ added
to \kai\ (and), an emphatic addition (=Hebrew _vegam_).
{Servants} (\doulous\), {handmaidens} (\doulas\). Slaves, actual
slaves of men. The humblest classes will receive the Spirit of
God (cf. 1Co 1:26-31). But the word "prophesy" here is not in
the LXX (or the Hebrew).
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/AC2.RWP.html (6 of 17) [28/08/2004 09:06:06 a.m.]