Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 4]
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4:1 {The captain of the temple} (\ho strat•gos tou hierou\).
Twenty-four bands of Levites guarded the temple, one guard at a
time. They watched the gates. The commander of each band was
called captain (\strat•gos\). Josephus names this captain of the
temple police next to the high priest (_War_. VI. 5, 3). {The
Sadducees} (\hoi Saddoukaioi\). Most of the priests were
Sadducees now and all the chief priests since John Hyrcanus I
deserted the Pharisees (Josephus, _Ant_. XVII. 10, 6; XVIII. 1,
4; XX. 9, 1). The Sadducees were slow to line up with the
Pharisees against Jesus, but they now take the lead against Peter
and John. {Came upon them} (\epest•san autois\). Second aorist
active indicative (intransitive). Burst upon them suddenly or
stood by them in a hostile attitude here (Lu 20:1; 24:4; Ac
6:12; 17:5; 22:20; 23:11).
4:2 {Being sore troubled} (\diaponoumenoi\). Present passive
participle of old verb \diapone•\ (perfective use of \dia\) to be
worked up, indignant. In the N.T. only here and 16:8. {Because}
(\dia to\). The articular infinitive with two accusatives, one
the object (the people), the other ("they") of general reference.
{In Jesus} (\en I•sou\). In the case of Jesus, an actual instance
of resurrection which the Sadducees denied (Mt 22:23). This
same use of \en\ appears in 1Co 4:6 (in us). The Sadducees were
also aristocrats and political ecclesiastics who disliked popular
disturbances. In particular, they resented the claim about Jesus
whom they had helped crucify.
4:3 {In ward} (\eis t•r•sin\). Probably in one of the chambers of
the temple. In safe keeping (from \t•re•\, to guard). Old word,
in the N.T. only here and Ac 5:18; 1Co 7:19. So in papyri. {Now
eventide} (\hespera •d•\). Hence no trial could take place before
the next day, a regulation violated in the case of Jesus.
4:4 {Men} (\andr•n\). Strictly, men and not women, for
\anthr•pos\ is the term for both men and women. But in Lu 11:31
\andres\ seems to include both men and women and that is possible
here, though by no means certain, for see Mt 14:21 where the
women and children are expressly excepted.
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/AC4.RWP.html (1 of 9) [28/08/2004 09:06:09 a.m.]
Word Pictures in the New Testament
(Acts: Chapter 4)