Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 6]
(that of the Libertines, of the Cyrenians, of the Alexandrians,
of Cilicia, and of Asia). There probably were enough Hellenists
in Jerusalem to have five such synagogues. But the language of
Luke is not clear on this point. He may make only two groups
instead of five since he uses the article \t•n\ twice (once
before \Libertin•n kai Kur•nai•n kai Alexandre•n\, again before
\apo Kilikias kai Asias\). He also changes from the genitive
plural to \apo\ before Cilicia and Asia. But, leaving the number
of the synagogues unsettled whether five or two, it is certain
that in each one where Stephen appeared as a Hellenist preaching
Jesus as the Messiah he met opposition. Certain of them "arose"
(\anest•san\) "stood up" after they had stood all that they could
from Stephen, "disputing with Stephen" (\sunz•tountes t•i
Stephan•i\). Present active participle of \sunz•te•\, to question
together as the two on the way to Emmaus did (Lu 24:15). Such
interruptions were common with Jews. They give a skilled speaker
great opportunity for reply if he is quick in repartee. Evidently
Stephen was fully equipped for the emergency. One of their
synagogues had men from Cilicia in it, making it practically
certain that young Saul of Tarsus, the brilliant student of
Gamaliel, was present and tried his wits with Stephen. His
ignominious defeat may be one explanation of his zest in the
stoning of Stephen (Ac 8:1).
6:10 {They were not able to withstand} (\ouk ischuon
antist•nai\). Imperfect active of \ischu•\, to have strength, and
ingressive second aorist active (intransitive) infinitive of
\anthist•mi\. They continued unable (without strength enough) to
take a stand against. Stephen knocked them down, Saul included,
as fast as they got up. Stephen was like a battery charged and in
action. {The wisdom and spirit} (\t•i sophi•i kai pneumati\).
Dative case. They stood up against Stephen's wisdom and the Holy
Spirit "by whom he spoke" (\h•i elalei\). Instrumental case and
the relative agrees with "Spirit." He kept on speaking so
(\elalei\, imperfect active). It was a desperate situation.
6:11 {Then they suborned men} (\tote hupebalon andras\). Second
aorist active indicative of \hupoball•\, old verb, but here only
in the N.T., to put under like a carpet, to bring men under one's
control by suggestion or by money. One recalls the plight of
Caiaphas in the trial of Jesus when he sought false witnesses.
_Subornaverunt_. They put these men forward in an underhand way
for fraud. {Blasphemous words against Moses and God} (\blasph•ma
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