Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox
Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox
Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 16] frequent visions always came at real crises in his life. {A man of Macedonia} (\an•r Maked•n\). Ramsay follows Renan in the view that this was Luke with whom Paul had conversed about conditions in Macedonia. Verse 10 makes it plain that Luke was now in the party, but when he joined them we do not know. Some hold that Luke lived at Antioch in Syria and came on with Paul and Silas, others that he joined them later in Galatia, others that he appeared now either as Paul's physician or new convert. Ramsay thinks that Philippi was his home at this time. But, whatever is true about Luke, the narrative must not be robbed of its supernatural aspect (10:10; 22:17). {Was standing} (\•n hest•s\). Second perfect active participle of \hist•mi\, intransitive, periphrastic imperfect. Vivid picture. {Help us} (\bo•th•son h•min\). Ingressive first aorist active imperative of \bo•the•\ (\bo•, the•\), to run at a cry, to help. The man uses the plural for all including himself. It was the cry of Europe for Christ. 16:10 {We sought} (\ez•t•samen\). This sudden use of the plural, dropped in 17:1 when Paul leaves Philippi, and resumed in 20:5 when Paul rejoins Luke in Philippi, argues conclusively that Luke, the author, is in the party ("we" portions of Acts) and shows in a writer of such literary skill as Luke that he is not copying a document in a blundering sort of way. Paul told his vision to the party and they were all ready to respond to the call. {Concluding} (\sunbibazontes\). A very striking word, present active participle of \sunbibaz•\, old verb to make go together, to coalesce or knit together, to make this and that agree and so to conclude. Already in 9:22 of Paul's preaching. This word here gives a good illustration of the proper use of the reason in connection with revelation, to decide whether it is a revelation from God, to find out what it means for us, and to see that we obey the revelation when understood. God had called them to preach to the Macedonians. They had to go. 16:11 {Setting sail} (\anachthentes\). Same word in 13:13 which see. {We made a straight course} (\euthudrom•samen\). First aorist active indicative of compound verb \euthudrome•\ (in Philo) from adjective \euthudromos\ (in Strabo), running a straight course (\euthus, dromos\). In the N.T. only here and 21:1. It is a nautical term for sailing before the wind. Luke has a true feeling for the sea. {To Samothrace} (\eis Samothr•ik•n\). A small island in the Aegean about halfway http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/AC16.RWP.html (5 of 19) [28/08/2004 09:07:01 a.m.]
Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 16] between Troas and Neapolis. {The day following} (\t•i epious•i\). Locative case of time with \h•mer•i\ (day) to be supplied (7:26; 20:15; 21:18; 23:11). With adverse winds it took five days to make the run of 125 miles (20:6). {To Neapolis} (\eis Nean Polin\). To New Town (Newton, Naples, Neapolis). The port of Philippi ten miles distant, Thracian, but reckoned as Macedonian after Vespasian. 16:12 {To Philippi} (\eis Philippous\). The plural like \Ath•nai\ (Athens) is probably due to separate sections of the city united (Winer-Moulton, _Grammar_, p. 220). The city (ancient name Krenides or Wells) was renamed after himself by Philip, the father of Alexander the Great. It was situated about a mile east of the small stream Gangites which flows into the river Strymon some thirty miles away. In this valley the Battle of Philippi was fought B.C. 42 between the Second Triumvirate (Octavius, Antonius, Lepidus) and Brutus and Cassius. In memory of the victory Octavius made it a colony (\kol•nia\) with all the privileges of Roman citizenship, such as freedom from scourging, freedom from arrest save in extreme cases, and the right of appeal to the emperor. This Latin word occurs here alone in the N.T. Octavius planted here a colony of Roman veterans with farms attached, a military outpost and a miniature of Rome itself. The language was Latin. Here Paul is face to face with the Roman power and empire in a new sense. He was a new Alexander, come from Asia to conquer Europe for Christ, a new Caesar to build the Kingdom of Christ on the work of Alexander and Caesar. One need not think that Paul was conscious of all that was involved in destiny for the world. Philippi was on the Egnatian Way, one of the great Roman roads, that ran from here to Dyrrachium on the shores of the Adriatic, a road that linked the east with the west. {The first of the district} (\pr•t• t•s meridos\). Philippi was not the first city of Macedonia nor does Luke say so. That honour belonged to Thessalonica and even Amphipolis was larger than Philippi. It is not clear whether by \meris\ Luke means a formal division of the province, though the _Koin•_ has examples of this geographical sense (papyri). There is no article with \pr•t•\ and Luke may not mean to stress unduly the position of Philippi in comparison with Amphipolis. But it was certainly a leading city of this district of Macedonia. {We were tarrying} (\•men diatribontes\). Periphrastic imperfect active. 16:13 {By a river side} (\para potamon\). The little river http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/AC16.RWP.html (6 of 19) [28/08/2004 09:07:01 a.m.]
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<strong>Word</strong> <strong>Pictures</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> NT [Acts: Chapter 16]<br />
between Troas and Neapolis. {The day follow<strong>in</strong>g} (\t•i epious•i\).<br />
Locative case of time with \h•mer•i\ (day) to be supplied (7:26;<br />
20:15; 21:18; 23:11). With adverse w<strong>in</strong>ds it took five days to<br />
make <strong>the</strong> run of 125 miles (20:6). {To Neapolis} (\eis Nean<br />
Pol<strong>in</strong>\). To <strong>New</strong> Town (<strong>New</strong>ton, Naples, Neapolis). The port of<br />
Philippi ten miles distant, Thracian, but reckoned as Macedonian<br />
after Vespasian.<br />
16:12 {To Philippi} (\eis Philippous\). The plural like \Ath•nai\<br />
(A<strong>the</strong>ns) is probably due to separate sections of <strong>the</strong> city united<br />
(W<strong>in</strong>er-Moulton, _Grammar_, p. 220). The city (ancient name<br />
Krenides or Wells) was renamed after himself by Philip, <strong>the</strong><br />
fa<strong>the</strong>r of Alexander <strong>the</strong> Great. It was situated about a mile east<br />
of <strong>the</strong> small stream Gangites which flows <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> river Strymon<br />
some thirty miles away. In this valley <strong>the</strong> Battle of Philippi was<br />
fought B.C. 42 between <strong>the</strong> Second Triumvirate (Octavius,<br />
Antonius, Lepidus) and Brutus and Cassius. In memory of <strong>the</strong><br />
victory Octavius made it a colony (\kol•nia\) with all <strong>the</strong><br />
privileges of Roman citizenship, such as freedom from scourg<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
freedom from arrest save <strong>in</strong> extreme cases, and <strong>the</strong> right of<br />
appeal to <strong>the</strong> emperor. This Lat<strong>in</strong> word occurs here alone <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
N.T. Octavius planted here a colony of Roman veterans with farms<br />
attached, a military outpost and a m<strong>in</strong>iature of Rome itself. The<br />
language was Lat<strong>in</strong>. Here Paul is face to face with <strong>the</strong> Roman<br />
power and empire <strong>in</strong> a new sense. He was a new Alexander, come<br />
from Asia to conquer Europe for Christ, a new Caesar to build <strong>the</strong><br />
K<strong>in</strong>gdom of Christ on <strong>the</strong> work of Alexander and Caesar. One need<br />
not th<strong>in</strong>k that Paul was conscious of all that was <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong><br />
dest<strong>in</strong>y for <strong>the</strong> world. Philippi was on <strong>the</strong> Egnatian Way, one of<br />
<strong>the</strong> great Roman roads, that ran from here to Dyrrachium on <strong>the</strong><br />
shores of <strong>the</strong> Adriatic, a road that l<strong>in</strong>ked <strong>the</strong> east with <strong>the</strong><br />
west. {The first of <strong>the</strong> district} (\pr•t• t•s meridos\). Philippi<br />
was not <strong>the</strong> first city of Macedonia nor does Luke say so. That<br />
honour belonged to Thessalonica and even Amphipolis was larger<br />
than Philippi. It is not clear whe<strong>the</strong>r by \meris\ Luke means a<br />
formal division of <strong>the</strong> prov<strong>in</strong>ce, though <strong>the</strong> _Ko<strong>in</strong>•_ has examples<br />
of this geographical sense (papyri). There is no article with<br />
\pr•t•\ and Luke may not mean to stress unduly <strong>the</strong> position of<br />
Philippi <strong>in</strong> comparison with Amphipolis. But it was certa<strong>in</strong>ly a<br />
lead<strong>in</strong>g city of this district of Macedonia. {We were tarry<strong>in</strong>g}<br />
(\•men diatribontes\). Periphrastic imperfect active.<br />
16:13 {By a river side} (\para potamon\). The little river<br />
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