Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 16]
agreeing with \autos\, but it is to be supplied with \hoi autou\,
and it was done at once.
16:34 {He brought them up} (\anagag•n\). Second aorist active
participle of \anag•\. It looks as if his house was above the
prison. The baptism apparently took place in the pool or tank in
which he bathed Paul and Silas (De Wette) or the rectangular
basin (_impluvium_) in the court for receiving the rain or even
in a swimming pool or bath (\kolumb•thra\) found within the walls
of the prison (Kuinoel). Meyer: "Perhaps the water was in the
court of the house; and the baptism was that of immersion, which
formed an essential part of the symbolism of the act." {Set meat}
(\pareth•ken trapezan\). Set a "table" before them with food on
it. They had probably had no food for a day. {With all his house}
(\panoikei\). Adverb, once in Plato, though usually \panoiki•i\.
In LXX, but here alone in the N.T. It is in an amphibolous
position and can be taken either with "rejoiced" (\•galliasato\)
or "having believed" (\pepisteuk•s\, perfect active participle,
permanent belief), coming between them. The whole household
(family, warden, slaves) heard the word of God, believed in the
Lord Jesus, made confession, were baptized, and rejoiced.
Furneaux considers the haste in baptism here "precipitate" as in
the baptism of the eunuch. But why delay?
16:35 {The serjeants} (\tous rhabdouchous\). Fasces-bearers,
regular Greek word (\rhabdos, ech•\) for Latin _lictores_ though
Cicero says that they should carry _baculi_, not _fasces_. Was
this message because of the earthquake, the influence of Lydia,
or a belated sense of justice on the part of the magistrates
(praetors)? Perhaps a bit of all three may be true. The Codex
Bezae expressly says that the magistrates "assembled together in
the market place and recollecting the earthquake that had
happened they were afraid."
16:36 {Now therefore} (\nun oun\). Note both particles (time and
inference). It was a simple matter to the jailor and he was full
of glee over this happy outcome.
16:37 {Unto them} (\pros autous\). The lictors by the jailor. The
reply of Paul is a marvel of brevity and energy, almost every
word has a separate indictment showing the utter illegality of
the whole proceeding. {They have beaten us} (\deirantes h•mas\).
First aorist active participle of \der•\, old verb to flay, to
skin, to smite. The _Lex Valeria_ B.C. 509 and the _Lex Poscia_
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/AC16.RWP.html (17 of 19) [28/08/2004 09:07:01 a.m.]