Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 19]
19:34 {When they perceived} (\epignontes\). Recognizing, coming
to know fully and clearly (\epi-\), second aorist (ingressive)
active participle of \epigin•sk•\. The masculine plural is left
as nominative absolute or \pendens\ without a verb. The rioters
saw at once that Alexander was (\estin\, present tense retained
in indirect assertion) a Jew by his features. {An with one voice
cried out} (\ph•n• egeneto mia ek pant•n krazont•n\). Anacoluthon
or construction according to sense. Literally, "one voice arose
from all crying." \Krazont•n\ agrees in case (ablative) with
\pant•n\, but Aleph A have \krazontes\. This loose construction
is not uncommon (Robertson, _Grammar_, pp. 436f.). Now at last
the crowd became unanimous (one voice) at the sight of a hated
Jew about to defend their attacks on the worship of Artemis. The
unanimity lasted "about the space of two hours" (\hosei epi h•ras
duo\), "as if for two hours." Their creed centred in this
prolonged yell: "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians" with which
the disturbance started (verse 28).
19:35 {The town-clerk} (\ho grammateus\). Ephesus was a free city
and elected its own officers and the recorder or secretary was
the chief magistrate of the city, though the proconsul of the
province of Asia resided there. This officer is not a mere
secretary of another officer or like the copyists and students of
the law among the Jews, but the most influential person in
Ephesus who drafted decrees with the aid of the \strat•goi\, had
charge of the city's money, was the power in control of the
assembly, and communicated directly with the proconsul.
Inscriptions at Ephesus give frequently this very title for their
chief officer and the papyri have it also. The precise function
varied in different cities. His name appeared on the coin at
Ephesus issued in his year of office. {Had quieted the multitude}
(\katasteilas ton ochlon\). First aorist active participle of
\katastell•\, to send down, arrange dress (Euripides), lower
(Plutarch), restrain (papyrus example), only twice in the N.T.
(here and verse 36, be quiet), but in LXX and Josephus. He
evidently took the rostrum and his very presence as the city's
chief officer had a quieting effect on the billowy turmoil and a
semblance of order came. He waited, however, till the hubbub had
nearly exhausted itself (two hours) and did not speak till there
was a chance to be heard. {Saith} (\ph•sin\). Historical present
for vividness. {How that}. Merely participle \ousan\ and
accusative \polin\ in indirect discourse, no conjunction at all
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