Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Acts: Chapter 21]
Agabos\). A prophet like the daughters of Philip, mentioned
already in connection with the famine predicted by him (Ac
11:28), but apparently not a man of prominence like Barnabas,
and so no allusion to that former prophecy.
21:11 {Coming} (\elth•n\, second aorist active participle of
\erchomai\), taking (\aras\, first aorist active participle of
\air•\, to take up), {binding} (\d•sas\, first aorist active
participle of \de•\, to bind). Vivid use of three successive
participles describing the dramatic action of Agabus. {Paul's
girdle} (\t•n z•n•n tou Paulou\). Old word from \z•nnumi\, to
gird. See on ¯12:8. {His own feet and hands} (\heautou tous
podas kai tas cheiras\). Basis for the interpretation. Old
Testament prophets often employed symbolic deeds (1Ki 22:11; Jas
2:2; Jer 13:1-7; Eze 4:1-6). Jesus interpreted the symbolism of
Peter's girding himself (Joh 21:18). {So} (\hout•s\). As Agabus
had bound himself. Agabus was just from Jerusalem and probably
knew the feeling there against Paul. At any rate the Holy Spirit
revealed it to him as he claims. {Shall deliver}
(\parad•sousin\). Like the words of Jesus about himself (Mt
20:19). He was "delivered" into the hands of the Gentiles and it
took five years to get out of those hands.
21:12 {Both we and they of that place} (\h•meis te kai hoi
entopioi\). Usual use of \te kai\ (both--and). \Entopioi\, old
word, only here in N.T. {Not to go up} (\tou m• anabainein\).
Probably ablative of the articular present active infinitive with
redundant negative \me\ after \parekaloumen\ (imperfect active,
conative). We tried to persuade him from going up. It can be
explained as genitive, but not so likely: We tried to persuade
him in respect to not going up. Vincent cites the case of Regulus
who insisted on returning from Rome to Carthage to certain death
and that of Luther on the way to the Diet of Worms. Spalatin
begged Luther not to go on. Luther said: "Though devils be as
many in Worms as tiles upon the roofs, yet thither will I go."
This dramatic warning of Agabus came on top of that in Tyre
(21:4) and Paul's own confession in Miletus (20:23). It is
small wonder that Luke and the other messengers together with
Philip and his daughters (prophetesses versus prophet?) joined in
a chorus of dissuasion to Paul.
21:13 {What are you doing weeping?} (\Ti poieite klaiontes?\)
Strong protest as in Mr 11:5. {Breaking my heart}
(\sunthruptontes mou t•n kardian\). The verb \sunthrupt•\, to
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